Punta del Hidalgo Lighthouse facts for kids
| Location | Punta del Hidalgo Tenerife Canary Islands Spain |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 28°34′35″N 16°19′43″W / 28.576384°N 16.328700°W |
| Year first constructed | 1994 |
| Markings / pattern | white tower |
| Height | 50 metres (160 ft) |
| Focal height | 52 metres (171 ft) |
| Range | 16 nautical miles (30 km; 18 mi) |
| Characteristic | Fl (3) W 16s. |
| Spain number | ES-12945 |
The Punta del Hidalgo Lighthouse (which means Faro de Punta del Hidalgo in Spanish) is an active lighthouse on the northeast coast of Tenerife. This island is part of the Canary Islands in Spain. The lighthouse is located in a place called Punta del Hidalgo, within the town of San Cristóbal de La Laguna.
This modern lighthouse has a very special and unique look. It's made of several columns that are not all the same size. They get taller as they rise from a triangular base. The tallest columns end in a square pillar that faces the sea. This pillar holds the light on a small post.
The Punta del Hidalgo Lighthouse is one of seven lighthouses that help guide ships along the coast of Tenerife. It stands between two other modern lighthouses: the Puerto de la Cruz Lighthouse to its southwest and the Punta de Anaga Lighthouse to its east.
Contents
Building the Lighthouse
The construction of the Punta del Hidalgo Lighthouse finished in 1992. It started working in 1994. This lighthouse was built as part of a big plan from the 1980s. This plan aimed to add new lights in many places across the Canary Islands.
Other lighthouses built around the same time with modern designs include those at Puerto de la Cruz and Buenavista on Tenerife. There were also new lighthouses at Castilette on Gran Canaria, and Arenas Blancas and Punta Lava on La Palma.
How It Was Built
The lighthouse is 50-metre-high (160 ft), which is about the height of a 16-story building. It is made from strong reinforced concrete. Special materials were brought in to build it. These included white gravel and colored concrete to give it its bright white finish.
Workers used a special system called "sliding scaffolding." This helped them build the lighthouse very quickly. They finished the main construction in just a few months during 1992.
How the Light Works
The light of the lighthouse is 52 metres (171 ft) above sea level. This height is called its focal height. Because it's so high, the light can be seen from far away. It can be seen for 16 nautical miles, which is about 30 kilometers or 18 miles.
The lighthouse has a special light pattern, called its light characteristic. It flashes white light three times every 16 seconds. This unique pattern helps sailors know which lighthouse they are seeing.
Who Manages the Lighthouse
The lighthouse is looked after by the Port authority of the Province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. They make sure it works properly and helps ships navigate safely. The lighthouse has special international numbers, like Admiralty number D2818, which helps identify it to sailors worldwide.
In 2007, the Punta del Hidalgo Lighthouse was featured on a special set of stamps. The Spanish postal service, Correos, released six stamps showing different lighthouses in Spain. This lighthouse was one of them!
See also
- List of lighthouses in the Canary Islands
- List of lighthouses in Spain
