La Désirade
Pointe Doublé lighthouse in 2009
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 Guadeloupe
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| Location | La Désirade Guadeloupe France |
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| Coordinates | 16°20′0.4″N 61°0′20.1″W / 16.333444°N 61.005583°W |
| Year first constructed | 1933 (first) |
| Automated | 1972 |
| Construction | concrete tower (current) cast iron skeletal tower (first) |
| Tower shape | triangular prism tower with hexagonal prism balcony, lantern atop a pedestal (current) hexagonal pyramidal skeletal tower with balcony and lantern (first) |
| Markings / pattern | white tower, red balcony and pedestal (current) |
| Height | 20 metres (66 ft) |
| Focal height | 50 metres (160 ft) |
| Light source | solar power |
| Range | 20 nautical miles (37 km; 23 mi) |
| Characteristic | Fl (2) W 10s. |
| Admiralty number | J5724 |
| NGA number | 14812 |
| ARLHS number | GUA-005 |
La Désirade is an island in the French West Indies. It is a part of Guadeloupe (a "dependency"), which itself is an Overseas Region of France.
The island of La Désirade is located at the eastern end of Guadeloupe island group, in the Lesser Antilles. It lies about 8 km off the coast of Grande-Terre, which is the eastern half of the island of Guadeloupe. Its coordinates are 16°19′N 61°3′W / 16.317°N 61.050°WCoordinates: 16°19′N 61°3′W / 16.317°N 61.050°W.
The island is 11 km long and 2 km wide; the interior of the island forms a central plateau. It has a land area of 20.64 km2 (7.97 sq mi) and a population of 1,595 in 2006, with a population density of 77 inh. per km² (200 inh. per sq. mile) in 2006. Most residents live in the settlement of Beauséjour (formerly known as Grande-Anse).
Geologically speaking, La Désirade is the oldest island in the Lesser Antilles with its most ancient rocks, at 145 million years old, being found at the easternmost point of the island. The beach at Pointe Doublé is frequently visited by geologists who come to examine the basalt and composite rocks, which give the area its striking multi-coloured appearance. The island has its own lapidary, which transforms the rocks found on the island into jewellery and souvenirs.
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Wikipedia