Lighthouses in Puerto Rico

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Layout of lighthouses in Puerto Rico as planned by the Spanish, circa 1885
Layout of lighthouses in Puerto Rico as planned by the Spanish, circa 1885

Lighthouses in Puerto Rico is a link page for any lighthouse on the island of Puerto Rico. Most are under the care and supervision of the United States Coast Guard, although others have been under the care of local government. The vast majority of these lighthouses are not in operations and are closed to the public, facing serious deterioration due to the Caribbean weather (which includes a hurricane season spanning 8 months out of the year) and lack of care. Some, however, have been fully restored and are open to the public in an effort to increase tourism appeal to the island.

None of the lighthouses in Puerto Rico are serving their original purpose, since those sites which the U.S. Coast Guard determined that they needed a guidance light were fitted with a "skeletal tower" with a flashing light. A skeletal tower is not considered a lighthouse.

Contents

[edit] List of Lighthouses in Puerto Rico

The following is a list of the lighthouses in Puerto Rico:

[edit] Main Island

  • Punta Higuero Lighthouse - located in Point Jiguero, Rincón. It has been fully restored and is part of the El Faro Park, a tourist and recreation center.
  • Punta Morrillo Lighthouse - located in Arecibo.
  • Cabezas de San Juan Lighthouse - located in Fajardo. Fully restored and open to the public, it is Puerto Rico's signature lighthouse, featured in many publicity photos. The lighthouse is surrounded by spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean.
  • Cana Lighthouse - located in the El Bosque Seco (Guanica Dry Forest) in Guanica. Its main structure is in ruins, with no plans for restoration.
  • Isla de Cardona Lighthouse - located in the entrance to Ponce harbor.
  • Caja de Muerto Lighthouse - located in the Caja de Muertos (Coffin) island in Ponce. The lighthouse is abandoned, but accessible on foot. The site is considered dangerous because of its deteriorated conditions and sightseekers are discouraged from entering.
  • Punta de las Figuras Lighthouse - located in Punta Figuras in Arroyo. It has been recently restored and open to the public.
  • Punta Tuna Lighthouse - located in Maunabo. The lighthouse is not in operations and is closed to the public, although it is maintained as an active U.S. Coast Guard station.

[edit] Culebra, Mona, and Vieques Islands

  • Mona Island Lighthouse - located in Mona, a small island west of the main Puerto Rican island. It was designed by Gustave Eiffel, famed arquitect of the Eiffel Tower. Its condition is considered dire. Unless restored soon, many considered the lighthouse lost.
  • Punta Mulas Lighthouse - located in Vieques. Recently restored, it houses a maritime museum and is open to the general public.
  • Puerto Ferro Lighthouse - located in Vieques. Abandoned and deteriorating rapidly, the site is accessible by air or sea, but visiting is discouraged.
  • Culebrita Lighthouse - located in Culebra, Culebrita. The tower is closed and in fair condition. The site is accessible by sea, but visitors are discouraged from entering the lighthouse itself.

[edit] Destroyed

  • Isla Cabras Lighthouse (destroyed) - was located in Ceiba, but was abandoned in 1965 and destroyed in 1966.

[edit] Summarized list

Name   Municipality   Established   Tower height
in meters (ft)  		 Focal plane
in meters (ft)  		 Current status    Current condition  
Los Morrillos Light Cabo Rojo 1882 12 m (40 ft.) 37 m (121 ft) Active Restored for tourism
Punta Higuero Light
(1892)		 Rincón 1892 N/A N/A Destroyed Destroyed
Punta Higuero Light
(1922 rebuild)		 Rincón 1922 21 m (69 ft) 27 m (90ft) Active Restored for tourism
Punta Borinquen Light
(1892)		 Aguadilla 1889 N/A N/A Inactive Ruins
Punta Borinquen Light
(1920 rebuild)		 Aguadilla 1920 18 m (60 ft) 89 m (292 ft) Active Operational
Punta Los Morrillos Arecibo 1898 14 m (46 ft) 36 m (120ft) Active Restored for tourism
Port San Juan Light
(El Morro Light)		 San Juan 1908 15.5 m (51 ft) 55 m (181 ft) Active Restored for tourism
Cabezas de San Juan Light Fajardo 1880 14 m (45 ft) 79 m (260 ft) Active Restored for tourism
Cana Light Guanica 1893 N/A N/A Inactive Ruins
Isla de Cardona Light Ponce 1889 11 m (36 ft) 14 m (46 ft) Active Good
Caja de Muerto Light Ponce 1887 19 m (63 ft) 91 m (297 ft) Active Fair
Punta de las Figuras Light Arroyo 1893 15 m (50 ft) N/A Inactive Restored for tourism
Punta Tuna Light Maunabo 1892 15 m (49 ft) 34 m (111 ft) Active Good
Mona Island Light Mayagüez
(Mona Island)		 1900 16 m (52 ft) N/A Inactive Very poor
Punta Mulas Light Vieques 1896 10 m (32 ft) 21 m (68 ft.) Active Restored for operations
Puerto Ferro Light Vieques 1896 N/A N/A Inactive Very poor
Culebrita Light Culebra 1886 13 m (43 ft) 93 m (305 ft) Inactive(1) In Ruins
Isla Cabras Light Ceiba 1908 N/A N/A Destroyed Destroyed

(1) The U.S. Coast Guard lists this lighthouse as “active”, however eyewitness reports state that the facilities are in ruins and long abandoned. In August 2000, Lighthouse Digest stated that the Culebrita lighthouse was “on the brink of extinction.”

[edit] Pictures

Los Morrillos Lighthouse.

Punta Borinquen Lighthouse.

Isla de Cardona Lighthouse.

Mona Island Lighthouse.

Punta Mulas Lighthouse.

Puerto Ferro Lighthouse.

[edit] See also

Puerto Rico Portal

[edit] References


[edit] External links

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