Faro del Gran Roque, Maritime lighthouse in Los Roques archipelago, Venezuela.
Faro del Gran Roque is a white stone lighthouse on Gran Roque island, rising 18 meters above the landscape and equipped with an automated light system to guide vessels through Caribbean waters. The structure features a sturdy construction built from coral stone and limestone, designed to withstand the harsh marine climate of the archipelago.
The Venezuelan government commissioned Dutch engineer Cornelius Luis Boyé in 1864 to construct this navigation aid, with the project completed in 1874. The lighthouse marks an important phase of infrastructure development for Caribbean maritime traffic.
The lighthouse stands as a central element of Los Roques National Park, established in 1972 to protect the marine ecosystem and coral formations.
Visitors reach the lighthouse via a walking path from Cerro El Calvario that leads through the village of Gran Roque to its elevated position. The route is straightforward to walk and offers views of the island landscape during the ascent.
The structure originally operated with a carbide lighting system to guide ships through the archipelago before transitioning to automated systems. This early lighting method was a technical advancement for maritime navigation of its era.
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