Phare de La Caravelle, Maritime lighthouse in La Trinité, Martinique.
The Phare de La Caravelle is a lighthouse on the peninsula of the same name on the eastern coast of Martinique, standing about 162 meters above sea level. The tower rises from a basalt peak and is painted white, with a structure designed to meet modern maritime navigation requirements.
The lighthouse was built between 1860 and 1861 during the reign of Napoleon III and began operations in 1862. Over the following decades, the facility underwent several upgrades to its power systems to meet changing maritime navigation needs.
The lighthouse sits on the Caravelle peninsula and has defined the eastern shoreline of Martinique since the 1800s. Locals and visitors recognize it as a symbol of the island's maritime identity and its deep connection to the Atlantic Ocean.
Visitors reach the lighthouse on foot via a path that winds through vegetation and rocky terrain, requiring a reasonable level of fitness. The best time to visit is early morning or late afternoon when the sun does not beat directly on the open cliffs and visibility toward the sea is better.
The lighthouse was automated in 1970 and no longer required lighthouse keepers to live on site. This shift to remote operation was a significant step in modernizing Martinique's maritime infrastructure at that time.
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