Punta Martiño Lighthouse, Lighthouse on Lobos Island, La Oliva, Spain
Punta Martiño Lighthouse is a small navigation structure on the northeastern shore of Lobos Island, consisting of a cylindrical stone tower rising 6 meters above a single-story yellow keeper's house. The tower emits a white light signal to guide maritime traffic through the Bocaina Strait between Lanzarote and Fuerteventura.
The lighthouse was designed in 1865 by architect Juan León y Castillo and took five years to complete due to the challenges of transporting basalt stone and construction materials across the water between the islands. This difficult logistics determined the length of the construction period.
The name refers to the nearby Martiño cove, long known to fishing communities in the area. Its yellow-painted keeper's house became a familiar landmark for boat captains and island visitors navigating the strait.
The structure is located on Lobos Island, which is only accessible by boat from the neighboring islands of Lanzarote or Fuerteventura. Visitors should plan for boat travel time and check sea conditions, as weather can affect access to the island.
The final lighthouse keeper, Antonio Hernández Páez, raised eight children at this remote station and served fish soup to visitors who came to Lobos Island. His family's life there reveals how isolated and self-reliant island lighthouse keeping was before modern automation.
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