Bazaruto Lighthouse (Cabo Bazaruto)

Excerpt:
The lighthouse was severely damaged by Tropical Cyclone Favio in February 2007
The lighthouse formerly had a hyperradiant Fresnel lens, one of the largest lighthouse lenses ever built. This priceless lens was not removed from the tower, and by now it is completely gone, the prisms stolen or smashed by vandals. Bazaruto is the largest of a group of islands strung out along the coast north of Vilankulo. The lighthouse was last "rehabilitated" in 1996. The lighthouse is located on the central ridge about 2 km (1.2 mi) south of the north end of the island; accessible by 4WD or a hiking trail from the Pestana Bazaruto Lodge. Site open, tower closed.

Description:

On June 30, 1893, by the Notice to Navigators No. 19, the construction of a lighthouse at the tip of Cabo Bazaruto was announced, which was lit in 1894, and then operated until 1890. On September 11, 1897, it was announced that it was deleted because it was recognized as having no use for navigation, due to its low intensity.

On July 17, 1910, construction began on a new lighthouse, with a long range, having started to work in 1913. In 1936 it was described as follows: The Bazaruto lighthouse, located at the north end of the island, is a splendid and useful construction, built in 1913. At the base are the staff's rooms and various dependencies, forming a quadrangular courtyard. In one of the corners of the courtyard rises the lighthouse, whose height is 18 meters. Excellent accommodation, cisterns with rainwater, workshops, radiotelegraph station and electric lighting.

The truncated tower, painted white, with a green dome (it was also painted red), 26 meters high.

On June 27, 1926, a radiotelegraph station began to operate, communicating with ships, and also with Inhambane, Beira and Quelimane.

It was rehabilitated in 1996.

Currently, the lighthouse keepers' house is without a roof and is deteriorating every day. The lighthouse is in an advanced state of degradation.

technical characteristics

It was initially equipped with a BBT flashlight, catadioptric lens, with a focal length of 1.33.mm. it had a fixed, red light.

On November 8, 1922, it started to work with incandescent light.

In 1930 its light was white, with groups of 3 flashes every 30 seconds, with a range of 34 miles.

In 1985 it was already off. It was later relit and possessed a PRB-46 MkII flashlight, with a light range of 23 miles.

It had a white light, with 3 flashes in 15 seconds.

Now it's in operation, with a TRB 220 revolution flashlight, white light with three flashes in 15 seconds.