Cabo Vírgenes Lighthouse, National historical lighthouse in Santa Cruz, Argentina.

Cabo Vírgenes Lighthouse stands at the eastern mouth of the Strait of Magellan, north of Punta Dungeness, 133 km from Río Gallegos. It is a pyramidal metal-framed tower with a double gallery painted in black and white horizontal bands, built in 1904 and run by the Servicio de Hidrografía Naval. Its focal plane sits at 69.5 m and it shows a white flash of 0.7 seconds every 5 seconds, reaching 24 nautical miles.

The lighthouse started operations in 1904 to guide vessels through the treacherous waters of the Strait of Magellan and represented a turning point for maritime safety in this region. Its construction was a crucial step in making this dangerous shipping route safer at the start of the 20th century.

The cape marks the eastern mouth of the Strait of Magellan, and the lighthouse is run by Argentina's Servicio de Hidrografía Naval. From the top of the tower the Punta Dungeness lighthouse, on Chilean territory, is visible across the water, so the spot shows the maritime border between the two countries.

The lighthouse is reached by Provincial Route 1, 133 km south of Río Gallegos. From the top of the tower the Punta Dungeness lighthouse in Chile can be seen across the strait. The wind blows hard on the open cape, so warm, windproof clothing is needed at any time of year.

A large wildlife reserve surrounds the structure, where approximately 90,000 Magellanic penguins nest in their natural habitats. This penguin colony is one of the primary reasons visitors travel to this remote southern location.