Semáforo de Anaga, Signal tower in Igueste de San Andrés, Spain.
The Semáforo de Anaga is a signal tower perched on a cliff about 200 meters (650 feet) above sea level, consisting of a rectangular main building attached to a hexagonal observation structure. The facility includes preserved water storage tanks, an external baking oven, and a 16-meter (52-foot) signal mast with a crosshead designed to hold and move flags.
Construction of the station began in 1880 as part of Spain's coastal defense and maritime monitoring system, with operations starting in 1895. The facility operated for 75 years until it was decommissioned in 1970 when modern communication technology made flag signals obsolete.
The semaphore demonstrates how people communicated across the sea in the late 1800s using only flags and lights, a system that connected ships and coastal settlements before radio existed. Visitors can see the elevated position and the wide viewing angles that made this maritime signaling method effective.
The site is accessible by hiking trail PR-TF 5.1, which starts near Igueste church and requires steady climbing over rocky terrain. Bring proper hiking boots and prepare for windy, exposed conditions typical of coastal cliff locations.
The station contains two original water cisterns that reveal how the crew lived self-sufficiently at this isolated cliff post, requiring careful management of freshwater resources. These practical features tell the story of daily life far from town in a remote coastal location.
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