Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Lighthouse of the Week, September 16-22, 2018: Vulcano, Italy



This week's lighthouse is on the island of Vulcano, near Sicily, from which all other volcanoes get their general name.  Vulcano is still considered active, though it last erupted in the late 1800s, 1888 to be more precise.  Not many people live there, so while it may have geological tourism interest, it doesn't have a lot of basic tourism interest.  And if they interest is in active volcanoes, Stromboli (the "Lighthouse of the Mediterranean") or Etna are where the volcanophiles should go.

However, Vulcano does have a lighthouse.  And I used Google Maps to the utmost to find it.  So here is both a panorama from Google Maps, and a map (3D image).  It took a moment for me to see the lighthouse until the 3D "popped" for me.

Panorama first:



And then the map:

Where is the Vulcano lighthouse?

So let's get some details from the Lighthouse Directory:
"1887 (station established 1853). Active; focal plane 35 m (115 ft); four white flashes every 20 s. 31 m (102 ft) octagonal stone tower with lantern and gallery, rising from a 2-story masonry keeper's house. Lighthouse painted white; lantern dome is gray metallic."
It seems strange that the lighthouse was built a year before Vulcano's last recorded eruption.  By the way, the lighthouse is also known as the Faro di Gelso, as there is a small community named Gelso just up the slope from it.

And now to the pictures.







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