Thanks to Alessandro Catenazzi for these very rare photos of the lighthouses on Isla Lobos de Afuera, located in the Pacific about 80 km (50 miles) off the city of Chilayo in northern Peru. This isolated island is a wildlife sanctuary known especially for its seabirds, some of which can be seen roosting on the right side of the photo. Dr. Catenazzi is a biologist from Florida International University in Miami, who was visiting the island with a team of scientists to study its wildlife.
At the time of Dr. Catenazzi's visit the active lighthouse was an 18 meter (60 ft) square concrete tower built in 1975. This is one of at least eight lighthouses of this design, most of them found in the northern half of Peru. There are more accessible examples of the class at Máncora, Paita, and Salaverry on the mainland. The lighthouse is tended by a crew of Peruvian marines, who made room in their crew quarters for the visiting scientists. Dr. Catenazzi had the opportunity to climb the tower with crew members who were maintaining the light.
Photo copyright 2005 Alessandro Catenazzi; all rights reserved.
Used by permission.
The second photo shows what's left of the original lighthouse on the island, built in 1906. This appears to be the stump of a cast iron lighthouse.
Photo copyright 2005 Alessandro Catenazzi; all rights reserved. Used by permission
It appears that the 1975 lighthouse has been replaced. Alexander Trabas has a photo by Capt. Peter Mosselberger showing a round concrete tower similar in height to the 1975 lighthouse.
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Posted January 10, 2005; second photo added January 28, 2005; checked and revised November 14, 2024. Site copyright 2024 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.