Lighthouse of Ponta Negra

Last updated
Lighthouse of Ponta Negra
Farolim da Ponta Negra
Corvo moinho (5).jpg
Lighthouse of Ponta Negra
Location Flag of Portugal (official).svg Corvo, Vila do Corvo
Coordinates 39°40′11.74″N31°6′52.73″W / 39.6699278°N 31.1146472°W / 39.6699278; -31.1146472
Tower
Constructed1910
Constructionconcrete tower
AutomatedFebruary 1987
Height3 metres (9.8 ft)
Shapehexagonal tower with balcony and beacon [1]
Markingswhite tower
Power sourcemains electricity  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
OperatorDirectorate for Lighthouses
(Direcção de Faróis)
HeritageUnclassified
Light
Focal height22 metres (72 ft)
Range6 nmi (11 km)
Characteristic Fl W 5s.

The Lighthouse of Ponta Negra (Portuguese : Farolim da Ponta Negra) is a beacon/lighthouse located along the cliffs of promontory of Ponta Negra, in the municipality of Vila do Corvo, on the Portuguese island of Corvo, in the archipelago of the Azores.

Contents

History

An agrarian view of Ponta Negra, including windmills and the old metal tower and shed on the edge of Ponta Negra Corvo, inicio do Sec, XX, terrenos agriculas, porto da casa, Arquivo de Villa Maria, Angra do Heroismo, ilha Terceira, Acores.jpg
An agrarian view of Ponta Negra, including windmills and the old metal tower and shed on the edge of Ponta Negra

The small lighthouse was constructed in November 1910, with a sixth order dioptric light, providing a fixed white light, that ranged to 10 miles (16 km), supported by acetylene gas. [2]

In 1955, construction began on a modernization of the light. By May 1956, the new light was inaugurated, this time using a fourth-order dioptric light, in groups of double clarions, with a 15 miles (24 km) range. [2]

Its power source was changed in February 1987, to photovoltaic panels, and converted to a solar panel-battery reserve system by the first decade of the 21st century. [2]

Architecture

This light is located on the clifftop promontory of Ponta Negra, on the southern coast of Corvo (west of the port of Boqueirão) alongside the traditional windmills; it is at the edge of the Caminho dos Moinhos near the westernmost windmill of the group. [2]

Originally the illuminating tower was an ironwork structure 6 metres (20 ft) high, with small cabana-like metal annex, painted in red. [2] The modern building consists of a beacon mounted to a hexagonal tower, constructed of reinforced concrete. [2] The small tower is 3 metres (9.8 ft) high, and the current light is 23 metres (75 ft) above sea level, providing a range of sight to 6 nautical miles (11 km), using a simple white beacon with five second interval. [2]

See also

References

Notes

  1. Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Portugal: Azores". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill . Retrieved 2016-03-18.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Costa, Patrícia; Gavinha, José A.; Ferreira, Teresa (2012), SIPA (ed.), Farol da Ponta Negra (IPA.00015925/PT072001010001) (in Portuguese), Lisbon, Portugal: SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico, retrieved 30 August 2015

Sources