Name and Location

The Faro da Punta Cabalo, also known as the Punta Cabalo Lighthouse, is an active coastal lighthouse located on the easternmost tip of A Illa de Arousa, the largest island in the Ría de Arousa estuary, Galicia, Spain. The official address is Rúa do Faro, H4C8+X9, A Illa de Arousa, 36626 Pontevedra, Spain.

2. Construction and History

The Faro da Punta Cabalo was constructed in the early 20th century to replace earlier day-marks and improve safety in the busy Ría de Arousa. The exact year of construction is not publicly documented. Its purpose is to guide local fishing and leisure vessels through one of Galicia's busiest rías, known for shellfish beds and strong tides.

3. Architecture and Materials

The lighthouse features a cylindrical masonry tower attached to a one-storey keeper's house. The materials used are local stone and concrete, whitewashed with a single red horizontal band (consistent with regional schemes). The tower is approximately 9 meters above ground level and 20 meters above sea level.

4. Light and Navigation

The lighthouse emits two flashes every 10 seconds, with white and red sectors. Its nominal range is approximately 9 nautical miles. The light characteristic is Fl(2) (two flashes). The power supply is mains electricity with emergency battery backup, and the lighthouse is fully automated.

5. Accessibility and Visiting

The grounds of the lighthouse are open to the public at all times, but the tower interior is closed to visitors. Visitors can reach the site by car or on foot via the coastal path from the village of Vilanova. Parking is available nearby. There are no dedicated installations for AIS/radar; vessels rely on chart and GPS.

6. Notable Views and Landscape

The lighthouse stands on a rocky headland overlooking oyster beds and the open Atlantic mouth of the Ría de Arousa. Panoramic views of neighboring islands and the Galician coast can be enjoyed from this location.

7. Anecdotes and Folklore

Local fishermen speak of faint "ghost" flashes seen on stormy nights, once attributed to a sub-surface reef that lies just beyond the lighthouse's red sector.

8. Technical and Operational Details

The technical specifications of the lighthouse include a tower height of approximately 9 meters above ground level, a focal height of circa 20 meters above sea level, and a nominal range of approximately 9 nautical miles.

9. Further Information

For further information, please consult the official portal of Ports of Galicia (in Spanish), Instituto Hidrográfico de la Marina's List of Lights (Spain), Concello de A Illa de Arousa's tourist brochure "Beaches and Lighthouses," or the Spanish Wikipedia page on Faro da Punta Cabalo.