São Thomé Lighthouse

São Thomé
	São Thomé Lighthouse
Location	Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro
Coordinates	22°02′32″S 41°03′11″W / 22.04222°S 41.05306°WCoordinates: 22°02′32″S 41°03′11″W / 22.04222°S 41.05306°W
Tower
Constructed	29 July 1882
Foundation	1882
Height	45 metres (148 ft)
Racon	0
Light
Focal height	49 metres (161 ft)
Range	40 nautical miles (74 km; 46 mi)
Characteristic	L Fl (2) W 67.5s.

São Thomé Lighthouse is located in Praia do Farol (Lighthouse Beach), in the Brazilian municipality of Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro.

History[]

The work was designed by the French engineer Gustave Eiffel, who also participated in the construction of the Statue of Liberty (1888), and of the Eiffel Tower (1889). It has 45 metres (148 ft) of height and 216 steps.

The monument was built by a French firm in the year 1877. Its inauguration was in 1882, commemorating the birthday of Princess Isabel. It was made of a special corrosion resistant iron, which is why it is still in good condition. The lantern was surrounded by glass pane and fitted with a 3-centimeter-thick glass lens with a 1 kW bulb, and emitted 8 fan-shaped lanes of light reaching 25 miles or so. In 1967, there was a fire in the lantern and the headlight was replaced by a lower one, and its range was reduced to 19 miles (31 km).

At the time of its inauguration, it worked kerosene, but currently it works with commercial electric power, but it has 2 generators and can still run the kerosene as originally, if necessary. It lights up according to sunset time and makes the full turn in 68 seconds. During World War II, this area served to land helicopters for supply when they traveled to the coasts of the region.^[2]^[3]

References[]

^ "Farol São Tomé" (in Portuguese). Farois Brasileiros. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
^ "História" (in Portuguese). Portal do Farol de São Thomé. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
^ "Farol de São Tomé completa 132 anos em Campos, no RJ". G1 (in Portuguese). Grupo Globo. July 30, 2014. Retrieved September 6, 2018.