Punta Borinquén Light (Faro de Punta Borinquen) is a historic lighthouse located in the municipality of Aguadilla on the northwestern corner, known as Punta Borinquén, of the main island of Puerto Rico.[3] Situated on the grounds of the former Ramey Air Force Base, the station was established in 1889 by the Spanish government. With the opening of the Panama Canal in 1914, the lighthouse would become "the most important aid to navigation on the route from Europe to Panama".[4] In 1917, the U.S Congress provided funding for a new lighthouse in higher ground.
 Original Punta Borinquén Light, ca. 1898 | |
 | |
| Location | Puerto Rico, Aguadilla, US |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 18°29′19″N 67°09′42″W / 18.48869°N 67.16163°W |
| Tower | |
| Constructed | 1889  |
| Construction | stone (tower), stone (foundation) |
| Height | 18 m (59 ft) |
| Shape | octagonal prism |
| Heritage | National Register of Historic Places listed place |
| Light | |
| First lit | 15 September 1889 |
| Deactivated | 1918 |
| Lens | fourth order Fresnel lens |
| Range | 24 nmi (44 km; 28 mi) |
| 1922 light | |
 Existing tower | |
| Coordinates | 18°29′50″N 67°08′56″W / 18.4972°N 67.1488°W |
| Constructed | 1922 |
| Automated | 1976 |
| Shape | cylinder |
| First lit | 1922 |
| Focal height | 292 ft (89 m) |
| Range | 14 nmi (26 km; 16 mi) |
| Characteristic | Fl(2) W 15s |
Faro de Punta Borinquén[1] | |
| MPS | Lighthouse System of Puerto Rico TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 81000559[2] |
| Added to NRHP | 1981 |
But before construction began on the new structure, the original lighthouse was severely damaged by the 1918 earthquake that struck the west part of the island.[1][5] Construction on the new lighthouse was completed in 1922. The light is active aid to navigation and is a housing facility for the United States Coast Guard.[6]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Faro de Punta Borinquen". Historic American Engineering Record National Park Service. 1979.
- ^ "Inventory of Historic Light Stations National Park Service". Retrieved 2009-05-06.
- ^ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Puerto Rico". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
- ^ "Lighthouses Friends". Retrieved 2009-05-06.
- ^ "Punta Borinquen Lighthouse Ruins". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
- ^ "Historic Light Station Information and Photography: Puerto Rico". United States Coast Guard Historian's Office. Archived from the original on 2017-05-01. Retrieved 2009-05-06.
External links
edit- Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) No. PR-19, "Faro de Punta Borinquen, Punta Borinquen, Borinquen, Aguadilla County, PR", 20 photos, 4 data pages, 2 photo caption pages
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