Chipiona Light

Chipiona Light
Chipiona Light
Chipiona faro 02.jpg
Chipiona Light, 2007
Chipiona Light is located in Spain
Location Chipiona , Spain
Coordinates 36°44′16.41″N 6°26′31.57″W / 36.7378917°N 6.4421028°W / 36.7378917; -6.4421028Coordinates: 36°44′16.41″N 6°26′31.57″W / 36.7378917°N 6.4421028°W / 36.7378917; -6.4421028
Year first constructed 1867
Foundation 4-storey square stone base
Construction cut stone
Tower shape conical
Markings / pattern yellow
Height 205 feet (62 m)[1]
Focal height 226 feet (69 m)
Range 25 nautical miles (46 km; 29 mi)
Characteristic Fl.W. 10s
Admiralty number D2351
NGA number 113-3880
ARLHS number SPA-301; ES-09180

Chipiona Light, also known as Punta del Perro Light[2] is an active lighthouse in Chipiona, in the province of Cádiz, Spain. At a height of 205 feet (62 m) it is the seventeenth tallest "traditional lighthouse" in the world, as well as the tallest in Spain.[3]. It is located on Punta del Perro (lit. Dog Point), a projection of land into the Atlantic Ocean in the city of Chipiona, about 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) southwest of the Guadalquivir entrance, and serves as the landfall light for Seville.[4]

Contents

History

A previous lighthouse was present at the same site from the Roman period,[5] and this former lighthouse gave Chipiona its name. This superb lighthouse was, according to Strabo comparable with the mythical Lighthouse of Alexandria. It was ordered to be built in 140BC by the Roman proconsul Quintus Servilius Caepio in an attempt to finally overcome the problems of the Salmedina reef at the mouth of the then river Betis, now the Guadalquivir. Its Latin name Turris caepionis (Caepio's Tower), is traditionally held to be the origin of the name Chipiona.

The project to build a modern lighthouse on the site was first developed in 1862 by Jaime Font, a Catalan engineer. He placed the first stone on the 30th April 1863 and it was lit for the first time in 1867. since that time it has remained off permanently on 2 occasions. The first when it was switched off was in 1898, during the war against the United States of America over the independence of Cuba, all the lighthouses around Cadiz were turned off because an invasion was feared. The second time was in 1936 during the Spanish Civil War when it remained off for 3 years.

In December 1999 the illumination was changed to a new halogen lamp, it reaches 129 km. (80 miles) and flashes once every ten seconds.

Construction

Mollusc shells visible in the oysterstone

The building is constructed in a slightly tapering column which is reminiscent of commemorative Roman columns. It is built of blocks of sandstone and oysterstone, a limestone sedimentary rock that is open in structure and with visible remains of mollusc shells, especially of the oyster family. It is used commonly in the south west coastal towns and cities of Spain. There is a gallery on top in which is the lantern. Its base is a 4-storey square structure, which rises in front of a 2-storey keeper's house, painted white.[6]

The site is open and there are organised tours up the 344 steps to the balcony below the lantern room. These tours are available 5 days a week in summer and less frequently during other months.

Current display

The light characteristic displayed is one white flash every ten seconds (Fl.W. 10s). the light is displayed at a focal height of 226 feet (69 m) and it is visible for 25 nautical miles (46 km; 29 mi).[7]

See also

  • List of tallest lighthouses in the world
  • List of lighthouses in Spain

References

External links



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