Cabo de Santa Maria Lighthouse, Maritime lighthouse in Culatra Island, Portugal
Cabo de Santa Maria Lighthouse is a white cylindrical tower on Culatra Island that rises approximately 46 meters above the water. The structure has a robust masonry construction with a distinctive red lantern room at its top.
The lighthouse was built in 1851 to guide vessels through Algarve waters. It underwent modernization over the decades and was fully automated in 1997.
The structure reflects Portuguese maritime architecture and continues to guide vessels through the waters of the Algarve region.
The tower sits on Culatra Island within Ria Formosa Natural Park, accessible only by boat from the mainland. Weather conditions should be checked before visiting since the island is exposed to Atlantic winds.
The lighthouse uses a third-order Fresnel lens system that creates a powerful and precise light beam for maritime navigation. This optical technology allows the tower to warn ships across considerable distances and remains a fine example of 19th-century navigation engineering.
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