Name and Location

The Coelleira Island Lighthouse (Faro de la Isla de Coelleira) is located off the coast of O Vicedo in the Ría de Viveiro, Galicia, Spain. Its official name is Faro de la Isla de Coelleira, and its seamark name is "Isla Coelleira". The lighthouse is situated on a small rocky islet (Isla Coelleira) a few hundred metres off the coast.

Construction and History

The exact year of construction for the Coelleira Island Lighthouse remains unknown. It was built as a utilitarian maritime light station, likely using reinforced concrete and steel materials typical for minor Spanish lights. The tower form is cylindrical or slightly tapered, but its height above sea level is 89 meters.

Architecture and Materials

The lighthouse's architecture style is utilitarian, and it likely features a reinforced concrete tower with a steel lantern. Unfortunately, the construction materials and early use of the light remain undocumented.

Light and Navigation

The Coelleira Island Lighthouse emits a composite flashing white light with a characteristic pattern of 1 flash + group of 3 flashes + 1 + 3 + 1 + 3 + 1 + 11 in a 24-second cycle. Its nominal range is 7 nautical miles, and it has been adopted in Spanish nautical charts by Puertos del Estado.

Accessibility and Visiting

The lighthouse is not open to general visitors due to the lack of landing stages or visitor facilities. Visitors can access the island by private boat from O Vicedo harbour, but this depends on sea conditions. There are no services or amenities available on the islet itself; the nearest services can be found in O Vicedo.

Notable Views and Landscape

• The surrounding natural environment is a nesting spot for seagulls, cormorants, and occasionally gannets.
• The nearby Praia de As Catedrais (Beach of the Cathedrals) in Ribadeo (~30 km east) and coastal hiking routes along A Mariña Occidental are also worth exploring.

Anecdotes and Folklore

Local legend suggests that the islet once sheltered a hermit monk in the 18th century, but this remains an unverified story. There have been no major shipwrecks directly associated with the light, although local waters have strong currents and submerged rocks.

Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse has been fully automated since its construction date is unknown, and it does not feature on-site keeper's quarters in active use. The US NGA List of Lights (Pub. 113) references this light as D 1684.

Further Information

For further reading, please refer to the US NGA List of Lights (Pub. 113), Wikidata entry Q32999194, and Puertos del Estado's list of Spanish lighthouses (www.puertos.es/seccion/far...).