Tostón Lighthouse

Tostón Lighthouse
Punta de la Ballena
The three towers of Tostón Lighthouse
Canary Islands
Location El Cotillo
Fuerteventura
Canary Islands
Spain
Coordinates 28°42′56″N 14°00′50″W / 28.715561°N 14.013810°W / 28.715561; -14.013810Coordinates: 28°42′56″N 14°00′50″W / 28.715561°N 14.013810°W / 28.715561; -14.013810
Year first constructed 1897 (first)
1950s (second)
Year first lit 1986 (current)
Deactivated 1986 (second)
Construction concrete tower (current)
Tower shape cylindrical tower with double balcony and lantern (current)
Markings / pattern red and white bands, grey lantern dome (current)
Height 30 metres (98 ft) (current)
7 metres (23 ft) (first)
15 metres (49 ft) (second)
Focal height 35 metres (115 ft)
Range 17 nautical miles (31 km; 20 mi)
Characteristic Fl W 8s.
Admiralty number D2792
NGA number 113-24040
ARLHS number CAI-058
Spain number ES-12220
Managing agent Autoridad Portuaria de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

The Tostón Lighthouse (Spanish: Faro de Tostón) or El Cotillo Lighthouse is an active lighthouse on the Canary island of Fuerteventura. The lighthouse is situated on the north-western coast of the island near to the village of El Cotillo, in the municipality of La Oliva. In conjunction with the lights at Pechiguera and Punta Martiño, it marks the narrow La Bocayna strait that separates Fuerteventura from the adjacent island of Lanzarote.[1]

History

Faro de Tostón in 2007, prior to restoration

The current lighthouse is the third in a succession of lights that have operated at the site on the promontory of Punta Tostón, which is also known as the Punta de la Ballena (whale point).[1]

The original lighthouse was opened in 1897, and consisted of a 7m high plain masonry tower on one corner of the single storey keeper’s house. In the 1950s a new 15 metre concrete tower was constructed, which was also superseded by a taller tower in the 1980s. This distinctive 30m concrete tower, which is white with red bands, has a focal height of 35m above the sea. Its light can be seen for 14 nautical miles, and consists of a flash of white light every eight seconds.[2]

The original keeper's house has been renovated and reused as a museum with a small café. Visitors to the museum which contains an exhibition describing the traditional fishing of the island, can also climb to the top of the 1950s concrete tower.[2][3] [2]

A short c. 1 km self-guided walking trail circles the lighthouse. Multilingual signs describe the geology, shellfish and wildlife found on the headland. Most notable is the description of the Aljibe, a water collection system, next to the road leading to the lighthouse, which was used to provide drinking water for the keepers and their families.[2]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Spain: Canary Islands". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Museum of Traditional Fishing". Museums. artesaniaymuseosdefuerteventura.org. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  3. ↑ "Exhibition "Traditional fishing" El Cotillo". Retrieved December 6, 2011.
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