Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse
Tierra del Fuego
Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse is a distinctive brick-built lighthouse located on the northeasternmost island of the Les Eclaireurs archipelago in the Beagle Channel, near Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. The tower stands 11 metres tall and 3 metres wide at the base, painted in striking red-white-red horizontal stripes with a black lantern housing and gallery atop. Positioned 22.5 metres above sea level, the lighthouse emits white flashes every ten seconds visible up to 7.5 nautical miles, serving as a vital navigational aid for vessels entering Ushuaia's harbor. Commissioned on December 23, 1920, it remains operational today as a remote-controlled and automated beacon powered by solar panels. Although often called the "Lighthouse at the End of the World" by locals, it should not be confused with the San Juan de Salvamento lighthouse on Isla de los Estados, which inspired Jules Verne's novel. The lighthouse is a popular tourist attraction accessible via short boat tours from Ushuaia, admired for its unique location and maritime significance in the southernmost part of Argentina.
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Consejo: The best way to visit Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse is by taking a short boat tour from Ushuaia, which offers close views of the lighthouse and the surrounding islands. The lighthouse itself is automated and closed to the public, so tours focus on the scenic maritime experience. The summer months (December to February) provide the most favorable weather and daylight for visits. Booking tours in advance is recommended during peak tourist season. There are no public entry fees for the lighthouse, but tour operators may offer discounts or package deals.
Datos interesantes
- •Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse is often mistakenly called the 'Lighthouse at the End of the World,' a name actually belonging to a different lighthouse on Isla de los Estados.
- •The lighthouse emits white flashes every ten seconds visible up to 7.5 nautical miles (13.9 km).
- •It is powered by solar panels and operates fully automated and remote-controlled without any resident lighthouse keepers.
- •The lighthouse was named after the surrounding Les Eclaireurs islands, which were named by a French expedition in the early 1880s.
Historia
Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse was commissioned and put into service on December 23, 1920, to aid navigation through the Beagle Channel near Ushuaia.
The lighthouse was built as a brick tower with distinctive red and white stripes.
The surrounding archipelago, Les Eclaireurs, was named by Captain Luis Fernando Martial during the French expedition La Romanche in 1882-1883.
Over the decades, the lighthouse has been modernized with automation and remote control, and it now operates using solar power.
It remains an important maritime landmark guarding the southernmost entrance to Argentina's ports.
Guía del lugar
The Lighthouse Tower1920
An 11-metre high brick tower painted with red-white-red horizontal stripes, topped with a black lantern housing. It serves as a navigational beacon emitting white flashes every ten seconds.
