Lighthouse of Ponta Negra
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.
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| Location |  Corvo, Vila do Corvo |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 39°40′11.74″N 31°6′52.73″W |
| Tower | |
| Constructed | 1910 |
| Construction | concrete tower |
| Automated | February 1987 |
| Height | 3 metres (9.8 ft) |
| Shape | hexagonal tower with balcony and beacon[1] |
| Markings | white tower |
| Power source | mains electricity  |
| Operator | Directorate for Lighthouses (Direcção de Faróis) |
| Heritage | Unclassified |
| Light | |
| Focal height | 22 metres (72 ft) |
| Range | 6 mi (9.7 km) |
| Characteristic | Fl W 5s. |
History
The small lighthouse was constructed in November 1910, with a sixth order diotropic 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 miles (9.7 km), using a simple white beacon with five second interval.[2]
References
Notes
- Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Portugal: Azores". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 2016-03-18.
- 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
- Eduardo Carvalho Vieira, Furtado (2005), Guardiães do Mar dos Açores: uma viagem pelas ilhas do Atlântico [Guardians of The Azores’ Seas: One Direction On These Atlantic Islands] (in Portuguese), p. 289, ISBN 972-9060-47-9
- "Faróis de Portugal", Ciência Viva (in Portuguese), Lisbon, Portugal: Ministério da Marinha Portuguesa, Direcção de Faróis, 2005
