Ilha de Santana Lighthouse

Ilha de Santana Lighthouses
Farol da Ilha de Santana
Location	Ilha de Santana, Maranhão, Brazil
Coordinates	2°16′14″S 43°37′26″W / 2.2706°S 43.6239°W
First lighthouse
Constructed	1831
Construction	masonry (tower)
Height	31 m (102 ft)
First lit	1 June 1831
Deactivated	1861
Range	18 nmi (33 km; 21 mi)
Second lighthouse
Constructed	1861
Construction	masonry (tower)
Height	26 m (85 ft)
Shape	square
First lit	26 January 1961
Deactivated	1883
Third lighthouse
Constructed	1883
Construction	cast iron
Height	42 m (138 ft)
Shape	skeletal pyramidal tower with central cylinder atop a 2-storey cylindrical cast iron base
First lit	2 December 1883
Deactivated	1964
Focal height	46 m (151 ft)
Lens	second order Fresnel lens
Ilha de Santana Lighthouse
Constructed	1964
Construction	concrete
Height	49 m (161 ft)
Shape	tapered cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern
Markings	white (tower), white (lantern)
Operator	Brazilian Navy
Racon	B
First lit	1 July 1964
Focal height	57 m (187 ft)
Range	31 nmi (57 km; 36 mi) (white), 25 nmi (46 km; 29 mi) (red)
Characteristic	Al Fl(2) W (1) R 51s
Brazil no.	BR-0804

Ilha de Santana Lighthouse (Portuguese: Farol da Ilha de Santana) is an active lighthouse on the namesake island located at the east entrance of the Baía de São Marcos, Maranhão, Brazil

Description edit

The first lighthouse was lit on June 1, 1831, though the construction has been authorized since June 1822.^[1] The masonry tower was built in three years, close to the beach in a place without stone; it was 31 metres (102 ft) high and the lantern was equipped with a rotating catoptrics lens with a range of 18 nautical miles (33 km; 21 mi). Soon after the lighthouse was threatened by the sea erosion and the efforts made to save it were unsuccessfully.

It was decided to build a new lighthouse far away; it had a quadrangular shape and a height of 26 metres (85 ft). The original rotating system was transferred on the new lighthouse which was lit on January 26, 1961. Years later the sea erosion was damaging the second lighthouse, therefore a third lighthouse was built. It was built a cast iron pyramidal skeletal tower prefabricated in England by Armstrong, Mitchell and Company. The new white painted lighthouse was lit on December 2, 1883, and the lantern was equipped with a 2nd order of Fresnel lens, built by Chance Brothers, emitting a white and red light. With the passing of the years the cast iron tower underwent a progressive deteriorating, caused by the rust, and the construction of a new lighthouse was essential.

The current cylindrical tower was built in concrete, with balcony and lantern by side the former; it has a height of 49 metres (161 ft) and was lit on July 1, 1964.^[2] The lantern and the optical device were moved from the old lighthouse to the new one. The cast iron tower was partially dismantled and few years ago was completely demolished. The lighthouse emits two long alternate white flashes and one red every 51 seconds visible up to 31 nautical miles (57 km; 36 mi) for the white light and 25 nautical miles (46 km; 29 mi) for that red. The lighthouse is managed by Brazilian Navy and is identified by the country code number BR-0804.^[3]