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Punta Borinquén Light

Coordinates: 18°29′19″N 67°09′42″W / 18.48869°N 67.16163°W / 18.48869; -67.16163
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Punta Borinquen Light
Faro de Punta Borinquen
Original Punta Borinquén Light, ca. 1898
Map
LocationPuerto Rico, Aguadilla, US
Coordinates18°29′19″N 67°09′42″W / 18.48869°N 67.16163°W / 18.48869; -67.16163
Tower
Constructed1889 Edit this on Wikidata
Constructionstone (tower), stone (foundation) Edit this on Wikidata
Height18 m (59 ft) Edit this on Wikidata
Shapeoctagonal prism Edit this on Wikidata
HeritageNational Register of Historic Places listed place Edit this on Wikidata
Light
First lit15 September 1889 Edit this on Wikidata
Deactivated1918 Edit this on Wikidata
Lensfourth order Fresnel lens Edit this on Wikidata
Range24 nmi (44 km; 28 mi) Edit this on Wikidata
1922 light Edit this at Wikidata
Existing tower
Coordinates18°29′50″N 67°08′56″W / 18.4972°N 67.1488°W / 18.4972; -67.1488
Constructed1922 Edit this on Wikidata
Automated1976 Edit this on Wikidata
Shapecylinder Edit this on Wikidata
First lit1922 Edit this on Wikidata
Focal height292 ft (89 m) Edit this on Wikidata
Range14 nmi (26 km; 16 mi) Edit this on Wikidata
CharacteristicFl(2) W 15s Edit this on Wikidata
Faro de Punta Borinquén[1]
MPSLighthouse System of Puerto Rico TR
NRHP reference No.81000559[2]
Added to NRHP1981

Punta Borinquén Light (Faro de Punta Borinquen) is a historic lighthouse located in the municipality of Aguadilla on the northwestern corner, known as Punta Borinquén, of the main island of Puerto Rico.[3] Situated on the grounds of the former Ramey Air Force Base, the station was established in 1889 by the Spanish government. With the opening of the Panama Canal in 1914, the lighthouse would become "the most important aid to navigation on the route from Europe to Panama".[4] In 1917, the U.S Congress provided funding for a new lighthouse in higher ground.

But before construction began on the new structure, the original lighthouse was severely damaged by the 1918 earthquake that struck the west part of the island.[1][5] Construction on the new lighthouse was completed in 1922. The light is active aid to navigation and is a housing facility for the United States Coast Guard.[6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Faro de Punta Borinquen". Historic American Engineering Record National Park Service. 1979.
  2. ^ "Inventory of Historic Light Stations National Park Service". Retrieved 2009-05-06.
  3. ^ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Puerto Rico". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
  4. ^ "Lighthouses Friends". Retrieved 2009-05-06.
  5. ^ "Punta Borinquen Lighthouse Ruins". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  6. ^ "Historic Light Station Information and Photography: Puerto Rico". United States Coast Guard Historian's Office. Archived from the original on 2017-05-01. Retrieved 2009-05-06.
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