Punta de Estaca de Bares facts for kids
Punta da Estaca de Bares is a very special place in Galicia, Spain. It is the most northern point of Spain and the entire Iberian Peninsula. This means it's the furthest north you can go in mainland Spain! It sits at a latitude of 43° 47′ 38″ North. This point also marks the western edge of the Cantabrian Sea, which is part of the North Atlantic Ocean.
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A Unique Natural Spot
The land at Estaca de Bares sticks out far into the Atlantic Ocean and the Bay of Biscay. Because of this, it gets a lot of rain, more than 2500 millimeters every year! This makes it one of the rainiest places in Europe. All this rain helps create a special type of forest called a Temperate rain forest.
Over many years, these unique weather conditions have created a very special environment. It has amazing plants and animals that you might not see anywhere else. Because of its unique nature, this area has been named an Area of National Natural Interest. This helps protect its beautiful environment.
A Place Full of History
Estaca de Bares has a long and interesting history. You can still see the ruins of an old Phoenician Salt Fish Factory and a Phoenician Port. The Phoenicians were ancient people who were great sailors and traders.
There is also a lighthouse here. It was built in 1850 and is still working today! It helps guide ships safely past the coast. The lighthouse is managed by the Captain of the Port of Ferrol.
Besides the lighthouse, you can find other interesting things. There is a special place where birds live safely, called a bird sanctuary. You can also see the ruins of old molinas, which were mills used to grind grain. There are even abandoned military bases here.
The Old Military Base
One of the abandoned sites used to be a military base. It was first used by the US Coast Guard in the early 1960s. It was a LORAN (Long Range Aid to Navigation) Station. LORAN was a system that helped ships and planes figure out where they were using radio signals.
The station at Estaca de Bares worked with similar stations in Wales (run by the British) and France (run by the French until 1973). In 1978, the US Coast Guard stopped using LORAN. Then, the US Air Force took over the base. They used it as a radio communication site until 1991. Now, the base is in ruins. When the base was active, many American service members met and married people from the local area.
Old Mills and Signaling Station
There are also several waterways in the area. These waterways used to power mills for the local people. These mills are located between the abandoned military base and the bird sanctuary.
Another old site was once a signaling station used by the Spanish Navy. This station has now been turned into a hotel and restaurant. It's a great example of how old buildings can find new uses!
A World War II Story
During World War II, a German submarine sank off the coast of Estaca de Bares. One of the German officers survived this event. He loved the area so much that he returned every year to remember the day. After he passed away, his ashes were scattered over Estaca de Bares. This shows how special this place was to him.
See also
In Spanish: Estaca de Bares para niños
- Extreme points of Spain
