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Santa Marta Lighthouse

Oc (3) White 30s🇧🇷Laguna, BROperational

Location & Light Range

About Santa Marta Lighthouse

The Santa Marta Lighthouse, established in 1891, features a 29-meter-tall square stone tower situated atop a complex of single-story keeper's dwellings. The light is positioned 74 meters above sea level and produces a white light sequence of three eclipses every 30 seconds, discernible up to 21.9 nautical miles. This navigational aid is located at Cabo Santa Marta, about 13 kilometers south of Laguna, and includes a red sector to alert mariners to underwater hazards. Originally equipped with a hyper-radiant Fresnel lens, recognized as one of the most potent in the world and singular in Latin America, the light station remains operational.

Why it matters: The Santa Marta Lighthouse serves as a marker for Cabo Santa Marta and the surrounding shallow areas, indicated by its red sector light. Its original hyper-radiant Fresnel lens represents a distinct engineering achievement, being the sole example of its type deployed in Latin America.

Background
The Santa Marta Lighthouse is situated to the south of the centre of Cascais, Lisbon District, Portugal, on the estuary of the River Tagus, providing a light for the Cascais Bay and for the town's new marina. It is a quadrangular masonry tower covered with white tiles, with blue horizontal stripes and a red lantern. The lighthouse was built on the grounds of the Santa Marta Fort, which now houses a lighthouse museum.

Light & Optic

Characteristic Signature
Oc (3) White 30s
Flash Type
Occulting
Light Color
White
Flash Count
3 flashes
Interval
30s
Raw Code
Oc(3) W 30s
Focal Height
74m
Light Range
39NM (72.2 km)
Geographic Range
21.9NM

Construction & History

Year Built
1891

References & Identifiers

Nearest Port
Laguna(8.0 km)
Admiralty No.
D2118
NGA No.
BR-3956
ARLHS No.
BRA-032
Wikipedia
Read on Wikipedia →
Wikidata
Q10280171 →
OpenStreetMap
View on OSM →

Tower & Structure

Tower Height
29m
Tower Shape
square
Tower Color
white
Material
stone

Structure: square stone tower with lantern and gallery rising from a square cluster of 1-story keeper's houses and other light station buildings

Location

City
Laguna
Country
🇧🇷Brazil
Region
Santa Catarina
Sea Region
Marks Cabo Santa Marta, a prominent headland on the Santa Catarina coast, about 13 km south of Laguna. Its red sector covers shoals.
Latitude
-28.6044°
Longitude
-48.8139°

Nearby Vessels

Flag
Type
Name
Dist.
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Frequently Asked Questions

How far offshore can Santa Marta Lighthouse be seen?+
With a focal height of 74 meters and a nominal range of 39 nautical miles (approximately 72.2 km), Santa Marta 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 Marta Lighthouse at night?+
Santa Marta displays the characteristic Oc (3) White 30s — 3 white flashes every 30 seconds. 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 Marta Lighthouse guide vessels into?+
Santa Marta Lighthouse assists vessels approaching 2 nearby ports. The closest is LAGUNA at 6.7 NM to the NNE. Other ports served include Imbituba (24.6 NM NNE). Mariners should consult the relevant chart for full approach and pilotage information.
Is Santa Marta Lighthouse still active and maintained?+
Yes, Santa Marta 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 Marta Lighthouse?+
You can track vessels near Santa Marta 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.