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Nature

Farol da Ponta das Contendas

Portugal

8 story sections

The lighthouse of Contendas was established on February 1, 1934. It is located at Ponta das Contendas to the SE of Terceira Island. The lighthouse tower is 13 meters high, with an altitude of 54 meters.

History & cultureBY TELLBY

Contents

8 sections · tap a section for its opening lines
  1. 1Orientation

    Welcome to the Farol da Ponta das Contendas, a site where maritime safety, military history, and geological wonder converge on the southeastern tip of Terceira Island. As a scholar of maritime history, one recognizes this…

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  2. 2The Lighthouse Tower — A Beacon of the Early 20th Century

    We begin our detailed tour at the base of the lighthouse tower itself. Completed in 1934, the Farol da Ponta das Contendas was part of a broader effort to modernize the safety of the Azorean archipelago's coastline. …

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  3. 3The Basaltic Fissures — A Window into the Earth's Crust

    Turning our gaze toward the ground beneath our feet, we encounter the 'exceptional geological richness' of the Ponta das Contendas. This area is part of the island's most recent volcanic system, characterized by a series of…

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  4. 4The Military Ruins — Defending the Treasure Fleets

    Near the lighthouse, we can find the 'historical site' that was once home to military forces. Long before the lighthouse was built, the Ponta das Contendas was a critical defensive position. …

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  5. 5The Protected Area — A Sanctuary for Marine Life

    The area surrounding the lighthouse is much more than a historical site; it is a 'sanctuary' considered one of the most important protected zones in the Azores. This section of our tour focuses on the 'biological richness' of the…

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  6. 6The Coastal Cove — Basaltic Seabeds and Pebble Clearings

    Descending slightly from the lighthouse toward the water, we encounter a 'small Cove formed by seabeds of basaltic and crutchy basaltic La flows.' This area is a hidden treasure of the Ponta das Contendas. The shoreline here is…

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  7. 7The Lookout Toward Ilhéu da Mina and Beyond

    To conclude our tour of the Ponta das Contendas, we move to the southernmost point of the headland to gaze out toward the 'minor Highland' and the 'adjacent islets' known as the Ilhéus das Cabras and Ilhéu da Mina. This lookout…

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  8. 8Closing

    As we conclude our journey at the Farol da Ponta das Contendas, we leave behind a site that has been both a battlefield for empires and a sanctuary for nature. We have stood at the base of the early 20th-century lighthouse tower,…

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What is Farol da Ponta das Contendas?

Farol da Ponta das Contendas is a place in Portugal with 8 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.

Key facts
LocationPortugal
TypeNature
Story sections8
Text languageEnglish
Coordinates38.7033, -27.3186
Last updated
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