Ruins of Clipperton Lighthouse
Clipperton
The Ruins of Clipperton Lighthouse are located on Clipperton Island in the Pacific Ocean. The lighthouse was a cylindrical tower designed by engineer Eugène de Michelon and constructed in 1906 when a detachment of Mexican military personnel and their families settled on the island. By 1915, 27 inhabitants remained, led by Captain Ramón Arnaud. After Arnaud's departure, only women, children, and the lighthouse keeper Victoriano Álvarez remained. Álvarez became tyrannical, demanding sexual favors from the women under threat of death. After two years of terror, Alicia Rovira, the widow of Arnaud, and Tirza Randon killed Álvarez with a hammer and knife, leaving his body at the lighthouse base to be consumed by crabs. The women were rescued the next day, July 17, 1917, by the American gunboat USS Yorktown. The lighthouse was deactivated and abandoned in 1938, leaving only ruins today. The site is notable not only for its maritime navigational history but also for the dramatic human story of survival and resilience on this isolated island.
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Tip: Visitors should plan their visit during calm weather conditions as Clipperton Island is remote and access is difficult. There are no facilities on the island, so adequate preparation is essential. As the lighthouse is in ruins and the island is uninhabited, guided tours or official permissions may be required. Purchasing tickets or arranging transport in advance is recommended if visiting as part of an expedition. No specific discounts are available due to the island's isolation and limited access.
Interesting facts
- •The lighthouse keeper Victoriano Álvarez became a tyrant demanding sexual favors from women under threat of death.
- •The murder of Álvarez by Alicia Rovira and Tirza Randon is a rare documented case of women taking dramatic action for survival in such an isolated location.
- •The American gunboat USS Yorktown rescued the survivors from the island in 1917.
- •The lighthouse was designed by engineer Eugène de Michelon and constructed in 1906.
- •The lighthouse has been abandoned since 1938 and now exists only as ruins.
History
The Clipperton Lighthouse was built in 1906 by engineer Eugène de Michelon to aid navigation in the Pacific Ocean.
It was staffed by Mexican military personnel and their families.
In 1915, the population was 27 under Captain Ramón Arnaud.
Following his departure, a dark period ensued with the lighthouse keeper's tyrannical rule until his murder in 1917.
The lighthouse was eventually deactivated and abandoned in 1938.
Since then, it has remained in ruins, symbolizing the island's isolated and turbulent past.
Place Guide
Ruins of the Cylindrical Lighthouse Tower1906
The remains of the original cylindrical lighthouse tower designed by Eugène de Michelon. Visitors can observe the structure's foundation and partial walls, reflecting early 20th-century lighthouse architecture.