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Gamboa Southbound Range Front Lighthouse

🇵🇦Cristóbal, PAOperational

This concrete tower, standing 14 meters tall and painted black, was built in 1914. It is located on the west side of the Río Chagres, near the entrance to the Gamboa Rainforest Reserve, within the town of Gamboa. The structure includes a lantern and gallery. As of 2000, the lighthouse was abandoned and in poor condition, with only modest improvements made since. The site is accessible to the public, but the tower itself is closed.

Why it matters: The lighthouse was instrumental in guiding southbound ships entering the Culebra Cut from Gatún Lake.

Tower Height
14m
Tower Color
black
Material
concrete

Structure: concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted black

City
Cristóbal
Country
🇵🇦Panama
Region
Colón
Sea Region
faces southbound ships at the entrance to the Culebra Cut from Gatún Lake. Located on the west side of the Río Chagres, at the entrance to the Gamboa Rainforest Reserve, in the town of Gamboa.
Latitude
9.1136°
Longitude
-79.6982°
Nearest Port
Panama Canal(4.4 km)
ARLHS No.
PAN-027
Year Built
1914

Significant events: abandoned and in poor condition as of 2000; there have been only modest improvements since

Open to public
Site open, tower closed
Flag
Type
Name
Dist.
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Which ports and harbors does Gamboa Southbound Range Front Lighthouse guide vessels into?+
Gamboa Southbound Range Front Lighthouse assists vessels approaching 5 nearby ports. The closest is PANAMA CANAL at 4.4 NM to the WNW. Other ports served include Rodman (12.1 NM SE), Ancon (12.5 NM SE), Balboa (12.5 NM SE), VERACRUZ (14.3 NM SSE). Mariners should consult the relevant chart for full approach and pilotage information.
Is Gamboa Southbound Range Front Lighthouse still active and maintained?+
Yes, Gamboa Southbound Range Front Lighthouse is currently operational. It is actively maintained and continues to emit its characteristic light signal for marine navigation. Most modern lighthouses are automated and monitored remotely by the national maritime authority.
What shipping routes pass near Gamboa Southbound Range Front Lighthouse?+
Gamboa Southbound Range Front Lighthouse is located within the Panama Canal approach — the vital waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through Central America. This makes it an important navigation reference for commercial shipping traffic in the region.
How can I track vessels near Gamboa Southbound Range Front Lighthouse?+
You can track vessels near Gamboa Southbound Range Front Lighthouse in real time using MarineRadar. The platform shows live AIS positions of ships in the area, including vessel name, type, flag, speed, and course. Use the "Track Vessels Nearby" button on this page to open the live map centered on this lighthouse.