Versão portuguesa aqui.

GPS 36.9296410207922, -25.016189185981204

​The Lighthouses and Beacons Commission already proposed in 1881 the establishment of a lighthouse at Ponta do Castelo, on the island of S. Maria. The plan would not materialize as quickly as its authors might have hoped. The project for its construction, dated March 6, 1925, was budgeted at 250,000$00.

For the construction of the lighthouse, land had to be purchased from different owners, some by way of transfer, others for the amount of three thousand four hundred escudos.

The Gonçalo Velho lighthouse came into operation on November 15, 1927. The lighthouse was named after the navigator who discovered the island. It is located in Ponta do Castelo in the SE part of S. Maria Island. It has a tower 14 meters high and 114 meters high. It was equipped with a 3rd order lenticular apparatus, large model (500 mm focal length), the main light source being BBT gas, and had as a reserve the incandescence by oil vapor and a constant level lamp. The rotation of the optics was produced by the watchmaking machine.

The upper part of the dome was made of glass to give it the characteristic of an airship.

In 1934, another house was built in order to increase the capacity of the lighthouse and a few years later (1955), the engine room and fuel tank were built.

The lighthouse was electrified in 1957 with the assembly of generating sets, changing the light source to a 3000W 120V incandescent lamp.

The clockwork machine gave way to an electric rotating motor in 1971.

In 1987 the lighthouse was automated with the DF model system. The power of the light source was reduced with the installation of a 1000W 120V halogen lamp. In the same year, ant beacon monitoring equipment was installed.

It was electrified with electricity from the public grid in 1991​.

LOCATION: On the SE point (point of the Castle) of S. Maria Island

FUNCTION: Coastal

ESTABLISHMENT: November 15, 1927

LATITUDE: 36º 55.72'N - 36º 55.78' N (WGS)

LONGITUDE: 25º 0.99'W - 25º 00.97' W (WGS)

HEIGHT: 14 meters

ALTITUDE: 114 meters

RANGE: 25 Miles (46.3KM)

FEATURE: FI(3)W 13.5s

OPTICS 3rd Order, large model (500 mm focal length)​.

Versão portuguesa aqui.

GPS 36.9296410207922, -25.016189185981204

​The Lighthouses and Beacons Commission already proposed in 1881 the establishment of a lighthouse at Ponta do Castelo, on the island of S. Maria. The plan would not materialize as quickly as its authors might have hoped. The project for its construction, dated March 6, 1925, was budgeted at 250,000$00.

For the construction of the lighthouse, land had to be purchased from different owners, some by way of transfer, others for the amount of three thousand four hundred escudos.

The Gonçalo Velho lighthouse came into operation on November 15, 1927. The lighthouse was named after the navigator who discovered the island. It is located in Ponta do Castelo in the SE part of S. Maria Island. It has a tower 14 meters high and 114 meters high. It was equipped with a 3rd order lenticular apparatus, large model (500 mm focal length), the main light source being BBT gas, and had as a reserve the incandescence by oil vapor and a constant level lamp. The rotation of the optics was produced by the watchmaking machine.

The upper part of the dome was made of glass to give it the characteristic of an airship.

In 1934, another house was built in order to increase the capacity of the lighthouse and a few years later (1955), the engine room and fuel tank were built.

The lighthouse was electrified in 1957 with the assembly of generating sets, changing the light source to a 3000W 120V incandescent lamp.

The clockwork machine gave way to an electric rotating motor in 1971.

In 1987 the lighthouse was automated with the DF model system. The power of the light source was reduced with the installation of a 1000W 120V halogen lamp. In the same year, ant beacon monitoring equipment was installed.

It was electrified with electricity from the public grid in 1991​.

LOCATION: On the SE point (point of the Castle) of S. Maria Island

FUNCTION: Coastal

ESTABLISHMENT: November 15, 1927

LATITUDE: 36º 55.72'N - 36º 55.78' N (WGS)

LONGITUDE: 25º 0.99'W - 25º 00.97' W (WGS)

HEIGHT: 14 meters

ALTITUDE: 114 meters

RANGE: 25 Miles (46.3KM)

FEATURE: FI(3)W 13.5s

OPTICS 3rd Order, large model (500 mm focal length)​.