Farol de D. Luis
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Cape Verde
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Location |
Ilhéu dos Pássaros near São Vicente Cape Verde |
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Coordinates | 16°54′15″N 25°00′15″W / 16.90417°N 25.00417°WCoordinates: 16°54′15″N 25°00′15″W / 16.90417°N 25.00417°W |
Year first constructed | 1882 (first) |
Year first lit | n/a (current) |
Construction | masonry building |
Tower shape | hexagonal prism building with lantern atop |
Markings / pattern | white tower, red lantern |
Height | 5 metres (16 ft) |
Focal height | 86 metres (282 ft) |
Light source | solar power |
Range | 14 nautical miles (26 km; 16 mi) |
Characteristic | Fl (3) W 12s. |
Admiralty number | D-2942 |
NGA number | 24100 |
ARLHS number | CAP-010 |
Cape Verde number | PT-2024 |
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Farol de D. Luis, also known as Farol do Ilhéu dos Pássaeros Lighthouse (Farol do Ilhéu dos Pássaros) or Farol de Porto Grande (Porto Grande Lighthouse), former form: Farol de D. Luís is a lighthouse located in the island of Ilhéu dos Pássaros in the area separating the Porto Grande Bay and Canal de São Vicente, it is located west of Ponta João Ribeiro in the island of São Vicente in northwestern Cape Verde and is somewhere 3.5 km northwest of the center of Mindelo. It sits atop the highest point on the islet and the building is higher than the highest point of the islet. It may be a lighthouse built at the highest location in Cape Verde. It is accessed only by a pathway and a small boat at a tiny port located in the east facing Monte Cara.
The lighthouse was first built around 1882.
The lighthouse is named after Louis I of Portugal (who was one of Portugal's last kings) when the lighthouse was under construction and later built, it is not the common name used for the lighthouse today.
The lighthouse may be one of the most prominent buildings in Mindelo and the island along with its surrounding islands and islets.
The lighthouse has a white hexagonal tower in a form of a truncated pyramid with a green lantern measuring five meters.
Ferry routes lie 200-300 meters west of the point and include ferry routes linking the island of São Vicente and Santo Antão and Sal via São Nicolau, Santiago and Fogo with Brava, the last three ferry routes passes near Ponta Machado.
The lighthouse was completed in the late 19th century in the heyday of ship traffic going into and out of Porto Grande Bay and stopping at Mindelo, it continued until the Great Depression of 1930. Today it guides ships that are stopping or leaving Porto Grande Bay, domestic shipping and ferry and ships entering and leaving the archipelago.
Panoramic views are offered including the nearby island and Santo Antão 15 km across.