Falkland Islands Lighthouses

The Falkland Islands are located in the southwestern corner of the Atlantic Ocean roughly 1000 km (600 mi) east of Río Gallegos in the Pategonia region of southern Argentina. Spain, Britain, and France all made early attempts to settle the islands, but by 1800 they were no permanent settlements remaining. Argentina claimed the Falklands (known in Spanish as the Islas Malvinas) as soon as it became independent from Spain in 1820, but British naval forces took the islands in 1833 and established a colony that survives to the present day. In 1982, Argentine forces captured the islands, precipitating a 10-week war that ended with resumption of British control. The population of the territory is quite small, about 3000 people.

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 110

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Cape Pembroke Light, December 2006
Creative Commons photo by J. Junyent

Lighthouse
**** Cape Pembroke (1): 1855 (relocated in 1906-07). Inactive since 1987. 18 m (60 ft) cast iron tower with lantern and gallery, painted black with a broad white horizontal band below the lantern. A 3° Fresnel lens, installed in 1907, remains mounted in the lantern. The active light (focal plane 30 m (98 ft); three white flashes every 20 s) has been moved to a post nearby. Phil Gyford has posted a good January 2006 photo. Prefabricated in London, the lighthouse was meant to warn ships away from the Billy Rock, a very dangerous reef about 800 m (1/2 mi) offshore. The original foundation deteriorated seriously, and in 1906-07 the lighthouse was relocated on a new foundation about 180 m (200 yd) west of the original location. The lighthouse was damaged in the 1982 war between Britain and Argentina over ownership of the islands. In recent years it has been restored as a tourist attraction and historical monument. L. Handcock, a visitor in November 2004, reported this restoration had been completed and posted a closeup photo. There are plans to add a museum at the site, which is accessible from Stanley (the capital and only real town) by a hiking trail. Information on the history of the station is available. The 150th anniversary of the lighthouse was celebrated on December 1, 2005. Located at the easternmost point of East Falkland, marking the entrance to Stanley harbor. Site open. The key to the tower can be borrowed at the museum (£5 fee) and guides are available to conduct tours to the cape and lighthouse. Owner: Falkland Islands Government. Site manager: Falkland Islands Museum and National Trust. ARLHS FAL-001; Admiralty G1352; NGA 20336.

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Cape Meredith (1936-?), southern tip of West Falkland. ARLHS FAL-002.
Bull Point (1932-?), southern tip of East Falkland

Notable faux lighthouses:

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