Year first lit 1943 (current) Height 62 m Year first constructed 1937 | Focal height 74 metres (243 ft) Opened 21 December 1912 | |
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Location TourosRio Grande do NorteBrazil Construction concrete tower (current)cast iron tower (first and second) Tower shape tapered cylindrical tower strengthened by four vertical ribs and lantern Markings / pattern tower with black and white horizontal bands Hours Closed today MondayClosedTuesdayClosedWednesdayClosedThursdayClosedFridayClosedSaturdayClosedSunday2–5PM Similar Farol de Galinhos, Farol de Mãe Luíza, Acuario de Natal, Parrachos de Pirangi, Ponta do Morcego | ||
Calcanhar Lighthouse (Portuguese: Farol do Calcanhar), also known as Touros Lighthouse, is an active lighthouse in Touros, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. At a height of 203 feet (62 m) it is the nineteenth tallest "traditional lighthouse" in the world, as well as the tallest in Brazil, and one of the tallest concrete lighthouses in the world.
Location
The lighthouse is strategically placed on the beach of the Ponta de Calcanhar, near Touros, where the Brazilian coast forms a right angle, known as “Esquina do Brasil” (corner of Brazil) or "Esquina do Continente" (corner of the continent), near the northern end of the great curve of the cape of São Roque, the northeastern shoulder of South America. It alerts ships to a coral reef located about 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) offshore. A spiral staircase of 277 steps leads to an observation platform; a 21-step ladder leads to the light.
The site also includes several one-story lighthouse keeper's houses and the light station has a resident keeper. The site is open, and the tower is open to the public daily 9 am to 11 am.