Cabra Island Lighthouse
The Cabra Island Lighthouse is a historic lighthouse built on Cabra Island, the north-westernmost of the Lubang group of islands in Occidental Mindoro, Philippines. International vessels entering the Philippines from South China Sea were welcomed by the Cabra Light and directed either towards Manila Bay or the center of the archipelago through Verde Island Passage, one of busiest sea routes of the Philippines.
 Cabra Island Lighthouse | |
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| Location | Cabra Island Lubang Island Occidental Mindorol Philippines |
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| Coordinates | 13°53′18.4″N 120°01′23.6″E |
| Year first constructed | 1889 (first) |
| Year first lit | ? (current) |
| Deactivated | ? (first) |
| Construction | brick masonry tower (first) concrete tower (current) |
| Tower shape | square tower with balcony and lantern (first) cylindrical tower with balcony and beacon (current) |
| Markings / pattern | white tower (first) white tower (current) |
| Tower height | 20.5 metres (67 ft) (first) 20 metres (66 ft) (current) |
| Focal height | 66 metres (217 ft) |
| Original lens | first-order Fresnel lens |
| Current lens | inactive |
| Light source | solar power |
| Range | 25 nautical miles (29 mi; 46 km) |
| Characteristic | Oc W 5s. |
| Fog signal | none |
| Admiralty number | PHI-030[1] |
| NGA number | 14256 |
| ARLHS number | F2620 (first)[2] |
History
The lighthouse of Cabra was the first completed during Spain's revitalized program of lighthouse construction in the Philippines. Construction was started on May 3, 1885, and it was first lit on March 1, 1889.[3] It was also the first of the five first-order lighthouses built by the Spaniards in the latter part of their colonization of the archipelago.
Description
The original light, visible for 25 nautical miles (29 mi; 46 km), was shown from a 67-foot (20 m) high square tower on the west angle of the station. It is visible around the entire horizon except where obscured by Lubang and Ambil Islands.
Current condition
The original lighthouse was replaced by the Philippine Coast Guard with a new solar-powered tower located next to the previous tower under its Maritime Safety Improvement Project.[4] After the replacement, the lighthouse was abandoned and left open for thieves and vandals. The expensive first-order lens were vandalized with the large front Fresnel lenses all gone.[5] The original bronze marker were stolen by thieves and is now replaced by the locals with a white board with the original inscriptions.[6] The roof of the keeper's house and utility rooms have since collapsed.[7][8] The lighthouse is closed to visitors due to its dilapidated state.[9]
References
- Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of the Northern Philippines". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
- Isla Cabra Light. Amateur Radio Lighthouse Society's World List of Lights. Retrieved on 2010-06-06.
- Cabra Island Lighthouse The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved March 11, 2016
- Noche, Manuel M., "Lonely Sentinels of the Sea, The Spanish Lighthouses in the Philippines", p.55. U.S.T. Publishing House, 2005.
- de Lara, MJ (2008-01-10). "Old vs new : Faro de Punta de Isla Cabra standing beside its modern counterpart". Flickr. Retrieved on 2011-11-01.
- Neikirk (2009-02-19). "Old lighthouse, Cabra Island, Philippines". Flickr. Retrieved on 2011-11-01.
- "Isla de Cabra Lighthouse (Original marker)". Flickr. Retrieved on 2011-11-01.
- "Cabra Island Lighthouse".
- "Derelict, Abandoned. But still breathtaking". Flickr. Retrieved on 2011-11-01.
- Boniol, Leti (May 8, 2014). "Laid-back in Lubang". Inquirer News. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
External links
- Maritime Safety Services Command
- Cabra Island Light on Lighthouse Depot
- A Cabra Island Lighthouse page from Lubang Island Website
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