Faro da Illa de Ons, Lighthouse in Ons Island, Spain.
Faro da Illa de Ons is a stone lighthouse on Ons Island, rising 12 meters above the island with optical equipment designed to help ships navigate. The light beam can be seen from far distances and provides essential guidance to mariners passing through these Atlantic waters.
The first lighthouse was lit on 13 April 1865 at the island's highest point, a fifth-order light with a range of 17 miles, initially burning olive oil and later petroleum. Under the 1902 Lighting Reform Plan a more powerful light was installed in 1904, but this proved insufficient, so a new octagonal stone tower was built on the old base and inaugurated on 4 July 1926.
The lighthouse forms part of the Atlantic Islands of Galicia Natural Park, representing the connection between maritime safety and environmental conservation.
Ons Island lies about 8 km west of the Ría de Pontevedra and is reached by passenger ferry from Sanxenxo, at least in summer. The lighthouse stands at the island's highest point, in the centre, so the walk up is exposed; bring water and check the return ferry time before setting out.
The structure stands adjacent to zones of marine biodiversity, serving both as a navigational beacon and a vantage point for observing ocean wildlife.
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