Lighthouse of Colonia, Lighthouse in historic quarter, Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay.
The Colonia lighthouse is a white stone structure that rises above the old town and the Rio de la Plata river. The building stands roughly 34 meters tall and is marked by a red flash that occurs every eight seconds.
Work on the lighthouse began in 1845 but was interrupted by civil war and only completed in 1857. Since then it has been guiding ships across the waterways.
The lighthouse sits upon the foundations of a 17th century convent that once guided seafarers as a landmark. This link between religious history and maritime function shapes how locals and visitors understand the site today.
Visitors can climb to the top on most days and see the old town and river from above. The building is easy to reach on foot from the main streets of the historic district.
The lighthouse was later equipped with solar power and modern LED technology to reach ships across greater distances. This blend of historic structure and contemporary systems shows how the building has adapted over time.
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