Punta Sardegna Lighthouse

Punta Sardegna Lighthouse (Italian: Faro di Punta Sardegna) is an active lighthouse located on the northern end of the granite promontory of Punta Sardegna, in front of the Maddalena archipelago, in the municipality of Palau on the Strait of Bonifacio.

Punta Sardegna

Punta Sardegna Lighthouse
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Location	Palau Sardinia Italy
Coordinates	41°12′25″N 9°21′46″E
Year first constructed	1913
Automated	1975
Construction	granite tower
Tower shape	quadrangular tower with balcony and lantern atop a 2-storey keeper's house
Markings / pattern	white keeper's house, tower, balcony and lantern, grey metallic lantern dome
Tower height	15 metres (49 ft)
Focal height	38 metres (125 ft)
Current lens	type TD 375 Focal length: 187.5 mm
Light source	solar power
Intensity	MaxiHalo-60 EFF
Range	11 nautical miles (20 km; 13 mi)
Characteristic	Fl W 5s.
Fog signal	no
Admiralty number	E0950
NGA number	8836
ARLHS number	SAR-036
Italy number	1030 E.F.
Managing agent	Coastal and Marine Geomorphology Group and Marina Militare[1][2]

History

The lighthouse was built in 1913 and consists of a granite quadrangular tower, 15 metres (49 ft) high, with balcony and lantern atop a 2-storey keeper's house. The building and the tower are painted white, the lantern dome in grey metallic. The lighthouse was electrified in 1935 and automated in 1975 when the last keeper left; in the years 1946 and 1947 the work was carried out by a woman, Genoveffa Balzano.[3] For twenty years the lighthouse remained in complete abandonment until 1995, when the structure was given, by the Marina Militare in free perpetual concession, to the Universities of Trieste and Cagliari as seat of the Coastal and Marine Geomorphology Group (OCEANS).

In 1998 an agreement was signed between the two Universities and the City of Palau and extended in 2008 to the Province of Olbia-Tempio. Renovation work, carried out by the municipality, began and the research Centre was opened on June 3, 2005; it can accommodate up to 16 researchers.[4]

Description

The light is positioned at 38 metres (125 ft) above sea level and emits one white flash in a 5 seconds period visible up to a distance of 11 nautical miles (20 km; 13 mi). The light is completely automated, powered by a solar unit and managed by the Marina Militare with the identification code number 1030 E.F.; the building is managed by the Coastal and Marine Geomorphology Group.[2]

See also

• List of lighthouses in Italy

References

1. "Lighthouses of Italy: Northern Sardinia". The Lighthouse Directory. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
2. "Punta Sardegna". Marina Militare. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
3. "Punta Sardegna uno storico faro". La Nuova Sardegna. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
4. "I cent'anni del Faro di Punta Sardegna". Gallura Informazione. Retrieved March 27, 2018.

External links

• Servizio Fari Marina Militare
• Coastal and Marine Geomorphology Group (CMGG)