Taken from Listin Diario
SANTO DOMINGO.-Throughout the centuries, lighthouses have served as support structures for the safety of navigators.
In recognition of that work, World Lighthouse Day is celebrated every August 7th.
This global commemoration aims to highlight the importance of lighthouses for maritime signaling, as well as to promote their care and preservation, as noted by the United States Congress when it declared the day in 1989.
The dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy defines the word lighthouse as a “tall tower on the coasts, with light at the top, so that during the night it serves as a signal to sailors.”.
The Dominican Republic has about eighteen lighthouses, the most emblematic in its history being the famous Columbus Lighthouse.
This infrastructure was inaugurated in 1992 by the then President of the Republic, Joaquín Balaguer, and was built in honor of the discoverer of America, Christopher Columbus.
The building is erected on a cross-shaped base, surrounded by green areas full of lanterns that are meant to frame the main light of the place, which is undoubtedly its most characteristic symbol.
This cross of light comes from its highest point and points towards the sky, representing the evangelization of the new world.
Another important lighthouse, rising 137 feet above sea level, is located in the northern part of the country in the province of Puerto Plata. This structure was built by order of General Gregorio Luperón in 1879.
At that time, the initiative to build the Puntilla Lighthouse was intended to serve as a guide for ships crossing the Atlantic Ocean and heading to the city's port.
According to historians José Augusto Puig and Robert Gamble in their Historical Architectural essay of Puerto Plata, the structure was designed with classical columns and grooved in the Doric-Roman style.
On Cabra Island, located in the province of Montecristi, there is also a lighthouse that was built during the dictatorship of Rafael Leónidas Trujillo Molina.
In addition to fulfilling their main function, at least in the Dominican Republic, these spaces also become tourist attractions and even historical landmarks where museums are housed, talks or tours are offered, such as the Columbus Lighthouse.
Other lighthouses
The list of lighthouses in the country also includes those of La Romana, San Francisco de Macorís, Palenque, Cabo Francés Viejo, Cayo Arena, Alto Velo, Cayo Pablillo, Punta Torrecilla, among others.
