Here is a case of a lighthouse that isn't really a lighthouse. This particular fixture is located on the hills above the small Chilean town of Chañaral, and whilst near the coast, it isn't really ON the coast. Apparently it was built as a monument or project for the turn-of-the-century about 15 years ago, also known as the Millenium. So it was built for tourism, apparently.
From UNC:
"2000. Active; focal plane 83 m (272 ft); white flash every 5 s. 15 m (49 ft) round metal (steel?) tower with lantern, mounted on a 1-story circular stone base. ... This lighthouse was built by the city of Chañaral as a Millennium project and tourist attraction. It was inaugurated 1 September 2000. The interior of the tower contains an exhibition space. Located on a steep hillside above Chañaral. Site open, tower believed to be open but we do not have schedule information."
The town the lighthouse overlooks, Chañaral, is in the dry Atacama region of northern Chile, just south of a coastal national park. So I guess tourism and maybe a little fishing are its main attractions. And the lighthouse.
Chile has a lot of interesting, and real, lighthouses. After all, it has a tremendously long coastline. I'll have to revisit there in the future.
Four pictures of this unusual inland lighthouse overlooking the town of Chañaral are below.
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