Name and Location

The El Faro de Punta de Arinaga is a major coastal lighthouse located on the eastern shore of Gran Canaria (Canary Islands, Spain). It marks a prominent headland and guides vessels navigating the eastern approaches to the island. The address is Paseo del Faro (P.º del Faro), 35118 Arinaga, Agüimes, Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Spain. The coordinates are 27°51′50.7″ N, 15°23′03″ W.

Construction and History

The exact date of construction is not documented, but the lighthouse likely dates from the late 20th century, replacing informal beacons used previously by local fishermen. No well-documented shipwrecks or notable keeper stories are publicly recorded.

Architecture and Materials

The El Faro de Punta de Arinaga is a cylindrical concrete tower with a gallery and lantern. The height of the focal plane is 47 meters above sea level. The construction materials used are reinforced concrete, painted finish. The architectural style is functional, late-20th-century utilitarian design.

Light and Navigation

The light type is electric and automated. The Admiralty reference is D 2812. The light pattern is a group flashing of three every ten seconds (Fl (3) 10 s). There are sectors and colors: white for the range of 12 nautical miles, and red for the range of 9 nautical miles.

Accessibility and Visiting

The lighthouse is situated at sea-level on a rocky promontory, adjacent to a renovated coastal promenade and public car park. Access is open to the public grounds; walk up the paved "Paseo del Faro" from Arinaga village or park near the base. The interior of the lantern and equipment rooms are restricted.

Notable Views and Landscape

From the lighthouse promontory, one enjoys panoramic views of the Atlantic horizon, the rugged volcanic coastline, and nearby Roque de Gando islet. On clear days, the silhouette of Tenerife's Mount Teide can be seen to the southwest. Sunrise vistas over the open sea are also available.

Anecdotes and Folklore

There is no well-documented history or anecdotes about this lighthouse. It seems that the lighthouse was built as a functional, utilitarian structure with little attention paid to its historical or cultural significance.

Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is fully automated and unmanned, monitored remotely by the Port Authority of Las Palmas. There are no installed AIS/radar systems on the tower. The Spanish Hydrographic Office chart is 1A (Gran Canaria east coast).

Further Information

For further information, visit the Port Authority of Las Palmas – official website, which lists lighthouses like El Faro de Punta de Arinaga. You can also consult the Wikimedia Commons image File:Faro_de_Arinaga.jpg and the Spanish Wikipedia article "Faro de Punta de Arinaga".