Phare de Cap de l'Aiguille: A coastal beacon near Kristel

Located at the northeast tip of the bay, the Phare de Cap de l'Aiguille serves as a landmark for maritime navigation. The lighthouse is a smooth masonry cylindrical tower rising 12.6 meters high, situated to the west of a group of light-ochre buildings including three keepers' residences. It is positioned on the western point of the Cap de l'Aiguille, near the coastal village of Kristel.

The history of lighting in the region dates back to the early years of the conquest, when more effective lights were installed at key points. In 1834, the French installed a device in place of the Alger light consisting of a fixed light topped with a rotating crown carrying 8 lamps with reflectors to achieve a 30-second eclipse light. A report from the Commission Nautique de l'Algérie in 1843 established a complete plan for improvements to existing lights and new installations. The Phare de Cap de l'Aiguille was eventually realized in 1865.

Between 1860 and 1900, the lighthouse underwent periodic modifications, notably the substitution of mineral oil for vegetable oil in 1881 and the adoption of certain constant-level lamps. Today, the lighthouse is electrified by solar panels. Its white light produces 2 flashes every 10 seconds with a range of 21 nautical miles, classifying it as a second-order lighthouse.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons