Ponta Negra Lighthouse

Category: Civil Architecture > Lighthouse

District: Açores > Corvo > Vila do Corvo > Ponta Negra

Location

The Ponta Negra Lighthouse is located on Corvo Island, the smallest and westernmost island of the Azores, in the coastal area known as Ponta Negra, part of the locality of Vila do Corvo. Its position is to the west of the old Porto do Boqueirão, a historical point on the island. This lighthouse marks the end of the Caminho dos Moinhos (Windmill Path), a scenic surrounding where, a few meters away, it is possible to spot the characteristic windmills that adorn the coast. The location offers a tranquil and isolated environment, ideal for appreciating the vast maritime landscape. Symbolically, it is seen as one of the last European reference points before the immensity of the Atlantic towards America.

A Signal with History

Established in November 1910, the Ponta Negra Lighthouse is an essential element in the safety of the island's coastal navigation. Its history reflects the evolution of maritime signaling technologies. Initially, the lighting system consisted of an apparatus hoisted on a six-meter-high iron structure, complemented by a small red-painted metal cabin. Over the decades, the lighthouse has undergone modernizations. In the mid-20th century, the light was placed in the current structure, a hexagonal reinforced concrete tower. The power source, which initially was acetylene gas, evolved in the 1980s to photovoltaic panels and is currently guaranteed by solar energy with backup batteries.

Architecture and Light Range

The modern structure of the Ponta Negra Lighthouse is a small three-meter-high hexagonal tower, erected on a reinforced concrete pedestal and topped by a metal lantern. Although modest in size, its light source is located twenty-three meters above sea level. The light it emits is characterized by single white flashes, with a five-second period between each flash, being visible at a distance of approximately eleven kilometers. This light, which has guided vessels for over a century, integrates into the unique landscape of Ponta Negra, serving as a silent landmark of the island's deep relationship with the ocean.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt