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Serrata Lighthouse

Fl White 6s🇵🇹Serreta, PTOperational

Location & Light Range

About Serrata Lighthouse

Also known as: Serrata (Ponta da Queimado, Ponta da Serrata)

The Serrata lighthouse is a 14-meter-tall cylindrical fiberglass tower built in 2009 on the Ponta da Queimado, a steep promontory at the northwestern tip of Terceira Island. It displays red and white horizontal bands and emits a white flash every 6 seconds. The current structure replaced a cast iron tourelle that had been relocated from Cacilhas. That tourelle was itself a replacement for the original lighthouse, which was destroyed by an earthquake in 1980. The new tower is powered by solar energy and is situated within the Nature Park of Terceira. The lighthouse has a geographic range of 24.3 nautical miles.

Why it matters: The current fiberglass tower at Serrata became active in 2009, continuing the coastal navigation duties previously carried out by its predecessors on the hazardous Ponta da Queimado.

Background
The Serreta Lighthouse, is located on top of a cliff, on the Ponta do Queimado, in the parish of Serreta, on the northwest coast of Terceira Island, in the Azores, Portugal. There have been four different lighthouses on this site, the most recent being a 14-metre-tall white with red horizontal bars fibreglass tower, equipped with a fifth-order optical device, powered by solar energy. It is situated within the Nature Park of Terceira.

Light & Optic

Characteristic Signature
Fl White 6s
Flash Type
Flashing
Light Color
White
Interval
6s
Raw Code
Fl W 6s
Focal Height
95m
Light Range
12NM (22.2 km)
Geographic Range
24.3NM

Construction & History

Year Built
2009

Significant events: Original lighthouse destroyed by earthquake in 1980, historic cast iron tourelle relocated from Cacilhas, deactivated 2004, cast iron lighthouse returned to Cacilhas 2009, current fiberglass lighthouse active 2009

References & Identifiers

Nearest Port
Angra do Heroismo(9.4 km)
Admiralty No.
D2668
NGA No.
23504
ARLHS No.
AZO-022
Wikipedia
Read on Wikipedia →
Wikidata
Q10280125 →
OpenStreetMap
View on OSM →

Tower & Structure

Tower Height
14m
Tower Shape
cylindrical
Tower Color
red and white horizontal bands
Material
fiberglass

Structure: round barbell-shaped fiberglass tower colored with red and white horizontal bands

Location

City
Serreta
Country
🇵🇹Portugal
Sea Region
Located on the Ponta da Queimado, a steep promontory at the northwestern tip of the island.
Latitude
38.7476°
Longitude
-27.3733°

Nearby Vessels

Flag
Type
Name
Dist.
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Frequently Asked Questions

How far offshore can Serrata Lighthouse be seen?+
With a focal height of 95 meters and a nominal range of 12 nautical miles (approximately 22.2 km), Serrata is visible from well offshore under standard atmospheric conditions. Actual visibility depends on observer height, weather, and sea state. This range makes it a significant coastal navigation aid for vessels transiting the area.
How do mariners identify Serrata Lighthouse at night?+
Serrata displays the characteristic Fl White 6s. 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 Serrata Lighthouse guide vessels into?+
Serrata Lighthouse assists vessels approaching 5 nearby ports. The closest is Terceira Island Apt at 7.6 NM to the ESE. Other ports served include São Mateus (7.7 NM SE), Angra do Heroísmo (9.3 NM SE), Praia da Vitória (14.9 NM E), Topo (22.6 NM WSW). Mariners should consult the relevant chart for full approach and pilotage information.
Is Serrata Lighthouse still active and maintained?+
Yes, Serrata 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 Serrata Lighthouse?+
You can track vessels near Serrata 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.