Name and Location

Punta del Carnero Lighthouse (Faro de Punta Carnero) is an active coastal light marking the western entrance to the Bay of Gibraltar, located in Algeciras, Cádiz, Andalusia, Spain. The address is 3HGF+RF Algeciras, and the coordinates are 36°04′37″ N, 5°25′34″ W.

2. Construction and History

The Punta del Carnero Lighthouse was first lit in 1874 and has been an important navigational aid under Spanish maritime authority ever since. The lighthouse's construction era is late 19th century.

3. Architecture and Materials

The tower is a cylindrical masonry structure with a lantern and gallery, painted white. The focal height above sea level is 42 meters.

4. Light and Navigation

The light characteristic is a group of four flashes every 20 seconds (Fl (4) 20 s). There are two sectors: White sector (18° → 325°, range 16 nautical miles), and Red sector (325° → 18°, range 13 nautical miles). The sequence for both sectors is 1.5-second flash + 2 seconds.

5. Accessibility and Visiting

The tower and lantern are closed to public entry, but the headland and base can be reached on foot or by car via the CA-34 coastal road. There is a small parking area 200 meters inland. Visitors can access the headland freely at all hours.

6. Notable Views and Landscape

From the lighthouse's location, visitors can enjoy panoramic views over the Pillars of Hercules (Gibraltar Rock to the east; Jebel Musa in Morocco to the south). The surrounding landscape features coastal paths linking to Playa de Getares and the Algeciras Natural Park.

7. Anecdotes and Folklore

In the past, keepers' quarters stood adjacent to the tower, with stories of solitary watch-keepers braving Mediterranean storms to maintain the lens mechanism. During World War II, the cape's strategic position brought periodic naval patrols, with local lore recalling flickering light signals used to verify friendly vessels.

8. Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is fully automated and has no resident keepers since mid-20th century. It is managed by Comisión de Faros, Dirección General de la Marina Mercante (DGMM), SASEMAR. The lighthouse's nautical chart reference is D 2420.

9. Further Information

For further information, please refer to the Spanish Wikipedia page at https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faro_de_Punta_Carnero and Wikidata at https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3211185.