Punta de Teno Lighthouse facts for kids
| Location | Buenavista del Norte Tenerife Canary Islands Spain |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 28°20′32″N 16°55′22″W / 28.342096°N 16.922865°W |
| Year first constructed | 1897 (first) |
| Year first lit | 1976 (current) |
| Construction | concrete tower (current) stone tower (first) |
| Tower shape | cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern |
| Markings / pattern | tower with red and white bands (current) unpainted tower (first) |
| Height | 20 metres (66 ft) (current) 8 metres (26 ft) (first) |
| Focal height | 60 metres (200 ft) |
| Range | 18 nautical miles (33 km; 21 mi) |
| Characteristic | Fl (2+1) W 20s. |
| Spain number | ES-12920 |
The Punta de Teno Lighthouse is a working lighthouse on the island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands, Spain. It stands in the area of Buenavista del Norte. This lighthouse is located on a narrow, rocky point called Punta de Teno. This point is the most western part of Tenerife.
The current lighthouse is the second one built here. It is one of seven lighthouses that guide ships along the coast of Tenerife. It is found between the Punta Rasca Lighthouse to the southeast and the Buenavista lighthouse to the northeast.
History of the Lighthouse
The first lighthouse at Punta de Teno was finished in 1897. It was part of a big plan to light up the coasts of the Canary Islands. This first lighthouse looked like other lighthouses built in the Canary Islands during the 1800s.
It had a white building with dark volcanic rock details. The light shone from a special room at the top of an eight-meter-tall stone tower. This tower was attached to the building, facing the Atlantic Ocean. This first lighthouse helped ships until a new, modern one replaced it in the 1970s.
The new lighthouse was built right next to the old one. It started working in 1978. This new lighthouse is 20 meters tall and shaped like a cylinder. It is painted white with red stripes. At the top, it has two walkways and a lantern room with a white dome. Its design is similar to the new lighthouse at Fuencaliente Lighthouse on the island of La Palma.
How the Lighthouse Works
The light from the Punta de Teno Lighthouse is 60 meters above sea level. This means ships can see its light from about 18 nautical miles away. The light has a special pattern: it flashes white three times every twenty seconds.
The lighthouse is looked after by the Port Authority of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. It has special numbers for international shipping, like D2832 and 113-23840.
See also
- List of lighthouses in Spain
- List of lighthouses in the Canary Islands
In Spanish: Faro de Punta de Teno para niños
Images for kids
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The 19th and 20th century towers of Punta de Teno
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Detail of the lighthouse tower
