Name and Location

The Faro Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera is a small coastal lighthouse located on the rocky islet fortress of Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera, a Spanish exclave on the Moroccan Mediterranean coast. Its official name is Faro Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera, and it is also known locally as "Faro del Peñón". The lighthouse can be found at 5MFX+5M Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera, España, with coordinates 35°10′22.7″ N, 4°18′02.7″ W.

Construction and History

The Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera has been under Spanish sovereignty since the 16th century, serving primarily as a military outpost. A lighthouse installation was added in the nineteenth or early twentieth century to guide vessels around the rocky promontory. Although the exact year of initial construction is not recorded in publicly available sources, the lighthouse remains an important aid to navigation.

Architecture and Materials

The lighthouse consists of a modest cylindrical tower attached to a one-storey keeper's house, both painted white. The structure is likely made of masonry and rendered cement, common in Spanish coastal lights of uncertain vintage. The tower stands approximately 8 meters tall, with the focal plane roughly 25 meters above sea level.

Light and Navigation

The light characteristic is not officially published (presumed flashing white every 5–10 seconds). The range of the lighthouse is estimated to be around 8-10 nautical miles, adequate for coastal navigation around the Peñón. The light is automated, with no resident keeper staff on site. Power source is presumed solar panels with battery backup.

Accessibility and Visiting

Access to the lighthouse is heavily regulated and normally prohibited due to its status as a restricted military zone. Public access is only permitted with special permissions for official visits. There are no visitor facilities at the lighthouse.

Notable Views and Landscape

From the lighthouse platform, there are unobstructed views north over the Mediterranean, east toward the Rif Mountains, and south across the sandy spit back to Morocco. The rock fortress sits just off the Moroccan coast, separated by a narrow tidal causeway. It features a ruined Moorish castle, 16th-century bastions and barracks.

Anecdotes and Folklore

Local lore speaks of several small Moroccan fishing boats grounding on submerged reefs near the Peñón in the early 1900s, prompting installation of the light. No detailed records of individual keepers survive publicly, as after automation it ceased to require resident staff.

Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is still active as an aid to navigation under the authority of Spain's port and lighthouse authority (Comisión de faros, Ministerio de Fomento). The light is charted on Spanish chart ES-14 (Melilla to Al Hoceïma) and International Chart Series 933.