San Cristóbal Lighthouse facts for kids
| Location | San Sebastian, La Gomera |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 28°05′46″N 17°06′00″W / 28.09609°N 17.10007°W |
| Year first lit | 1903/1978 |
| Height | 15 metres (49 ft) |
| Focal height | 84 metres (276 ft) |
| Range | 21 nautical miles (39 km; 24 mi) |
| Characteristic | Fl (2) W 10s |
The San Cristóbal Lighthouse (which means Faro de San Cristóbal in Spanish) is an important lighthouse on the Spanish island of La Gomera. This island is part of the Canary islands. The lighthouse helps ships find their way. It stands on a rocky point called Punta de San Cristóbal. This point is on the eastern side of the island. The lighthouse helps guide ships coming into San Sebastián de La Gomera. This is the main port and capital city of La Gomera.
What the Lighthouse Looks Like
The First Lighthouse
The San Cristóbal Lighthouse was built as part of a plan to light up the Canary Islands' coast. It is the oldest and most important lighthouse on La Gomera. Building the first lighthouse started in 1900. It began working in 1903.
The engineer Juan de León y Castillo designed it. It looked like other early lighthouses in the Canary Islands. It had a white house for the lighthouse keeper. Dark volcanic rock was used for details on the building. The light shone from a lantern room. This room was on top of a six-meter-high tower. The tower was connected to the house on the side facing the Atlantic Ocean. This first lighthouse worked until 1978.
The New Lighthouse
The new lighthouse started working in 1978. It is a short, 15-meter-tall round tower. It is painted white with a bright red band around it. This red band is a special mark called a daymark. It helps ships see the lighthouse during the day. Its design is a smaller version of the Fuencaliente Lighthouse. That lighthouse is on the nearby island of La Palma.
How the Light Works
The lighthouse is on top of a high cliff. This means its light is 84 meters (about 275 feet) above sea level. It can be seen from about 21 nautical miles away. The light uses a special lens called a third-order Fresnel lens. This lens makes the light very strong. The light flashes white two times every ten seconds. This is its unique light characteristic.
The lighthouse is listed with an international number, D2842. It also has an identifier from the NGA, which is 113-23812. The Port Authority of Santa Cruz de Tenerife manages it.
You can visit the area around the lighthouse. It is at the end of a path called Camino del Faro. However, the tower and other buildings are usually closed to visitors.
See also
- List of lighthouses in Spain
- List of lighthouses in the Canary Islands
