Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse

Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse (the French name "Les Éclaireurs" means "the Scouts") is a slightly conically shaped lighthouse standing on the northeasternmost island of the five or more Les Eclaireurs islands, which it takes its name from, 5 nautical miles (9 km) east of Ushuaia in the Beagle Channel, Tierra del Fuego, southern Argentina.

Les Eclaireurs
Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse, located in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina
Les Eclaireurs
Tierra del Fuego
Location5 nmi (9.3 km) E of
Ushuaia
Argentina
Coordinates54°52′17.5″S 68°05′0″W
Year first constructed1920
FoundationMasonry base
ConstructionBrick tower
Tower shapeCylindrical tower with balcony and lantern
Markings / patternRed tower with a broad white band, black lantern
Tower height11 metres (36 ft)
Focal height22.5 metres (74 ft)
Light sourceElectric light powered by solar power
RangeWhite: 10 nautical miles (19 km; 12 mi)
Red: 7 nautical miles (13 km; 8.1 mi)[1]
CharacteristicFl WR 5s.[1]
Admiralty numberG1320
NGA number111-2620
ARLHS numberARG-016[2]

History

The brick-built tower is 11 metres (36 ft) high and 3 metres (10 ft) wide at the base, with its windowless wall painted red-white-red and topped by a black lantern housing and gallery. Only a door pointing to the west provides access to the building. The light is 22.5 metres (74 ft) above sealevel emitting white flashes every ten seconds with a range of 7.5 nautical miles (13.9 km). The lighthouse is still in operation, is remote-controlled, automated, uninhabited and is not open to the public, guarding the sea entrance to Ushuaia. Electricity is supplied by solar-panels. The lighthouse was put into service on December 23, 1920.

Les Éclaireurs Lighthouse

It is a popular tourist attraction, reached on short boat tours from Ushuaia. It is known to the Argentines as the Lighthouse at the End of the World (Faro del fin del mundo), although that name is misleading. The lighthouse is often confused with the San Juan de Salvamento lighthouse on the east coast of the remote Isla de los Estados, made famous by Jules Verne in the novel The Lighthouse at the End of the World, which is actually much further east.

See also

References
  • Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Argentina: Tierra del Fuego". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
  1. List of Lights, Pub. 111: The West Coasts of North and South America (Excluding Continental U.S.A. and Hawaii), Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, and the Islands of the North and South Pacific Oceans (PDF). List of Lights. United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. 2017.
  2. Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Argentina: Tierra del Fuego". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
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