Ponta das Contendas Lighthouse
Encyclopedia
The Ponta das Contendas Lighthouse is located at Contendas Point, on the island of Terceira
, in the Portuguese
archipelago of the Azores
.
By 1902 the lighthouse had not yet been built. A new commission judged that Ponta de São Jorge was too obscure, and judged that a more convenient site would be Ponta das Contendas. The revised project substituted the second-order lantern for a fifth-order light, with six clarions.
A parcel of land owned by Manuel Ferreira Lourença was purchased in 1926 for 1200$00 réis
(equivalent to 6 Euros). Finally, in 1930, the construction of the lighthouse began, under the direction of António Tomaz. On 1 February 1934, the completed lighthouse was inaugurated, with the installed third-order lamp (with a 500 millimetre focal distance). At the inauguration:
The mechanism allowed for a fifteen second beacon interval, using a incandescent bulb powered by petroleum gas, resulting in a visible range of 32 miles (51.5 km).
On 1 June 1958, the beacon was electrified. The new electric bulb increased the light's visible range to 38 miles (61.2 km).
In 1964, a paved road to the lighthouse and connections to the public water system were finally completed.
The lighthouse began to operate with a 1000 watt/120 volt lamp in 1983, reducing its range to 26 miles (41.8 km), or 23 nautical miles. This was followed in 1985 by the introduction of a two-sector red lamp, with the objective of assisting navigation in the most dangerous sectors, including those near the islets of Fradinhos.
In 1998, the connection to the public electrical network was completed.
On 1 February 2009, the lighthouse celebrated 75 years of operation on the Contendas Point. Presiding over the ceremony were representatives of the Portuguese and Azorean governments, the Maritime Department, and the Captain of the Port Authority of Angra do Heroísmo
. Invited guests included the President of the local government, the Commandant of the Command Zone of the Azores, commander of the Air Base No. 4
, U.S. Forces Commander, the President of the Historical Institute of Terceira, and other representatives of local authorities. Public activities which accompanied the speeches included the unveiling of an azulejo
to mark the anniversary, the activation of a private radio transmitter, visits by 500 children from 14 schools in Angra do Heroísmo, Porto Judeu, São Sebastião, Praia da Vitória, Areeiro-Fontinhas, Vila Nova, Agualva, Outeiro, and general guided tours with a film "Faróis de Portugal, cinco séculos de história".
Its plan is composed of four inter-connected rectangular rooms connected by a central body (taking the form of a "H"), on which the main 13 metre-high prismatic white tower is surmounted by a red cupola
. The lighthouse building complex consists of three spaces for lighthouse-keepers, two cistern
s, an office and inspection room. The first floor terrace
gives access to the tower, through two narrow openings, to the terrace, and from there to the dome structure, which is manufactured steel topped by a weathervane. The building, which is circled by a cornice
and terrace, is painted white. The light terrace and the lamp housing atop the building are painted red. The structure is interspersed with square sash windows and sills.
It is illuminated by crystal optic, with a third-order Fresnel
rotation beacon, with a 500 millimetre focal length. The light characteristic is four flashes every fifteen seconds (Gp Fl.(4)W.R. 15s), white on 220°-020° and 044°-072° and red otherwise. It is visible for 23 nautical miles (42.6 km).
Terceira Island
Referred to as the “Ilha Lilás” , Terceira is an island in the Azores archipelago, in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean. It is one of the larger islands of the archipelago, with a population of 56,000 inhabitants in an area of approximately 396.75 km²...
, in the Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
archipelago of the Azores
Azores
The Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
.
History
On 2 March 1882, the Comissão dos Faróis e Balizas (Commission on Lighthouses and Beacons) released the first plans for the installation of a lighthouse in Ponta das Contendas, equipped with a second-order lantern, that would illuminate a 240º focal range with 4 clarions (three white and one red). A year later, there was a determination that Ponta de São Jorge would be a better candidate.By 1902 the lighthouse had not yet been built. A new commission judged that Ponta de São Jorge was too obscure, and judged that a more convenient site would be Ponta das Contendas. The revised project substituted the second-order lantern for a fifth-order light, with six clarions.
A parcel of land owned by Manuel Ferreira Lourença was purchased in 1926 for 1200$00 réis
Portuguese real
The real was the unit of currency of Portugal from around 1430 until 1911. It replaced the dinheiro at the rate of 1 real = 840 dinheiros and was itself replaced by the escudo at a rate of 1 escudo = 1000 réis...
(equivalent to 6 Euros). Finally, in 1930, the construction of the lighthouse began, under the direction of António Tomaz. On 1 February 1934, the completed lighthouse was inaugurated, with the installed third-order lamp (with a 500 millimetre focal distance). At the inauguration:
After all the preparations and at the arrival of the hour, the lighthouse chief lit and put into function the optics, His Excellency the Captain of the Port gave a speech to the people.
The mechanism allowed for a fifteen second beacon interval, using a incandescent bulb powered by petroleum gas, resulting in a visible range of 32 miles (51.5 km).
On 1 June 1958, the beacon was electrified. The new electric bulb increased the light's visible range to 38 miles (61.2 km).
In 1964, a paved road to the lighthouse and connections to the public water system were finally completed.
The lighthouse began to operate with a 1000 watt/120 volt lamp in 1983, reducing its range to 26 miles (41.8 km), or 23 nautical miles. This was followed in 1985 by the introduction of a two-sector red lamp, with the objective of assisting navigation in the most dangerous sectors, including those near the islets of Fradinhos.
In 1998, the connection to the public electrical network was completed.
On 1 February 2009, the lighthouse celebrated 75 years of operation on the Contendas Point. Presiding over the ceremony were representatives of the Portuguese and Azorean governments, the Maritime Department, and the Captain of the Port Authority of Angra do Heroísmo
Angra do Heroísmo
Angra do Heroísmo , locally referred to as Angra, is a municipality and city on the island of Terceira, within the Portuguese autonomous region of the Azores. The municipal area has a population of 35,581 and an area of . Along with Praia da Vitória to the north, it is one of two municipal...
. Invited guests included the President of the local government, the Commandant of the Command Zone of the Azores, commander of the Air Base No. 4
Lajes Field
Lajes Field or Lajes Air Base , officially designated Air Base No. 4 , is a multi-use air field, home to the Portuguese Air Force Base Aérea Nº4 and Azores Air Zone Command , a United States Air Force detachment , and a regional air passenger terminal located near Lajes...
, U.S. Forces Commander, the President of the Historical Institute of Terceira, and other representatives of local authorities. Public activities which accompanied the speeches included the unveiling of an azulejo
Azulejo
Azulejo from the Arabic word Zellige زليج is a form of Portuguese or Spanish painted, tin-glazed, ceramic tilework. They have become a typical aspect of Portuguese culture, having been produced without interruption for five centuries...
to mark the anniversary, the activation of a private radio transmitter, visits by 500 children from 14 schools in Angra do Heroísmo, Porto Judeu, São Sebastião, Praia da Vitória, Areeiro-Fontinhas, Vila Nova, Agualva, Outeiro, and general guided tours with a film "Faróis de Portugal, cinco séculos de história".
Architecture
Located along the maritime coast, in the south-east corner of the island of Terceira, called Ponta das Contendas, it is situated in an elevated zone, resulting in a focal point that is 54 metres above sea level. Although protected by a wall, the lighthouse (ARLHS AZO-007; PT-745; Admiralty D2664; NGA 23532) is on the edge of a high cliff, and accessible only from the Estrada 509, alongside several agricultural fields.Its plan is composed of four inter-connected rectangular rooms connected by a central body (taking the form of a "H"), on which the main 13 metre-high prismatic white tower is surmounted by a red cupola
Cupola
In architecture, a cupola is a small, most-often dome-like, structure on top of a building. Often used to provide a lookout or to admit light and air, it usually crowns a larger roof or dome....
. The lighthouse building complex consists of three spaces for lighthouse-keepers, two cistern
Cistern
A cistern is a waterproof receptacle for holding liquids, usually water. Cisterns are often built to catch and store rainwater. Cisterns are distinguished from wells by their waterproof linings...
s, an office and inspection room. The first floor terrace
Terrace (building)
A terrace is an outdoor, occupiable extension of a building above ground level. Although its physical characteristics may vary to a great degree, a terrace will generally be larger than a balcony and will have an "open-top" facing the sky...
gives access to the tower, through two narrow openings, to the terrace, and from there to the dome structure, which is manufactured steel topped by a weathervane. The building, which is circled by a cornice
Cornice
Cornice molding is generally any horizontal decorative molding that crowns any building or furniture element: the cornice over a door or window, for instance, or the cornice around the edge of a pedestal. A simple cornice may be formed just with a crown molding.The function of the projecting...
and terrace, is painted white. The light terrace and the lamp housing atop the building are painted red. The structure is interspersed with square sash windows and sills.
It is illuminated by crystal optic, with a third-order Fresnel
Fresnel lens
A Fresnel lens is a type of lens originally developed by French physicist Augustin-Jean Fresnel for lighthouses.The design allows the construction of lenses of large aperture and short focal length without the mass and volume of material that would be required by a lens of conventional design...
rotation beacon, with a 500 millimetre focal length. The light characteristic is four flashes every fifteen seconds (Gp Fl.(4)W.R. 15s), white on 220°-020° and 044°-072° and red otherwise. It is visible for 23 nautical miles (42.6 km).