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Lighthouse of Ponta Negra

Coordinates: 39°40′11.74″N 31°6′52.73″W / 39.6699278°N 31.1146472°W / 39.6699278; -31.1146472
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lighthouse of Ponta Negra
Farolim da Ponta Negra
Map
LocationPortugal Corvo, Vila do Corvo
Coordinates39°40′11.74″N 31°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 Edit this on Wikidata
OperatorDirectorate for Lighthouses
(Direcção de Faróis)
HeritageUnclassified
Light
Focal height22 metres (72 ft)
Range6 mi (9.7 km)
CharacteristicFl 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.

History

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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 diotropic [check spelling] 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

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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]

See also

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References

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Notes

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  1. ^ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Portugal: Azores". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 2016-03-18.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g 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

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  • 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
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