Name and Location

The El Jazīra al-Munbasṭa Lighthouse, also known locally as Al-Wātiya or Île Plane, is located off the northeastern coast of Tunisia at Raf Raf (Ras Jebel). The lighthouse marks a small islet known in Arabic as “the Flat Island” and serves as a minor navigational aid in Bizerte Governorate.

2. Construction and History

The construction date and commissioning authority of this beacon are unknown, as no formal records have been located. It does not appear in major 19th- or early-20th-century lighthouse registries. Speculation suggests that the structure may date from the late Ottoman or early French Protectorate period (late 19th to early 20th century).

3. Architecture and Materials

The El Jazīra al-Munbasṭa Lighthouse is a small square or cylindrical tower mounted on a low islet, likely constructed using masonry or cast-in-place concrete. The height and focal height of the lighthouse are not documented.

4. Light and Navigation

The function of the lighthouse is to mark the Flat Island for vessels approaching the Gulf of Tunis. It is presumed that the light is minor and automated, with no keeper’s quarters recorded. No published data on the light range or characteristic is available.

5. Accessibility and Visiting

6. Notable Views and Landscape

The El Jazīra al-Munbasṭa Lighthouse lies in a shallow bay characterized by rocky outcrops and salt-tolerant vegetation. From its base, visitors would have panoramic views northward across the Gulf of Tunis and southward toward the trawling nets of local fishermen.

7. Anecdotes and Folklore

Local fishing families occasionally reference a “low white beacon” guiding small boats home after dark. No published legends or keeper stories are associated with this light.

8. Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is presumed to be under the authority of the Tunisian National Company of Lighthouses and Navigation Aids (Société Tunisienne d’Éclairage et de Signalisation Maritime), although not formally listed.

9. Further Information

https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/97835320); Google Maps Plus Code lookup: 58JH+J8 Raf Raf, Tunisia; Tunisian Hydrographic Office publications (for coastal chart numbers).