Lighthouses of Ceuta and Melilla

Ceuta and Melilla are Spanish cities on the north coast of Morocco. Melilla is in the northeastern corner of Morocco, near the Algerian border, while Ceuta is in the north, directly opposite Gibraltar. Melilla has been Spanish since 1497; Ceuta was occupied by Portugal in 1415 and has been under Spanish control since 1580. These two cities were the first -- and now they are the last -- European possessions on the African mainland. Ceuta and Melilla have the status of autonomous cities. In addition to the cities, Spain administers several small islands near the coast of Morocco, known collectively as plazas menores de soberanía (lesser places of sovereignty). All these territories are claimed by Morocco. Ceuta and Melilla govern themselves as autonomous cities within the Kingdom of Spain. Each city has a port authority that maintains its lighthouses and other aids to navigation. ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. Admiralty numbers are from volumes D and E of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA List numbers are from Publication 113. General Sources Faros del Norte de Africa Data and photos posted by Agustín Solabre Suárez on his Libro de Faros web site. Online List of Lights - Vol. D - Morocco Photos by various photographers posted by Alex Trabas. This page for Morocco also includes the lights of Ceuta. Afrikanische Leuchttürme auf historischen Postkarten Historic postcard images posted by Klaus Huelse.

Faro de Bonete, Melilla, November 2008 Creative Commons photo by Christian Tavernier

Melilla and Lesser Islands Lighthouses

Isla Isabel II (Islas Chafarinas) (2) 1899 (station established 1884). Active; focal plane 52 m (171 ft); white flash every 7 s. 18 m (59 ft) round masonry tower with lantern and gallery, rising from one side of a 1-story keeper's house. Lighthouse painted white; lantern, gallery, and watch room painted green; house painted green with white trim. An aerial photo is at right, C.W. Bash has a 2007 photo by Angel Ruiz Migens, a 2008 view from the sea is available, and Google has a satellite view. The Islas Chafarinas are three islands located about 3 km (2 mi) off Ra's el Ma (Cap de l'Eau) at the eastern end of the Moroccan coast. There are no permanent settlements, but there has long been a Spanish military garrison on Isla Isabel II, the second largest of the islands. In fact, the original light was established by the army on one of its watchtowers; officers were impatient with the bureaucrats, who could not decide what kind of lighthouse to build. Located on the northwestern point of the island, about 48 km (30 mi) east of Melilla. Accessible only by boat; there is a distant view from the beach at Ras el Ma. Site and tower closed (restricted military area). Operator: Autoridad Portuaria de Melilla. ARLHS CEU-001; Admiralty E6754; NGA 22724. * Bonete (Melilla) (2) 1918 (station established 1888). Active; focal plane 40 m (131 ft); white light oculting twice every 6 s. 12 m (39 ft) round stone tower with lantern and gallery, rising from the front of a rectangular 2-story stone keeper's house. The lighthouse is unpainted reddish stone; the lantern is silvery metallic. Christian Tavernier's photo is above, a fine closeup and a second closeup are available, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. This lighthouse is part of the historic bastion of Melilla; it is perched on a massive stone foundation rising above the north side of the harbor. Huelse also has a 1909 postcard view of the original lighthouse, which was on the same site. Site closed, but the lighthouse can be viewed from nearby. Operator: Autoridad Portuaria de Melilla. ARLHS CEU-011; Admiralty E6758; NGA 22736. Melilla Northeast Breakwater Date unknown. Active; focal plane 33 m (108 ft); green flash every 4 s. 30 m (98 ft) hexagonal cylindrical stone tower with six stone buttresses, lantern and gallery. The lighthouse is unpainted gray stone; lantern is weathered green. A 1-story keeper's quarters encircles the tower. The port authority's aerial photo is at right, an excellent 2009 photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the breakwater at the north end of the harbor of Melilla. Site and tower closed. Operator: Autoridad Portuaria de Melilla. ARLHS CEU-002; Admiralty E6762; NGA 22740. Peñón de Veléz de la Gomera 1899. Active; focal plane 47 m (154 ft); three white flashes every 20 s. 6 m (20 ft) gray mast attached to one corner of a 1-story stone keeper's house. No closeup photo available; there is an aerial photo of the fortress. Peñón de Veléz de la Gomera is a small island just off the Moroccan coast about 40 km (25 mi) west of Al Hoceima. A small Spanish military garrison is based on the island. Located at the highest point of the island. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed (restricted military area). Operator: Autoridad Portuaria de Melilla. Admiralty E6788; NGA 22816.

Faro de la Isla Isabel II Autoridad Portuaria de Melilla photo Melilla Northeast Breakwater Light Autoridad Portuaria de Melilla photos

Ceuta Lighthouse

* Punta Almina 1855 (extensively rebuilt 1919). Active; focal plane 148 m (486 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 16 m (52 ft) round cylindrical masonry tower with lantern and gallery, rising from a 1-story keeper's house. 2nd order Henry-Lepaute Fresnel lens (1919). Entire lighthouse painted white. Fog siren (two blasts every 45 s) located 200 m (220 yd) northeast at the tip of the point. The lantern was installed during a major renovation in 1919; it is not clear if this renovation was a reconstruction or a repair of the original lighthouse. Xavier Rivera has a good photo, Capt. Peter Mosselberger's photo is at right, a German-language site has good photos of the lens, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a fuzzy satellite view. Punta Almina is the point of land in Africa directly opposite the Rock of Gibraltar, so this lighthouse marks the south side of the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea from the Strait of Gibraltar. Located at the northeastern point of the Isla de Santa Catarina, although the island has long been connected to the mainland by fill. Ceuta is accessible by ferry from Algeciras on the north side of the Strait of Gibraltar. Site open, tower closed. Operator: Autoridad Portuaria de Ceuta. ARLHS CEU-007; Admiralty D2482; NGA 22840.

Faro de Punta Almina photo copyright Capt. Peter Mosselberger used by permission

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Posted August 10, 2005. Checked and revised August 24, 2009. Lighthouses: 5. Site copyright 2009 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.