Construction masonry tower Intensity 1000 W halogen lamp Opened 1869 NGA number 6320 | Focal height 26.85 metres (88.1 ft) Height 27 m Automated 1980 Year first constructed 1869 | |
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Location Le Grau-du-Roi, Gard
Languedoc-Roussillon
France. Tower shape square parallelepiped tower with balcony and lantern attached to 1-story keeper's house Markings / pattern white tower with a large horizontal band in the upper part, white lantern dome Address L'Espiguette,, 30240 Le Grau-du-Roi, France Similar Camargue, Plage de l'Espiguette, Phare de Faraman, Phare de Beauduc, Phare de la Gacholle | ||
Vu d ici le phare de l espiguette une vigie sur la m dit rran e
The Phare de l'Espiguette (Espiguette Lighthouse) is a 27-metre (89 ft)-high square tower. Built in 1869, the lighthouse is found on the Pointe de l'Espiguette, near to Le Grau-du-Roi on the Gulf of Lion in Languedoc-Roussillon, France.
Contents
Geography
L'Espiguette appears on some of the oldest maps: on the Barentzoom map of 1593 it is called Lapiquete and was an island. The channels in the Rhône delta are constantly changing, it was in 1570 that the Grau de Roi opened up, and the subsequent channelling of this watercourse and the silting of the land alongside it led to the fishing village of Le Grau-du-Roi, and the silting made a land bridge through to L'Espiguette. To the south of L'Espiguette is the Mediterranean sea and to the north the Lagune de la Sicarex, which in itself is a protected breeding ground for endangered avian species. The point consists of 197 ha of sand dunes, and is a protected nature reserve. The beaches are popular with tourists, and host a large naturist beach.
History
The square tower was built in 1869, 150 metres (490 ft) from the mean high tide mark, the silting has continues and it is now situated in sand dunes more than 700 metres (2,300 ft) from the water.
Technical details
A 1000W Halogen lamp throws its beam 24 nautical miles (44 km; 28 mi) south. It throws 3 white flashes four times a minute.