Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse facts for kids
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| Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse, located in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina | |
| Location | 5 nmi (9.3 km) E of Ushuaia, Argentina |
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| Coordinates | 54°52′17.5″S 68°05′0″W / 54.871528°S 68.08333°W |
| Year first constructed | 1920 |
| Foundation | Masonry base |
| Construction | Brick tower |
| Tower shape | Cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern |
| Markings / pattern | Red tower with a broad white band, black lantern |
| Height | 11 metres (36 ft) |
| Focal height | 22.5 metres (74 ft) |
| Range | White: 10 nautical miles (19 km; 12 mi) Red: 7 nautical miles (13 km; 8.1 mi) |
| Characteristic | Fl WR 5s. |
The Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse is a famous lighthouse located near the city of Ushuaia in Argentina. Its name, "Les Éclaireurs," is French and means "the Scouts." This lighthouse stands on one of the small Les Eclaireurs islands in the Beagle Channel, about 5 nautical miles (9 kilometers) east of Ushuaia. It helps guide ships safely through the waters of Tierra del Fuego, a region at the very southern tip of South America.
About the Lighthouse
The Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse is made of brick and is about 11 meters (36 feet) tall. It's painted with bright red and white stripes, and it has a black top where the light shines from. The light itself is about 22.5 meters (74 feet) above sea level. It flashes white every ten seconds and can be seen from about 7.5 nautical miles (14 kilometers) away.
This lighthouse started working on December 23, 1920. It's still in use today, guiding ships into Ushuaia's harbor. The lighthouse is controlled remotely, meaning no one lives there. It gets its power from solar panels, making it a modern and efficient landmark. You can't go inside the lighthouse, but it's a very popular spot for tourists.
The "Lighthouse at the End of the World"
Many people in Argentina call the Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse the "Lighthouse at the End of the World" (Faro del fin del mundo). However, this name can be a bit confusing! The real "Lighthouse at the End of the World" is actually the San Juan de Salvamento lighthouse. That one is much further east, on a remote island called Isla de los Estados. The San Juan de Salvamento lighthouse became famous because of a book by Jules Verne called The Lighthouse at the End of the World. So, while Les Eclaireurs is very far south, it's not the exact lighthouse from Verne's famous story.
See also
In Spanish: Faro Les Éclaireurs para niños
Images for kids
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The Les Éclaireurs Lighthouse in the Beagle Channel.
