- *** Punta
Tuna (Maunabo)
- 1892. Active; focal plane 111 ft (34 m); two white flashes, separated
by 10 s, every 30 s. 49 (15 m) ft octagonal cylindrical brick tower
rising from a 1-story brick keeper's house; 190 mm lens. Lighthouse
painted white, lantern black; the keeper's house is painted cream
with white trim. The original 3rd order Fresnel lens, somewhat damaged
by vandals, remains in the tower but is not in use. Jorge Rodriguez's
photo is at right, Anderson has a fine page for the station, Marinas.com has aerial
photos, Huelse has a historic postcard
view, and Google has a satellite
view. In 2006, George Van Parys founded a support organization
called Faro de Punta Tuna or Punta
Tuna Lighthouse to work toward ownership and restoration of the
lighthouse. In 2009 the lighthouse became available for transfer under
NHLPA, and in October 2012 it was announced that it will be transferred to the City of Maunabo.
Located southeast of Maunabo on a sharp promontory at the southeasternmost
point of the island. Site open, lighthouse and tower open daily Wednesday
through Sunday. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site manager: City of Maunabo.
ARLHS PUR-016; Admiralty J5545; USCG 3-31800; NGA 14512.
- * Punta
de las Figuras (Point Figuras, Arroyo)
- 1893. Inactive since 1938. Approx. 50 ft (15 m) octagonal cylindrical
brick tower attached to 1-story brick keeper's house. Lighthouse painted
cream with white trim. Larry Myhre's photo is at right, Hector Vincent Alvarez has a closeup photo,
and Marinas.com has aerial
photos. The original lantern and lens were destroyed by vandals
in 1969. By early 2001, the lighthouse was in very poor shape, with
no roof and only scraps of its lantern; this earned it a spot on the
Lighthouse Digest Doomsday List. However, the Compañía
de Parques Nacionales beautifully restored
the lighthouse in 2002-03. The restoration cost $2.3 million and is
part of a larger project creating a public recreation facility in
the area. Google's satellite
view shows the swimming pool and other facilities located adjacent
to the light station. On the beach nearby is the metal ruin of a former
range light, also long abandoned. Located southeast of Arroyo on the
southeastern coast of the island. Owner/site manager: Puerto Rico
Compañía
de Parques Nacionales (Parque
Nacional Punta Guilarte). ARLHS PUR-014; ex-Admiralty J5489.
- Isla
Caja de Muertos (Coffin Island, Muertos Island)
- 1887. Active; focal plane 297 ft (91 m); white flash every 30 s. 63 ft (19
m) cylindrical stone tower attached to 1-story stone keeper's house; 500 mm
lens. Lighthouse painted white, lantern black. Anderson has a good page with several photos, Marinas.com has aerial
photos, Colón-Sepúlveda has an 1895 historic photo,
the Coast Guard also has a historic photo,
and Google has a satellite
view. Poorly maintained, the light station is on the Lighthouse Digest Doomsday
List. The Shanklins found the keeper's house unsecured and open
to the elements, and Mari-Mutt writes that holes in the roof are allowing
rain to drench the interior. Caja de Muertos is a small island in the Caribbean
about 8 km (5 mi) southeast of Ponce; it is accessible by passenger ferry
from Ponce on weekends. The island is a nature preserve. Lighthouse located
on the highest point of the island, more or less accessible by a very steep
and difficult hiking trail. Site open, tower apparently open but dangerous.
Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site manager: Departamento
de Recursos Naturales. ARLHS PUR-003; Admiralty J5556; USCG 3-31925; NGA
14524.
- Isla de
Cardona (Ponce, Cayo Cardona)
- 1889. Active; focal plane 46 ft (14 m); white flash every 4 s. 36 ft (11
m) cylindrical stone tower attached to 1-story stone keeper's house. Lighthouse
painted white; lantern is black. The original 6th order Sautier, Lemonier &
Cie. Fresnel lens is on display in the Coast Guard Museum in San Juan. Anderson has a good page with recent and historic photos, Marinas.com
has aerial photos, Colón-Sepúlveda
has a historic photo and an aerial photo of the island and lighthouse, the Coast Guard also has
a historic photo,
and Google has a satellite
view. Mari-Mutt writes that salt spray has severely corroded the lantern
and the lighthouse is probably in need of a complete restoration. Located
on the highest point of a small island about 2 km (1.2 mi) southeast of Ponce,
marking the entrance to Ponce harbor. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager:
U.S. Coast Guard. ARLHS PUR-009; Admiralty J5560; USCG 3-31950; NGA 14536.
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Punta Tuna Light, Maunabo, January 2008
Flickr Creative Commons photo
by Jorge Rodriguez

Punta de las Figuras Light, Arroyo, February 2010
Flickr Creative Commons photo by Larry Myhre
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