Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse

Les Eclaireurs
Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse, located in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina
Les Eclaireurs
Tierra del Fuego
Location 5 nmi (9.3 km) E of
Ushuaia
Argentina
Coordinates 54°52′17.5″S 68°05′0″W / 54.871528°S 68.08333°W / -54.871528; -68.08333Coordinates: 54°52′17.5″S 68°05′0″W / 54.871528°S 68.08333°W / -54.871528; -68.08333
Year first constructed 1920
Foundation Masonry base
Construction Brick tower
Tower shape Cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern
Markings / pattern Red tower with a broad white band, black lantern
Height 11 metres (36 ft)
Focal height 22.5 metres (74 ft)
Light source Electric light powered by solar power
Range White: 10 nautical miles (19 km; 12 mi)
Red: 7 nautical miles (13 km; 8.1 mi)[1]
Characteristic Fl WR 5s.[1]
Admiralty number G1320
NGA number 111-2620
ARLHS number ARG-016[2]

Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse (the French name "Les Éclaireurs" means "the Scouts") is a slightly conically shaped lighthouse standing on the northeastern-most island of the five or more Les Eclaireurs islands, which it takes its name from, 5 nautical mile east of Ushuaia in the Beagle Channel, Tierra del Fuego, southern Argentina.

History

The brick-built tower is 11 metres (36 ft) high and 3 metres (10 ft) wide at the base, with its windowless wall painted red-white-red and topped by a black lantern housing and gallery. Only a door pointing to the west provides access to the building. The light is 22.5 metres (74 ft) above sealevel emitting white flashes every ten seconds with a range of 7.5 nautical miles (13.9 km). The lighthouse is still in operation, is remote-controlled, automated, uninhabited and is not open to the public, guarding the sea entrance to Ushuaia. Electricity is supplied by solar-panels. The lighthouse was put into service on December 23, 1920.

Les Éclaireurs Lighthouse

It is a popular tourist attraction, reached on short boat tours from Ushuaia. It is known to the Argentines as the Lighthouse at the End of the World (Faro del fin del mundo), although that name is misleading. The lighthouse is often confused with the San Juan de Salvamento lighthouse on the east coast of the remote Isla de los Estados, made famous by Jules Verne in the novel The Lighthouse at the End of the World, which is actually much further east.

See also

References

  • Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Argentina: Tierra del Fuego". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
  1. 1 2 List of Lights, Pub. 111: The West Coasts of North and South America (Excluding Continental U.S.A. and Hawaii), Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, and the Islands of the North and South Pacific Oceans (PDF). List of Lights. United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. 2017.
  2. ↑ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Argentina: Tierra del Fuego". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved November 26, 2015.


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