Headlight of the Udders

The headlight of the Udders is located on the Presqu'île of Cape Verde, to approximately 7,5 km in the south-east of the Pointe of Almadies - the Western end of the African continent - and to 9 km in the North-West of Dakar (Senegal), on most Western and largest of the two named conical volcanic hills Mamelles.

It is the oldest headlight of Dakar, considered as most powerful of Africa with that of the Cape of Good Hope.

History

Its construction was completed in 1864, as recalled by the inscription on the pediment, modify in 1911.

In 1960, an air crash to 2.400 m of the headlight cost the life to the 63 passengers of a Lockheed L-1049G Super Constellation of Air France, for undetermined reasons.

Characteristics

The building entirely painted in white includes/understands a coupled cylindrical tower in front of the house of the guard who ensures a night permanence in the room of day before second stage.

With rez of roadway, an engine room shelters a Generator and the set of spare batteries.

Initially fed with oil, the headlight from now on is electrified, but its lighting remains manual. Before the electrification, a system of beams made turn the lens.

Equipped with a small Halogenous bulb of 1000 Watts one 3000 hours lifespan and functioning on alternative course with 220 volts, the headlight produces a powerful white glare every five seconds. Large a Lentille of Fresnel on mercury bath plays the part of amplifier and a range of 53 km confers to him.

Tourism

The access to the headlight is free.

From there, but also from the rock hill itself - culminating point of Dakar -, the walker profits from a panoramic sight on the unit of the peninsula, in particular the Pointe of Almadies, Gor, Ouakam or the islands of the Madeleine, without speaking about the capital itself.

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