Kõpu Lighthouse
Kõpu Lighthouse in 2006
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 Estonia
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| Location |
Hiiumaa Estonia |
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| Coordinates | 58°54′57.54″N 22°11′59.92″E / 58.9159833°N 22.1999778°ECoordinates: 58°54′57.54″N 22°11′59.92″E / 58.9159833°N 22.1999778°E |
| Year first constructed | 1531 |
| Automated | 1963 |
| Construction | monolithic limestone tower |
| Tower shape | square parallelepiped towerwith four counterforts, balcony and lantern |
| Markings / pattern | white tower with retaining walls, red lantern |
| Height | 36 m (118 ft) |
| Focal height | 102.6 m (337 ft) |
| Light source | mains power |
| Intensity | 1,800,000 candela |
| Range | 26 nmi (48 km; 30 mi) |
| Characteristic | Fl (2) W 10s. |
| Admiralty number | C3746 |
| NGA number | 12720 |
| ARLHS number | EST-006 |
| Estonia number | EVA 668 |
Kõpu Lighthouse (Estonian: Kõpu tuletorn) is one of the best known symbols and tourist sights on the Estonian island of Hiiumaa. It is one of the oldest lighthouses in the world, having been in continuous use since its completion in 1531.
The lighthouse marks the Hiiu Shoal (Estonian: Hiiu madal, Swedish: Neckmansgrund) and warns ships away from the shoreline. Light from Kõpu Lighthouse can be used for navigation as far as 26 nautical miles (48 km; 30 mi) away, although in 1997 a radar lighthouse largely took over its role as navigation aid.
Kõpu Lighthouse was previously known under its Swedish name, Upper Dagerort lighthouse.
The lighthouse is built at the top of the highest hillock of Hiiumaa island, Tornimägi (English: Tower Hill, 68 metres (223 ft)). The height of the building itself is 36 metres (118 ft), and the light is 102.6 metres (337 ft) above sea level, making it the highest coastal light on the Baltic Sea.
Kõpu Lighthouse has the shape of a square prism, with massive counterforts in the directions of principal divisions of the compass. The tower is laid solely of stone up to the height of 24 metres (79 ft). The outside layer of the walls is supported by lime mortar, with the body itself built without mortar.
The body of the tower contains roughly 5,000 cubic metres (6,500 cu yd) of stone, with its total weight reaching 12,000 tonnes (26,000,000 lb). Local limestone and glacial erratic stones were used as building material.
Originally, the base of the tower was solid stone without any rooms; the top of the lighthouse was reached using external wooden stairs, which were later replaced with iron ones. During reconstruction in the 1800s, a stairway was cut into the tower and has remained in use since.
The most important East–West shipping lane in the Baltic Sea passed the Hiiu sandbank. Already before the year 1490 the Hanseatic merchants were seeking permission to mark this peninsula with an outstanding landmark. Around 1490 they asked the bishop of Bishopric of Ösel-Wiek to let them build a landmark on the Kõpu peninsula which was under the bishop’s control. This action had no real results.
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Wikipedia