Lighthouses
Europe |
Netherlands |
Danmark |
Finland |
∆ Märket |
France |
Germany |
Greece |
Zakynthos |
Spain |
Hondarribia ∆ Faro the Higuer San Sébastian: ∆ Santa Klara |
Sweden |
New Zealand |
South Island |
∆ Akaroa Head |
North Island |
(52) (54) (55) (56) (58) (59) (60) (74) (76) |
(46) (45) (1) (94) |
Page overview/dashboard
America |
North |
Canada |
South |
Argentina |
∆ Palacio Barolo (Buenos Aires) |
Brasil |
Paraguay |
∆ Faro Almirante (Asunción) |
Uruguay |
Soms kom ik tijdens het reizen een vuurtoren tegen—een eenzame toren die, net als een grensmarkering, dient als baken.
Vuurtorens hebben door de eeuwen heen gefungeerd als navigatiehulp-middel en, staand op de grens van land en zee, vergelijkbaar met hoe grenzen de limieten van een gebied markeren.
Een vuurtoren is van ver zichtbaar, ’s nachts straalt hij zijn licht uit in een vast en herkenbaar ritme, terwijl hij overdag als een trots architectonisch monument overeind staat en bezoekers uitnodigt om te stoppen, te kijken en foto’s te maken. Deze bouwwerken zijn niet alleen functioneel, maar ook symbolisch en staan voor veiligheid, oriëntatie en standvastigheid.
Elke vuurtoren heeft zijn eigen, unieke verhaal. Vaak is er in de directe omgeving historische informatie te vinden—soms uitgebreid, soms nauwelijks. In bepaalde uitzonderlijke gevallen is de geschiedenis van een vuurtoren direct verbonden met een politieke of geografische grens.
Een sprekend voorbeeld hiervan is Märket, waar de vuurtoren een centrale rol speelt in het bijzondere verloop van een internationale grens op een onbewoond eiland. Daar is de vuurtoren niet alleen een navigatiehulpmiddel, maar ook een bepalend element in het verhaal van grenzen en afbakening.
Sometimes, while traveling, I come across a lighthouse—a solitary tower that functions like a boundary marker, guiding and warning at the same time.
Lighthouses have long served as navigational beacons, standing at the edge of land and sea, much like borders define the limits of territory.
A lighthouse is visible from afar, casting its light at night in a fixed and recognizable rhythm, while during the day it stands as a proud architectural landmark, inviting visitors to stop, observe, and photograph it. These structures are not only functional but also symbolic, representing safety, orientation, and endurance.
Every lighthouse has its own unique story. Often, there is historical information to be found nearby—sometimes extensive, sometimes almost nonexistent. In certain exceptional cases, the history of a lighthouse is directly connected to a political or geographical border.
One striking example is Märket Island, where the lighthouse plays a central role in the unusual course of an international borderon an uninhabited island. There, the lighthouse is not just a navigational aid, but a defining element in the story of borders and boundaries.
Fyn
Sjælland
Finland/Sweden
Visiting Märket was a special expedition I did with 8 international members (5 nationalities) of the International border researchgroup (IBRG).
We went there for the 11 bordermarkers that shows how the border devides the isle between Finland and Sweden.
Special for me was the lighthouse on it, that we were allowed to visit all to the topdeck!
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Click here for more detailed information on Märket and the IBRG expedition MAEX-23 to this amazing border island in the Baltic sea.
Germany
Sweden
Scania
Märket
Click the image of bordermarker no. 12 of Märket Island, to explore more fascinating photos of this unique border island, showcasing its remarkable landscape, history, and geographic significance.
North & South
America
North America
Canada
South America
Argentina
Brasil
Paraguay
Uruguay
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Argentin
Palacio Barolo
The Faro del Palacio Barolois a distinctive urban lighthouse in Buenos Aires, crowning the historic Palacio Barolo, one of the city’s most iconic skyscrapers.
Designed with deep symbolic references to Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy, the building blends architecture, literature, and spirituality into a single landmark.
From its summit, visitors enjoy panoramic views of Buenos Aires, making it a must-see attraction for architecture and history enthusiasts.
At the very top of the tower stands the Palacio Barolo lighthouse, equipped with a powerful 5,000-watt lamp.
This beacon was originally intended to communicate visually with the Palacio Salvo in Montevideo, its architectural twin located across the Río de la Plata in Uruguay.
Faro Isla Martin Garcia
The Faro Histórico of Isla Martín García is a significant historic lighthouse in Argentina, located on this unique island in the Río de la Plata.
The island is renowned for its rich historical heritage, dating back to the Spanish discovery in 1516.
Over the centuries, Isla Martín García served as a strategic anchorage, a military and civilian prison, and today functions as a protected nature reserve.
The historic lighthouse stands as a powerful symbol of the island’s maritime and cultural history.
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The old lighthouse of Isla Martín García, also known as the “Antiguo Faro de la Armada Argentina,”is a prominent landmark that represents the naval and maritime legacy of Argentina.
As one of the island’s most recognizable monuments, it reflects the strategic importance of the Río de la Plata for navigation and defense, making it an essential point of interest for visitors interested in Argentine history, maritime navigation, and heritage tourism.
Brasil
Farol Barra do Chuí
Paraguay
Faro Almirante
The Almirante Asunción Lighthouse (Faro Almirante Asunción) is a historic river lighthouse in Asunción, Paraguay, located along the Paraguay River. It plays an important role in inland navigation, guiding vessels through one of South America’s key river transport routes. As a symbol of Paraguay’s maritime and fluvial heritage, the lighthouse reflects the historical importance of Asunción as a strategic river port and navigation hub.
Uruguay
Faro de Isla de Farallón
Faro de Isla de Farallón is a historic lighthouse in Uruguay, located on Isla de Farallón, just off the coast of Colonia del Sacramento. Built as a circular masonry tower with a white-painted base, the lighthouse is a prominent maritime landmark in the Río de la Plata region.
The tower rises 24 metershigh and is topped with a distinctive dome featuring red and white radial stripes. The lighthouse has a luminous range of 10.2 nautical milesand emits a characteristic signal of two white flashes every 10 seconds, making it an essential aid for coastal navigation.
Inaugurated in August 1876, the Faro de Isla de Farallón has a long history of adaptation to challenging conditions. In 1928, the lighting system was automated after lighthouse keepers often became isolated and cut off from communication for days following severe storms. At that time, the original system was replaced with an acetylene gas installation, which required maintenance only twice a year. Today, the lighthouse operates using solar energy, powered by two solar panels, ensuring reliable and sustainable operation.
As one of the oldest lighthouses near Colonia del Sacramento, the Faro de Isla de Farallón represents an important part of Uruguay’s maritime heritage and coastal navigation history.
Click for more info about lighthouses in this area.
Colonia del Sacramento
Faro de Colonia del Sacramento
Faro de Colonia del Sacramento is one of the most iconic landmarks in Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay, located within the city’s UNESCO-listed Barrio Histórico. Built in 1857, the lighthouse stands beside the historic ruins of the Convento de San Francisco, combining colonial heritage with maritime navigation.
Constructed as a cylindrical stone tower, the lighthouse rises approximately 26 metersabove ground level. Its elevated position allows the light to be seen across the Río de la Plata, guiding vessels approaching the port and coastline. The structure is notable for its simplicity, durability, and strategic placement in the historic heart of the city.
Today, the Colonia del Sacramento Lighthouse serves both as an active navigational aidand a popular tourist attraction. Visitors can climb the lighthouse to enjoy panoramic views of the old town, the river, and the surrounding coastline. As a symbol of Colonia’s maritime past, the lighthouse reflects the city’s long history as a strategic port contested by Spanish and Portuguese powers.
Faro de Colonia del Sacramento remains an essential part of Uruguay’s cultural and nautical heritage, blending history, architecture, and navigation in one of the country’s most visited historic cities.
Faro Punta del Este
Faro de Punta del Este is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Punta del Este, Uruguay, and a key symbol of the country’s maritime and coastal heritage. Located on the Península de Punta del Este, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Río de la Plata, the lighthouse plays an essential role in guiding vessels along one of South America’s busiest coastal routes.
Built in 1860, the lighthouse was designed by Spanish engineer Hipólito Mordeilleand and stands 45 meters tall, making it one of the tallest lighthouses in Uruguay. The structure is a cylindrical masonry tower, painted ochre.
Beyond its navigational function, Faro de Punta del Este is a popular tourist attraction. Visitors are drawn to its commanding presence, scenic surroundings, and proximity to famous beaches.
Today, Faro de Punta del Este stands as a lasting symbol of Uruguay’s maritime history, combining practical navigation, architectural elegance, and cultural significance in one of the country’s most iconic seaside destinations.
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Isla de Lobos
Faro de Isla de Lobos is a historic lighthouse in Uruguay, located on Isla de Lobos, a small island in the Atlantic Ocean near Punta del Este. The island is best known for hosting one of the largest sea lion colonies in South America, making the lighthouse an important landmark in a protected natural environment.
Built in 1906, the lighthouse was designed to support coastal and maritime navigationalong Uruguay’s eastern shoreline. The structure consists of a cylindrical masonry towerwith an attached keeper’s house and rises approximately 22 metersabove sea level.
Faro de Isla de Lobos has been modernized over time and now operates with automated systems, while the island itself remains uninhabited except for wildlife and conservation staff. Access to the lighthouse is restricted, preserving both the historical structure and the surrounding ecosystem.
Faro Punta de Brava, is a historic lighthouse in Montevideo, Uruguay, located in the Punta Brava area of the Pocitos district, along the Río de la Plata coastline. It plays an important role in guiding vessels approaching the port of Montevideo and navigating the busy river estuary.
Built in 1876, the lighthouse is a cylindrical masonry tower painted white and stands approximately 21 meters high. Its elevated coastal position allows the light to be visible from several nautical miles away, helping ships identify the shoreline and avoid shallow waters near the city.
Surrounded by urban development and coastal promenades, the lighthouse is also a local landmark and a popular subject for photography and it is open to the public.
Today, Faro de Brava continues to serve as a functional navigational aid and an enduring symbol of Uruguay’s coastal heritage.
Palacio Salvo
In Montevideo, Uruguay, Palacio Salvo stands as the twin building of the Palacio Barolo in Buenos Aires, sharing both architectural style and symbolic meaning. Both buildings were designed by the Italian architect Mario Palanti, who envisioned them as monumental landmarks connected across the Río de la Plata.
Like Palacio Barolo, Palacio Salvo was designed with a prominent lighthouse-like tower, intended to function as a guiding beacon for shipsnavigating the river. The original plans included a powerful lighthouse lamp, but it was never installed, and the tower never became an active navigational aid. In later years, the structure was adapted to hold antennas, while its distinctive crowned topretained the appearance of a lighthouse.
Today, although Palacio Salvo has never operated as a true lighthouse, it is often regarded as a symbolic or unrealized lighthouse, reflecting Mario Palanti’s ambitious vision. The tower remains one of Montevideo’s most iconic landmarks, offering panoramic city viewsand preserving its connection to the region’s maritime and architectural heritage—essentially a lighthouse that was never on duty.
Click button to have a look at the twin tower
'Palacio Barolo' in Buenos Aires
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New-Zealand |
Akaroa lighthouse
Tuhawaiki lighthouse
(Jack's point)
Katiki point lighthouse
Taiaroa lighthouse
(Cape Saunders)
Nugget point lighthouse
↓ Click picture for more info↓
Waipapa point lighthouse
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Stirling Point Light Beacon Station
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Dog Island lighthouse
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pic © maritime New-Zealand ©
Cape Foulwind lighthouse
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Pillar point lightbeaken
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Discover detailed and fascinating information about 'Cape Farewell', the northernmost point of New Zealand’s South Island, on the New Zealand country page.Click on 'Cape Farewell'.
Baring Head lighthouse
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Baring Head lighthouse
&
Pencarrow sector light
Pencarrow upper lighthouse
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Pencarrow sector light
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Pencarrow upper
&
sector light
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Point Halswell lighthouse
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Cape Palisser lighthouse
Southernmost point
North Island
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Cape Maria van Diemen
Motuopao Island
Extreme point
Cape Maria van Diemen Lighthouse was constructed between 1877 and 1879on the summit of Motuopao Island, off Cape Maria van Diemen, at the north-western tip of New Zealand’s North Island, southwest of Cape Reinga. It was the northernmost lighthousein the system developed by the New Zealand Government during the 19th centuryand the first lighthouse built north of Auckland, marking its importance in early maritime navigation.
The lighthouse featured a two-storey, octagonal wooden towerwith internal stairsconnecting both levels. At the top, a glazed lanternhoused the navigation lamp, providing vital guidance for ships sailing the Tasman Sea. A very similar—possibly identical—lighthousewas also constructed on Centre Island in Foveaux Strait, reflecting a standardized lighthouse design used in New Zealand during that period.
Today, the Cape Maria van Diemen Lighthouse remains an important reference point in New Zealand’s maritime history, closely linked to the development of coastal navigation and lighthouse construction in the late nineteenth century.
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Vraag s.v.p. vooraf om toestemming als je foto's gebruiken wilt.©
