Cape Spartel Lighthouse, Maritime navigation lighthouse at Cape Spartel, Morocco.
Cape Spartel Lighthouse is a white and blue tower standing 25 meters tall at the point where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic Ocean. Inside, the optical system guides ships through treacherous waters.
French architect Leonce Reynaud designed this square minaret-style tower in 1864 as an important step in Morocco's maritime infrastructure development. The structure marked a turning point in modern navigation along the North African coast.
The lighthouse displays inscriptions that document Morocco's relationships with colonial powers and show how maritime navigation evolved in North Africa. These markings tell of a period when foreign nations controlled key trade routes.
A narrow staircase with 101 steps leads to the lantern room at the top, where the light is visible to sailors far out at sea. Visitors should be ready for a tight climb and breezy conditions at the top.
The tower sits on cliffs rising 326 meters above sea level and stands at the northwesternmost point of the entire African continent. This location makes it symbolically important, offering views where two continents and two seas meet.
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