03-12-2019, 04:49 PM
Today is 65 years since Entallada Lighthouse started operating - December 3rd, 1954.
The Entallada Lighthouse in Fuerteventura is a very particular building that is located in the municipality of Tuineje, whose closest town is Playitas located at a distance of about 6 kilometres.
It is a project designed by the architect Carlos Alcón and built in 1953. It consists of a tower and three houses where formerly lived and worked the fareros. At the top of the lighthouse there is a viewpoint located 200 meters above sea level.
The lighthouse is responsible for marking the maritime navigation of the coastal area that encompasses from the lighthouse of Puerto del Rosario, north of the island, and the lighthouse of Morro Jable, south of it. Its operation began on the night of December 3, 1954.
The named dome emits a characteristic 1 + 2 white flashes every eighteen seconds to thirty miles to warn ships and fifteen kilometres for aeroplanes.
It was designed following a lighting plan designed in 1921 and that devised the installation at the tip of Lantailla of a light that would guide maritime navigation, although it is important to note that during all these years it has served not only to guide ships, but also aeroplanes .
These facilities served as a guide to the aeroplanes that were to trace the route between the Gando airport, located in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and the Spanish Sahara, and also served as a guide to the military aircraft "Junkers" during the Sidi Ifni contest ( The Sahara War).
A curious and interesting fact of this fantastic lighthouse is that it turns out to be the closest point to the African continent that separates it an approximate distance of 100 kilometres. As a consequence of this fact, it has a long distance radar and thermal cameras in the south tower.
Spectacular visas
From this viewpoint you can enjoy spectacular views not only of the sea, but also of the Cuchillos de Vigán Natural Monument. This natural space is protected due to its great scientific interest in the fossil fauna that we can find in it. Los Cuchillos are elongated mountains between two valleys with a height that can reach 500 meters and whose sediments come from large accumulations of volcanic castings.
In addition, due to its geomorphological richness, it is a whereabouts that house some of the most endangered poultry species in the Canary Islands, such as the guirre, the osprey or the barbary falcon. If we are lucky to see some of the raptors that live among the mountains, it is advisable to take binoculars, the children will have a great time watching these animals fly.
How to get there
Reaching the lighthouse is quite simple, you have to take the FV-20 road that goes to Gran Tarajal and about 2 km before arriving we will see a detour to the town of Las Playitas. We will take the detour and shortly before entering the town you see on the left the sign that indicates the road to the Lighthouse of the Entallada.
The road although in good condition is quite narrow, and with a great slope, so it is necessary to take precautions and go slowly. The lighthouse has a large parking lot where you can leave the vehicle without problem.
Going to visit the lighthouse is simply an excursion that is worth taking, but the views from this point are also wonderful. For this family experience it will be essential to carry the camera and binoculars in the backpack to contemplate the horizon in more detail and capture the occasional snapshot.
Courtesy of NoticiasFuerteventura.
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Fuerteventura
