Name and Location

The Masplomas Lighthouse, also known locally as El Faro, is a landmark situated at the southern tip of Gran Canaria, Spain. Its official address is Plaza del Faro, 15, 35100 Maspalomas, San Bartolomé de Tirajana, Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Spain.

Construction and History

The Masplomas Lighthouse was constructed between 1886 and 1890. It was officially inaugurated on February 1, 1890. The lighthouse was designed by Engineer Juan León y Castillo, with characteristic features of late-19th-century Spanish lighthouse works. Its purpose was to serve the increasing maritime traffic between Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

Architecture and Materials

The Masplomas Lighthouse is an eclectic historicist structure with neoclassical elements. It has a cylindrical tower attached to a two-storey keeper's house. The building materials used are masonry (stone and brick), whitewashed plaster exterior, and flat concrete roof on the keeper's quarters. The tower stands 56 meters above ground level and has a focal height of 60 meters above mean sea level.

Light and Navigation

The lighthouse features a flashing white light in a complex group sequence every 13 seconds. Its range is approximately 19 nautical miles. Originally, it used oil-vapor as its light source; today, it employs halogen or LED within a Fresnel lens assembly. The reference on nautical charts is Admiralty D 2814, NGA 11320, and IALA-B region.

Accessibility and Visiting

The lighthouse grounds are open to the public 24 hours a day, free of charge. However, the tower interior is closed to visitors due to safety concerns. To reach the lighthouse, one can take a car or taxi along Av. Cristóbal Colón, then continue on foot for approximately 200 meters east. Alternatively, one can use the global bus service lines from Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés (stop "Faro de Maspalomas") or walk/bike along the coastal promenade.

Notable Views and Landscape

The lighthouse offers a panoramic outlook over the Maspalomas Dunes to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the south. The surrounding landscape features nearby attractions such as the Maspalomas Dunes Natural Reserve, Charca (lagoon), Maspalomas golf course, Meloneras resort and promenade.

Anecdotes and Folklore

The lighthouse has a rich folklore surrounding it, including the legend of "La leyenda de la novia del faro" (the lighthouse bride), a tale of a bride lost at sea whose ghostly veil is said to appear at dusk near the lantern. Former keepers have also spoken of seeing phosphorescent "sea-sparks" on stormy nights, inspiring their wives to keep a nightly vigil.

Technical and Operational Details

The Masplomas Lighthouse was automated in 1984, marking the end of an era for its keeper's families. Although the tower is no longer occupied, it occasionally hosts cultural exhibits or private events.

Further Information

For further reading, please refer to US NGA Pub. 113 "List of Lights, Atlantic Coast of Europe" (2011-10-20), "Faros de Canarias," Gobierno de Canarias, 2005, and the Spanish Wikipedia article on Faro de Maspalomas.