German company donates lighting system for the Columbus Lighthouse cross
The Dominican Ministry of Culture (MINC) and the Sectag International Latin America announced the signing of an agreement through which the German multinational will donate to the country a modern lighting system to illuminate the emblematic cross of the Columbus Lighthouse.
The new technology is manufactured by the same company, and for its implementation, it will be necessary to rewire the entire monument, in order to be able to install the new LED bulbs, which will not only have more than twice the power of the previous ones but also, they will mean a 90 percent saving in energy consumption.
This philanthropic work will have a strong impact on the development of national cultural tourism, as it will allow the Columbus Lighthouse monument to be relaunched on October 12 of this year, coinciding with the 29th anniversary of its inauguration.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Culture, Carmen Heredia, and Soheil Hamedani, a representative of the company, who offered the technical details of the work at a press conference attended by Katherine Werdermann, first officer of the German Embassy in the country.
“Together we will be able to restore the splendor of this emblematic monument, which symbolizes the union of the American peoples and constitutes one of the main tourist attractions of our country, said Heredia.
The initial project seeks the renewal of the projection spotlights of the crown and the formation of the cross, which are located on the roof of the Columbus Lighthouse.
The German company also promised to provide technical assistance in the installation of the new technology, as well as to instruct the technicians appointed by the Ministry of Culture to offer the proper maintenance of the new lighting system.
Columbus Lighthouse
The Columbus Lighthouse was inaugurated on October 6th, 1992, in commemoration of the 500th Century arrival of Christopher Columbus on the island. It is a structure in the shape of a Latin cross, almost 240 meters long and 60 meters wide at its widest part.
The monument, built in reinforced concrete and marble, exceeds 30 meters in height, and, if you look closely, the shape of its high stepped walls is reminiscent of a Mayan pyramid.
The most peculiar feature that characterizes it is the ability to project in the night sky a large luminous cross that can be seen from tens of kilometers away, thanks to more than 150 high-capacity spotlights installed on the roof of the monument.