Pointe des Corbeaux lighthouse

Pointe des Corbeaux lighthouse

Pointe des Corbeaux lighthouse
Pointe des Corbeaux lighthouse
France
Location Île d'Yeu
Vendée
France
Coordinates 46°41′25″N 2°17′05″W / 46.690202°N 2.284807°W / 46.690202; -2.284807Coordinates: 46°41′25″N 2°17′05″W / 46.690202°N 2.284807°W / 46.690202; -2.284807
Year first constructed 1862 (first)
Year first lit 1950 (current)
Automated 1990
Construction concrete tower
Tower shape octagonal prism tower with balcony and lantern
Markings / pattern white tower, red lantern
Height 19.2 metres (63 ft) (current)
11.6 metres (38 ft) (first)
Focal height 25.9 metres (85 ft) (current)
Range 18.5 nautical miles (34.3 km; 21.3 mi)[1]
Characteristic Fl (3) R 15s.
Admiralty number D1186
NGA number 1148
ARLHS number FRA-249[2]

The Pointe des Corbeaux lighthouse is a French lighthouse, located on the eponymous point on the Île d'Yeu. Located at the extreme southwestern end of the island,[3] it was constructed in 1950 to replace an earlier tower destroyed during World War II.[4] Along with the Île d'Yeu lighthouse, it is one of two lighthouses on the island to have been designed by Maurice Durand; construction of both was completed in the same year.[4]

Design

The Pointe des Corbeaux lighthouse is 62 feet tall, and is an octagonal prism concrete structure with lantern and gallery attached to one-storey keeper's dwelling. The tower and gallery are white, while the lantern is red. The lighthouse shows a series of three red flashes, in a two-one pattern, every fifteen seconds. Attached to the tower is a keeper's dwelling, which with several other annexes completes the station.

History

The first lighthouse on the point was lit on September 1, 1862. A small tourelle encased in masonry, it stood 38 feet tall, and was based on plans provided by the state. Its life was very uneventful; it was converted to different sorts of power on numerous occasions, at various times running on vegetable and mineral oil and gas vapor.[5] This lighthouse lasted until being destroyed by retreating German troops on August 25, 1944. Reconstruction of the tower was completed in 1950 to Durand's design. This lighthouse was automated in 1990,[5] and remains an active aid to navigation; it currently shows a halogen-powered signal.[3]

Today the lighthouse is controlled from the station at the Île d'Yeu lighthouse; it can be seen both from land and from water, but cannot be visited by the public.[3] Another, smaller aid to navigation, a post light attached to a short stone base, is also located on the point.[3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Pointe des Corbeaux lighthouse Ministère de la Culture (French)
  2. ↑ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of France: La Vendée". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 http://robert.carceller.free.fr/lum20/phare/pag363.html
  4. 1 2 Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of France: Loire-Atlantique". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
  5. 1 2 Ministère de la culture - Mérimée


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