Punta La Entallada or La Entallada Lighthouse () is an active
lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of physical structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lens (optics), lenses and to serve as a beacon for navigational aid for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways.
Ligh ...
on the
Canary island
The Canary Islands (; ) or Canaries are an archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean and the southernmost Autonomous Community of Spain. They are located in the northwest of Africa, with the closest point to the continent being 100 kilometres (62 mi ...
of
Fuerteventura
Fuerteventura () is one of the Canary Islands, in the Atlantic Ocean, geographically part of Macaronesia, and politically part of Spain. It is located away from the coast of North Africa. The island was declared a biosphere reserve by UNESCO i ...
. It is located on the east coast, near the village of Las Playitas in
Tuineje
Tuineje is a town and a municipality in the southern part of the island of Fuerteventura in the Province of Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Spain. The population is 13,946 (2013),
History
Completed in 1955, it was constructed by the architect Carlos Alcon who incorporated elements of
Moorish architecture
Moorish architecture is a style within Islamic architecture that developed in the western Islamic world, including al-Andalus (the Iberian Peninsula) and what is now Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia (part of the Maghreb). Scholarly references on Is ...
in a unique design. Contrasting masonry and white washed mortar has been used to produce a distinctive exterior facade. The coloured stone originating from the village of Tetir, in the centre of the island.
On the seaward face the lighthouse has three square towers, the tallest central tower supporting the lantern dome, which is made entirely of glass. On the landward side the building extends into two arms, with a central courtyard enclosed on three sides by an arched walkway.
Situated on high cliffs provides a focal height of 196 m above the sea; the third highest in the Canaries. Its light can be seen for 21 nautical miles, and consists of three flashes of white light every eighteen seconds.
The prominent location means that it is now promoted as a point of interest for tourists, with a viewpoint and car park. The lighthouse is considered to be the closest point in the Canaries to Africa, 100 km to the east.
As well as acting as a maritime light, it has also been used historically as an aerial beacon. Aircraft from Gando airfield were directed towards the
Spanish Sahara
Spanish Sahara (; ), officially the Spanish Possessions in the Sahara from 1884 to 1958, then Province of the Sahara between 1958 and 1976, was the name used for the modern territory of Western Sahara when it was occupied and ruled by Spain bet ...
by the lighthouse, including those used in the Ifni conflict.
In 2011, La Entallada in conjunction with five other lighthouses was depicted in a set of six commemorative stamps by
Correos
Sociedad Estatal de Correos y Telégrafos, S.A., S.M.E. (), trading under the name Correos (, "packages"), is a state-owned postal service and courier for Spain and Andorra, the latter bilateral with French-equivalent La Poste. Based in Madrid ...
the Spanish postal service.
Gallery
Entallada Lighthouse.jpg, Front elevation
Tuineje - Calle Laurel - Faro de la Entallada 03 ies.jpg, Glass lantern
Faro de La Entallada Tuineje Fuerteventura.jpg, Building details
Faro de Tafalla.jpg, View from the Sea
See also
*
List of lighthouses in Spain
This is a list of lighthouses in Spain.
Lighthouses
By autonomous communities
* List of lighthouses in the Balearic Islands
* List of lighthouses in the Canary Islands
See also
* Lists of lighthouses and lightvessels
This article c ...
*
List of lighthouses in the Canary Islands
This is a list of lighthouses in the Canary Islands. The Spain, Spanish archipelago lies to the west of Africa, in the Atlantic Ocean.
Lighthouses
Map
See also
* List of lighthouses in Spain
* List of lighthouses in the Balearic Island ...