Lighthouses of Southern Chile

Chile has one of the world's longest and most dangerous coastlines, more than 4000 km (2500 mi) long with at least 5000 rocky islands. To guard this coast, the Chilean Navy operates one of the world's most active and most distinguished lighthouse services, the Chilean Maritime Signaling Service (Servizio de Señalización Marítima). In fact, Chile is still building new lighthouses in the southern part of the country. The Cape Horn Light, southernmost lighthouse in the world, was inaugurated in 1991. Tierra del Fuego, the land south of the Strait of Magellan, was disputed between Chile and Argentina until a treaty in 1881 gave Chile control of the western half of the territory and all of the Strait. The Strait did not become an important shipping route until around that time, as steam replaced sail power for ships between the Atlantic and Pacific. A continued dispute between Chile and Argentina over the ownership of several smaller islands near Cape Horn was not resolved until 1985, when the two countries accepted a mediation decision by Pope John Paul II. Many of the historic lighthouses of southern Chile are the work of George Slight (1859-1934), a Scottish engineer who moved to Chile in the 1890s and eventually became the head of the Chilean Maritime Signaling Service. In all, he designed and supervised the construction of more than 70 lighthouses. Chile is divided into 15 regiónes, including 3 that span the southern part of the country. The Spanish word for a lighthouse is faro. In Spain, the word faro is usually applied only to the larger coastal lights, but in South America it is often used for all fixed lights, including towers too small to be considered lighthouses. Additional information is needed for many of these lighthouses, and recent photos would be especially welcome. ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. Admiralty numbers are from volume G of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA List numbers are from Publication 111 except for the Punta Dungeness and Cabo Espiritu Santo lighthouses at the east end of the Strait of Magellan, which are listed in Publication 110.

Faro Cabo de Hornos (Cape Horn), February 2004 photo copyright Douglas Cameron; used by permission

General Sources
Chilean Maritime Signaling Service

The home page of the Chilean Navy's lighthouse service has information on the history and development of the service, plus a gallery of images of 22 of the lighthouses. Text in English as well as Spanish.

Los Lagos Region Lighthouses

Isla de Doña Sebastiana (Range Rear) Date unknown. Active; focal plane 30 m (98 ft); white flash every 5 s. 14 m (46 ft) round fiberglass tower, painted with red and white horizontal bands. No photo available. This light marks the north side of the entrance to the Chacao Channel (Canal de Chacao), which separates Isla Grande de Chiloé from the mainland. Located at the southwestern point of the island. Site status unknown. Admiralty G1672.1; NGA 111-1548. ** Punta Corona 1859 (Enrique Siemen). Active; focal plane 66 m (216 ft); white flash every 10 s. 9 m (30 ft) round cylindrical tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-story keeper's house. Lighthouse painted white with a single red band below the gallery; the lantern roof is also red. Keeper's house staffed. Juan S. Dominguez has a good 2008 photo, the Navy also has a photo of the lighthouse, a wider view of the station is available, and Google has a satellite view. This is the oldest active lighthouse in Chile, although it appears to have been modernized. The lighthouse is at the northern end of the Isla Grande de Chiloé, near Ancud. Accessible by road. Site open, and the station crew will sometimes conduct tours of the tower. ARLHS CHI-013; Admiralty G1676; NGA 111-1552. Isla Tabón Date unknown. Active; focal plane 73 m (240 ft); white flash every 10 s. 13 m (43 ft) concrete tower, painted white with a red band. No photo available. Located near the west end of the island, which is at the northern end of the Golfo de Ancud. Site status unknown. ARLHS CHI-049; Admiralty G1684; NGA 111-1656. Isla Guafo 1907 (George Slight). Active; focal plane 144 m (472 ft); white flash every 10 s. 8 m (26 ft) round steel tower with lantern and gallery, mounted on a concrete base. Lighthouse painted white with a red horizontal band; lantern roof is also red. 1-story keeper's house staffed by rotating 4-man crews. One of Adam and Cheryl Zaricki's photos is at right, Manuel Arcaya has an aerial photo, a historic photo is available, and Google has a good satellite view of the station. Isla Guafo is southwest of the Isla de Chiloé in the center of the entrance to the Golfo Corcovado. Located at the northwestern tip of the island. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS CHI-021; Admiralty G1592; NGA 111-1888.

Faro Isla Guafo photo copyright Adam and Cheryl Zaricki used by permission

Aisén Region Lighthouses

Isla Auchilú

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 70 m (230 ft); white flash every 15 s. 10 m (33 ft) concrete tower, painted with horizontal red and white bands. No photo available. Site status unknown. ARLHS CHI-039; Admiralty G1564; NGA 111-2032.

Cabo Raper 1914 (George Slight). Active; focal plane 61 m (200 ft); white flash every 5 s. 14 m (46 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a large 1-story keeper's house. Lighthouse painted with red and white bands. Keeper's house staffed. A reduced version of the Navy's photo is at right, Manuel Arcaya has a photo, another photo is available, and Ramiro Navajas has a distant view. The construction of this famous lighthouse posed a huge engineering challenge, which was overcome by building a special railroad 6.5 km (4 mi) long to carry materials to the station. The cape is at the southern end of the Tres Montes peninsula overlooking the northern entrance to the Golfo de Penas. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS CHI-009; Admiralty G1562; NGA 111-2040. Islote Dirección Date unknown. Active; focal plane 30 m (98 ft); white flash every 10 s. 10 m (33 ft) concrete tower, painted white with a red band. No photo available. Located on a small island in the Fallos Channel near the southern border of the Aisén region. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS CHI-054; Admiralty G1552; NGA 111-2064.

Faro Cabo Raper photo by Servicio de Señalización Marítima

Magallanes Region Lighthouses

Fjord Lighthouses

Isla Mason Date unknown. Active; focal plane 25 m (82 ft); white flash every 15 s. 9 m (30 ft) octagonal concrete tower, painted white with a red band. No photo available. Located on a small island at the intersection of the Icy Channel and the Wide Channel. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS CHI-043; Admiralty G1536; NGA 111-2120. Isla Stratford Date unknown. Active; focal plane 25 m (82 ft); white flash every 10 s. 9 m (30 ft) octagonal concrete tower, painted white with a red band. No photo available. Located on the west side of the Strait of Concepción, near the northeastern corner of the Isla Madre de Dios. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS CHI-048; Admiralty G1534; NGA 111-2148. Isla Inocentes Date unknown. Active; focal plane 32 m (105 ft); white flash every 12 s. 9 m (30 ft) concrete tower, painted with horizontal red and white bands. No photo available. Located on the east side of the Strait of Concepción at the intersection of the Inocentes Channel. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS CHI-086; Admiralty G1530; NGA 111-2168. Punta Porpoise Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); green flash every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) octagonal concrete tower, painted white with a green band at the top. Jurgen Klinksiek's photo is at right, and Marcos Riffo Hutinel has a view from the sea. This lighthouse is probably typical of the older small lighthouses of the Chilean fjords. Located at a narrow passage of the Angostura Guia, a strait separating Isla Chatham and Isla Hannover. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS CHI-074; Admiralty G1526; NGA 111-2180. Isla Brinkley Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (42 ft); white flash every 10 s. 10 m (33 ft) hexagonal concrete tower, painted white with a red band. No photo available. Located on the Collingwood Strait. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty G1504; NGA 111-2236.

Faro Punta Porpoise, January 2002 photo copyright Jürgen Klinksiek; used by permission

Western Strait of Magellan (Estrecho de Magallanes) Lighthouses

Evangelistas (Islotes Evangelistas) 1896 (George Slight). Active; focal plane 58 m (190 ft); white flash every 10 s. 13 m (43 ft) cylindrical steel tower with lantern and gallery, mounted on 1-story concrete and stone keeper's house. Lighthouse painted white with red trim; lantern painted white, watch room red. 500 mm lens. Keeper's house staffed. The Navy's photo appears at right, and Manuel Arcaya has an excellent closeup. This is the landfall light for ships arriving at the Strait of Magellan from the Pacific. A tremendous engineering accomplishment for its day, the lighthouse is perched on a rocky islet about 30 km (20 mi) northwest of the western entrance to the Strait, facing the full force of the "Furious Fifties." It is one of the most exposed lighthouses in the world. The lighthouse complex also includes a telecommunications station and a weather station. The lighthouse was restored in 1995-96; as part of the restoration, the fiberglass lantern then in use was replaced with a replica of the original lantern. Accessible only by helicopter or by boat in heavy seas. Site and tower closed. ARLHS CHI-017; Admiralty G1498; NGA 111-2324. Bahía Felix (Isla Tamar) 1907 (Luis Camuzi and George Slight). Active; focal plane 30 m (98 ft); white flash every 15 s. 14 m (46 ft) round cast iron tower with lantern and gallery, attached at one end of a 1-story keeper's house. Lighthouse painted with horizontal red and white bands. Staffed keeper's house. Christian de la Fuente has a photo, a closeup of the tower, and a view of the railway used to move supplies to the station. Located on Isla Tamar, an island on the south side of the Strait opposite the Canal Smyth entrance. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS CHI-003; Admiralty G1478; NGA 111-2328. Islote Fairway Date unknown. Active; focal plane 39 m (128 ft); white flash every 5 s. 5.5 m (18 ft) hexagonal concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with one red horizontal band. 1-story keeper's house, painted white with a red roof. This is a staffed station. Ted Smith's photo is at right, Kathleen Andersen has posted a distant photo, and Alberto Alsina has another view from the sea. This lighthouse marks the junction of the Strait with the Smyth Channel (Canal Smyth), the south end of the inland passage through the Chilean fjords. Located in the entrance to Canal Smyth, on the north side of the main channel of the Strait. Site status unknown. ARLHS CHI-055; Admiralty G1480; NGA 111-2320.

Faro Evangelistas photo by Servicio de Señalización Marítima Faro Islote Fairway photo copyright Ted Smith; used by permission

Punta Arenas Area Lighthouses

Cabo San Isidro

1904 (George Slight). Active; focal plane 28 m (92 ft); white flash every 5 s. 8 m (26 ft) round cylindrical masonry tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a large 1-story keeper's house. The lantern is in ruins but still contains an active light, as seen in Jorge Benavente's photo. Lighthouse painted white with one red horizontal band. The keeper's house, no longer staffed, was reportedly being refurbished as a hotel and visitor center. Sergio Rojas has a photo, José Huenante Barria has a closeup, a 2009 closeup is available, and Google has a good satellite view. This is the southernmost traditional light station of mainland South America. Located about 20 km (13 mi) south of Puerto del Hambre (Port Famine) and 80 km (15 mi) south of Punta Arenas. Ecotours to this site are available from Punta Arenas. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS CHI-010; Admiralty G1446; NGA 111-2380.

* [Punta Santa Ana (Puerto del Hambre, Fuerte Bulnes)] (2?) Date unknown. Active; focal plane 40 m (131 ft); white flash every 10 s. 5 m (17 ft) square concrete pillar, painted white with a narrow red horizontal band. A photo and a second photo are available, and Google has a satellite view. The plaque on the light honors Bernardo O'Higgins, the hero of the Chilean War of Independence. Built in 1843, Fuerte Bulnes was the first Chilean settlement on the strait. Located on Punta Santa Ana, a sharp headland at Puerto del Hambre, about 60 km (38 mi) south of Punta Arenas. Accessible by road; tours are available from Punta Arenas. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty G1444; NGA 111-2384. * [Bahía Porvenir] (2?) Date unknown. Active; focal plane 19 m (62 ft); white flash every 12 s. 8 m (26 ft) round fiberglass post light, painted white with a narrow red horizontal band. Michal Synowiec has a photo, and a view from the strait is available. This light, identical to dozens of lights in southern Chile, guides ferries arriving in Tierra del Fuego from Punta Arenas across the strait. Located on a promontory southwest of the ferry terminal. Accessible by road. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS CHI-034; Admiralty G1440; NGA 111-2404. Isla Magdalena 1902 (George Slight). Active; focal plane 49 m (161 ft); white flash every 10 s. 13 m (43 ft) round cylindrical cast iron tower with lantern and gallery, painted with horizontal red and white bands. The 1-story keeper's house, white with a red roof, is now a national park visitor center. Carlos Yanez's photo is at right, and a closeup is available. The island, home to a large colony of penguins, is frequently visited by ecotours. Located on an island in the center of the Strait about 40 km (25 mi) northeast of Punta Arenas. Site manager: Los Pingüinos (Penguins) National Monument. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS CHI-031; Admiralty G1428; NGA 111-2448.

Faro Isla Magdalena, 2006 Creative Commons photo by Carlos Yanez

Eastern Strait of Magellan (Estrecho de Magallanes) Lighthouses

* Punta Delgada 1902. Active; focal plane 21 m (69 ft); white flash every 5 s. 12 m (39 ft) round cylindrical metal tower with lantern and gallery, painted with red and white bands, rising from 1-story signal station. A Navy photo is at right, Chen Guttman has a good closeup, a 2009 photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. The lighthouse is at the western end of the Bahía Posesión, marking the entrance to Angostura Primera, the first narrow part of the Strait. The terminal for the ferry crossing the Strait to Tierra del Fuego is adjacent to the light station. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS CHI-015; Admiralty G1414; NGA 111-2496. Cabo Posesión Date unknown. Active (?); focal plane 90 m (295 ft); white flash every 18 s. 11 m (36 ft) square cylindrical tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-story keeper's house. Lighthouse painted white with one red horizontal band that extends the full width of the building. This lighthouse appears to be abandoned and deteriorating; the absence of solar panels means it is almost certainly inactive. Oscar Urízar Gromsch has a photo, a second photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Site open, tower closed. Located on the northern shore of the Bahía Posesión west of Punta Dungeness. ARLHS CHI-036; Admiralty G1408; NGA 111-2532. Punta Dungeness 1899 (Alan Brebner) (station established in the 1870s). Active; focal plane 32 m (105 ft); white flash every 10 s. 25 m (82 ft): lantern and 2-story watch room atop a short hexagonal pyramidal skeletal tower, all mounted on a conical concrete base. 1-story keeper's house and signal station, staffed. Tower painted with horizontal red and white bands; building white with a red roof. A reduced copy of the Navy's closeup photo is at right, a good 2005 photo is available, and Google has a good satellite view. Located on the northern side of the entrance from the Atlantic to the Strait of Magellan, within a few meters of the Argentine border and about 20 km (13 mi) southwest of Argentina's Cabo Virgenes lighthouse. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS CHI-016; Admiralty G1402; NGA 110-20364. Cabo Espiritu Santo 1968. Active; focal plane 70 m (230 ft); white flash every 15 s. 8 m (26 ft) cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted with red and white bands. 1-story keeper's house, staffed, painted white with a red roof. The Navy has a good photo of the station, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the southern side of the entrance from the Atlantic to the Strait of Magellan, within a few meters of the Argentine border. Site status unknown. ARLHS CHI-007; Admiralty G1404; NGA 110-20368. Cape Horn Lighthouse Cabo de Hornos (Isla Hornos, Cape Horn) 1991. Active; focal plane 57 m (187 ft); white flash every 5 s. 7 m (23 ft) round cylindrical steel tower with lantern and gallery, painted with red and white bands. The lighthouse has a powerful modern lens with a range of about 37 km (23 mi). Light station placed in service November 17, 1991. Douglas Cameron's photo is at the top of this page, the Navy also has a photo, Carlos Postigo has another closeup photo, and a distant view from a passing cruise ship shows the harsh beauty of this site. This is the world's southernmost traditional lighthouse, the true Lighthouse at the End of the World; it stands in latitude 55° 58.6' S. (There exist a few minor aids to navigation farther south, including several in Antarctica.) Located at the highest point of Isla Hornos, the island that includes Cape Horn. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower normally closed. ARLHS CHI-006; Admiralty G1336; NGA 111-2713.

Faro Punta Delgada Faro de Punta Dungeness photos by Servicio de Señalización Marítima

Notable faux lighthouses:

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Checked and revised September 4, 2009. Lighthouses: 22. Site copyright 2009 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.