The Galinhos Lighthouse, built in 1931, is the eighth lighthouse erected in Rio Grande do Norte. It is found in the village of Galinhos at the eastern end of the Água Maré River, the mouth of five rivers, and whose bar is always obstructed by sandbanks that form narrow, changeable channels.
Presenting little visibility to the region’s navigators, the first Galinhos lighthouse tower – made of iron lattice – did not please the population. It was considered “skeletal” by many.
Thirteen years after its construction, with the metallic structure in an advanced state of corrosion (due to the sea) and the support structures threatened by the constant advance of the sea, the tower of the Galinhos lighthouse was replaced by another one made of reinforced concrete.
However, a problem occurred with its luminosity: this was partly obstructed by the balustrade of the lighthouse’s balcony. The engineers rectified the problem, deciding to increase the height of the existing lantern: on the balcony they erected a cylindrical stone turret. The Galinhos lighthouse then acquired quite a distinct and unique appearance.
Recife, 28 April 2004
(Updated on 24 March 2008)
Translated by Peter Leamy, November 2016
sources consulted
SIQUEIRA, Ricardo. Luzes do novo mundo: história dos faróis brasileiros. Fotos Ricardo Siqueira; texto Ney Dantas. Rio de Janeiro: Edição do Autor, 2002.
how to quote this text
Source: VAINSENCHER, Semira Adler. Farol Galinhos, RN. Pesquisa Escolar Online, Fundação Joaquim Nabuco, Recife. Disponível em: <http://basilio.fundaj.gov.br/pesquisaescolar/>. Acesso em: dia mês ano. Ex: 6 ago. 2009.