Punta Rasca Lighthouse facts for kids
The Punta Rasca Lighthouse (also known as Faro de Punta Rasca in Spanish) is an important lighthouse that helps ships navigate near the island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands, Spain. It's located in the area of Arona, on a piece of land called Punta Rasca. This spot is very close to the southernmost tip of the island.
| Location | Arona Tenerife Canary Islands Spain |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 28°00′04″N 16°41′40″W / 28.0011°N 16.6944°W |
| Year first constructed | 1895 (first) |
| Year first lit | 1978 (current) |
| Foundation | reinforced concrete |
| Construction | concrete tower (current) |
| Tower shape | cylindrical tower with double balcony and lantern (current) lantern on the keeper's house roof (first) |
| Markings / pattern | white tower with three red bands, white lantern (current) white keeper's house with stone trim |
| Height | 32 metres (105 ft) (current) 6 metres (20 ft) (first) |
| Focal height | 51 metres (167 ft) |
| Range | 17 nautical miles (31 km; 20 mi) |
| Characteristic | Fl (3) W 12s. |
| Spain number | ES-12890 |
Contents
The Story of Punta Rasca Lighthouse
The First Lighthouse
The very first lighthouse at Punta Rasca was finished in 1895. It was built as part of a big plan to add more lights along the coast of the Canary Islands. Its main job was to help ships find their way. This was especially important for boats traveling between Santa Cruz de Tenerife and other ports on the western Canary Islands.
This first lighthouse looked a lot like other lighthouses built in the Canary Islands during the 1800s. It was a white, single-story building. Dark volcanic rock was used for the detailed parts of the stone work. The light, or lantern dome, was placed on the roof of the building. It faced the Atlantic Ocean, guiding ships safely. This original lighthouse worked for many years until a new, modern tower took its place in the 1970s.
The Current Lighthouse
The new lighthouse was built right next to the old one. It started working in 1978. This modern lighthouse is a tall, cylinder-shaped tower. It stands 32 meters (about 105 feet) high. The tower is white with bright red bands around it. At the top, it has two balconies and a lantern with a black top.
The design of this lighthouse is very similar to the new tower of the Fuencaliente Lighthouse on another island called La Palma. The only difference is that the Punta Rasca lighthouse is 12 meters taller. The light itself is 51 meters (about 167 feet) above sea level. This means its light can be seen from far away, up to 17 nautical miles (about 31 kilometers).
The light from the Punta Rasca Lighthouse has a special pattern. It flashes three times, and these flashes are white. This pattern repeats every twelve seconds. The lighthouse is looked after by the Port authority of the Province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. It helps keep sea travel safe for everyone.
Images for kids
See Also
In Spanish: Faro Punta de Rasca para niños
- List of lighthouses in the Canary Islands
- List of lighthouses in Spain
