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Santa Clara Lighthouse

Fl White 5s🇵🇹Ribeirinha, PTOperational

Location & Light Range

About Santa Clara Lighthouse

This square skeletal concrete tower, standing 8 meters tall, was built and first lit in 1945. Its lantern and gallery are mounted on a 1-story white concrete equipment building. The lighthouse emits a white flash every 5 seconds, visible for 14.7 nautical miles. The lantern itself was brought from the 1886 Torre de Belem lighthouse in Lisbon. The red tower was depicted on a Portuguese postage stamp in 1996. While the site is open to the public, the tower remains closed.

Why it matters: The lighthouse's lantern, salvaged from Lisbon's historic Torre de Belem, highlights maritime heritage preservation. Its depiction on a 1996 postage stamp indicates its cultural recognition.

Light & Optic

Characteristic Signature
Fl White 5s
Flash Type
Flashing
Light Color
White
Interval
5s
Raw Code
Fl W 5s
Focal Height
27m
Light Range
15NM (27.8 km)
Geographic Range
14.7NM

Construction & History

Year Built
1945

Significant events: lantern brought from 1886 Torre de Belem lighthouse in Lisbon, featured on a 1996 postage stamp

Visiting

Open to public
Site open, tower closed

Nearby Vessels

Flag
Type
Name
Dist.

Tower & Structure

Tower Height
8m
Tower Shape
square
Tower Color
red
Material
concrete

Structure: square skeletal tower with lantern and gallery, mounted atop a 1-story white concrete equipment building

Location

City
Ribeirinha
Country
🇵🇹Portugal
Sea Region
on a promontory 800 m west of the Ponta Delgada waterfront, Portugal
Latitude
37.8457°
Longitude
-25.4895°

References & Identifiers

Nearest Port
Rabo de Peixe(4.9 km)
Admiralty No.
D2654
NGA No.
23580
ARLHS No.
AZO-021
Wikidata
Q8960913 →
OpenStreetMap
View on OSM →
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Frequently Asked Questions

How far offshore can Santa Clara Lighthouse be seen?+
With a focal height of 27 meters and a nominal range of 15 nautical miles (approximately 27.8 km), Santa Clara is visible from well offshore under standard atmospheric conditions. Actual visibility depends on observer height, weather, and sea state. Lights of this range are typically used as landfall lights by vessels approaching from the open sea.
How do mariners identify Santa Clara Lighthouse at night?+
Santa Clara displays the characteristic Fl White 5s. Each lighthouse has a unique flash pattern published in the List of Lights, allowing mariners to positively identify it and distinguish it from other navigation aids in the area. The white color may indicate a specific sector or warning zone.
Which ports and harbors does Santa Clara Lighthouse guide vessels into?+
Santa Clara Lighthouse assists vessels approaching 5 nearby ports. The closest is Rabo de Peixe at 5.2 NM to the WSW. Other ports served include Vila Franca do Campo (8.4 NM SSE), Ponta Delgada (10.4 NM SW), Povoação (12.7 NM ESE), Nordeste (15.3 NM E). Mariners should consult the relevant chart for full approach and pilotage information.
Is Santa Clara Lighthouse still active and maintained?+
Yes, Santa Clara 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.
How can I track vessels near Santa Clara Lighthouse?+
You can track vessels near Santa Clara 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.