Farol dos Rosais
The Rosais Lighthouse began operation on May 1, 1958, based on a project by engineer João Lobo Fialho. It is located northwest of São Jorge Island, at Ponta dos Rosais, featuring a 27‑meter tower at 260 meters above sea level. Initially equipped with a 3rd‑order large aeromaritime lens (500 mm focal length), it used a 3000 W lamp with a gas backup system, and the optic rotated by electric motors. A garage was built in 1961 and a telephone post installed in 1962.
In February 1964, seismic activity forced the evacuation of lighthouse personnel and families, causing significant damage and a temporary shutdown until March 12. New earthquakes in January 1980 again severely affected the lighthouse, leading to partial evacuation and operation on gas backup. Storm damage in October 1980 endangered the structure. After several provisional solutions, a solar‑powered ML‑300 lantern was installed in 1987. Since 2009, maintenance has been under the Ponta do Topo Lighthouse.
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Established
1958
Protected
Yes
Main building material
Concrete
Height
27m
Light height
260m
Light width
8nm
Automated
Yes
De-staffed
1980
Owner/operator
Direção de Faróis
Lighthouses closest to Farol dos Rosais in the Route:
Shown in straight lines
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