Lighthouse of Praia da Barra

Lighthouse of Praia da Barra
Farol da Praia da Barra
Farol de Aveiro

A contextual view of the lighthouse along the coast of Gafanha da Nazaré
Lighthouse of Praia da Barra
Farol da Praia da Barra
Farol de Aveiro
Position of the lighthouse within continental Porutgal
Location  Portugal Ílhavo, Gafanha da Nazaré
Coordinates 40°38′34.14″N 8°44′52.07″W / 40.6428167°N 8.7477972°W / 40.6428167; -8.7477972Coordinates: 40°38′34.14″N 8°44′52.07″W / 40.6428167°N 8.7477972°W / 40.6428167; -8.7477972
Year first constructed 1893 (1893)
Automated 1990
Foundation 2-story keeper's house
Construction stone tower
Tower shape cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern
Markings / pattern red and white bands tower, red lantern
Height 203 feet (62 m)
Focal height 217 feet (66 m)
Original lens 3rd order Fresnel lens
Light source mains power
Range 23 nautical miles (43 km; 26 mi)
Characteristic Fl (4) W 13s.
Admiralty number D2056
NGA number 113-3272
ARLHS number POR-101
Portugal number PT-095[1]
Managing agent Direcção de Faróis (Directorate for Lighthouses)
Heritage Unclassified

The Lighthouse of Praia da Barra, also known as the Aveiro Lighthouse (Portuguese: Farol de Aveiro/Farol da Praia da Barra) is an active lighthouse in the civil parish of Gafanha da Nazaré, municipality of Ílhavo, in the Portuguese district of Aveiro. Situated on the coastal Praia da Barra, at the southern margin of the Ria de Aveiro, it is the tallest lighthouse in Portugal, with a height of 203 feet (62 m)[2] overseeing the barrier beach and exposed to Atlantic storms. Open to the public, visits are held Wednesdays from 14:00 to 17:00.

History

A view of the lighthouse from the roadway
Opposite view of the lighthouse from the Praia da Barra

On 8 January 1856, a dispatch determined the need for a lighthouse along the coastal area at the mouth of the Ria de Aveiro; the Director das Obras Públicas do Distrito de Aveiro (Aveiro District Director of Public Works), in accordance with the Porto captaincy and Director Maquinista de Faróis (Lighthouse Mechanical Director), indicated the appropriate location for a new lighthouse.[3] The authorities had rejected the idea of reusing the signal tower from the Fort of Barra in order to construct the Barra light in 1858.[3] On 14 October 1870, by dispatch a general illumination plan was approved for the coast, elaborated by counsel Franciso Maria Pereira da Silva.[3] The plan for the lighthouse was approved in 1879, that included an octagonal tower of 55 metres (180 ft) high.[3]

The construction of the lighthouse occurred between 1879 and 1893, after alterations to the original project. This lighthouse replaced the services of the Hermitage of Senhora das Areias which, from the writings of friar Agostinho de Santa Maria:[3]

...for navigators it served as lighthouse as lookout and fixed star, that, the dangers of big storms and tempests, warned those that could shipwreck, to escape from that inhuman wave, which subverts ships...[3][4]

The build was initially under the direction of engineer Silvério Pereira da Silva and later by engineer José Maria de Mello e Matos, envisioning a budget of 51 contos de réis and an elevator that would eliminate the need for a 228 step winding staircase.[3][4] The first beacon was an incandescent petrol lamp and horn combination and began to operating on 15 October 1893.[3] The lighthouse would later be supported by a first-order lamp, with four clarions, oscillating at 2.5 seconds and with a 1.5 eclipse, and a 9.5 second interval, that allowed it to reach 20 nautical miles (37 km). In addition, the Holmes fog signal was installed at the same time to provide a warning in the fog.[3]

By 1929, the lighthouse was repaired following the several faults and failures that caused by oscillations in the tower.[3] Public works occurred this year, that included the isolation of the main structure with tiled walls and the installation of 14 cement columns to reinforce the building. In 1935, the signal horn was moved into the interior of the building following its predecessor being swept away during a storm, and a year later, the building was electrified with the installation of a generator.[3]

In 1947, the beacon was substituted by the current installation, a small third-order Fresnel lens beacon with panels, that included four white flashes that repeated every 13 seconds, and with a 23 nautical miles (43 km) range.[3]

In 1950, the lighthouse was added to the public electrical network, while the 3000W lamp was replaced by a 1000W lamp.[3]

A study was elaborated in 1954 by the Direcção-Geral dos Serviços de Urbanização (Directorate-General Urban Services), through its Serviços de Melhoramentos Urbanos (Urban Improvement Services), to examine the potential of improving the sites position along the coast leading to the construction of a sea wall to protect the structure. Between 1958 and 1959, the DGEMN began building repairs, under the auspice of the Serviços de Construção e Conservação (Construction and Conservation Services).[3]

In the following four years an elevator was built to provide access to the beacon, and the light was automated in 1990.[3]

Architecture

Barra Beach and Lighthouse, overview

The lighthouse is situated along the southern mouth of the Vouga River, in the village of Barra, along the Avenida Fernão de Magalhães and Avenida João Corte Real.[3] It is situated in an isolated place 66 metres (217 ft) along the coastal beach, with the lighthouse providing views of the sea, the Ria, the beaches of Barra and Costa Nova, as well as the towns of Gafanhas, São Jacinto and city of Aveiro.[3]

The lighthouse tower is 62 metres (203 ft) high, with the beacon extending to 66 metres (217 ft) height and a range of 23 nautical miles (43 km).[3] The round stone tower rises from a two-story lighthouse keeper's house, supported by a spiral staircase of 271 stone steps (followed by an additional 20 metal steps), while the elevator rises through the middle of the spiral stairway.

See also

References

Notes

  1. ↑ "Aveiro Light", The Lighthouse Directory, University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill), retrieved 18 March 2016
  2. ↑ Rowlett, Russ. "The Tallest Lighthouses". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Costa, Patrícia; Matias, Cecília; Ferreira, Teresa (2012), SIPA, ed., Farol de Aveiro/Farol da Praia da Barra (IPA.00017447/PT020110030029) (in Portuguese), Lisbon, Portugal: SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico, retrieved 26 July 2016
  4. 1 2 Vilhena (1995), p.37

Sources

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