Virtsu Lighthouse

Virtsu Lighthouse (Estonian: Virtsu tuletorn) is a lighthouse located in Virtsu, Lääne County, in Estonia. The lighthouse is used as a signal for the Suur Strait.[2]

Virtsu Lighthouse
LocationVirtsu, Lääne County, Estonia
Coordinates58.5672475°N 23.5015997°E / 58.5672475; 23.5015997
Tower
Constructed1866 (first)
1924 (second)
Foundationcement blocks basement
Constructionconcrete
Height18 metres (59 ft)
Shapequadrangular tower with balcony and no lantern
Markingsred upper half and white lower half
Light
First lit1951 (current)
Focal height19 metres (62 ft)
Range11 nautical miles (20 km; 13 mi)
CharacteristicFl W 5 s. (1.5+3.5=5s)
Estonia no.EVA 780[1]

History

The decision to build the lighthouse was in the year of 1856. The lighthouse began being built in 1863 and the 28-metre lighthouse was complete in 1866. In 1881 the lighthouse was reconstructed and in 1900 the reflector apparatus was replaced. During the course of World War I, the lighthouse was destroyed in 1917. In 1924 a new lighthouse was built, with a height of 18 metres, and a diameter of 2.5 metres; with a glare configuration of: 0.4 s on, 3.6 off. The lighthouse was coloured in white (lower half) and red (upper half). In 1944 the lighthouse was demolished when the Wehrmacht retreated; a year later a temporary automatic glare eight metre lighthouse was constructed with a focal height of 11 metres and a range of 11 nautical miles. In 1951 the current 18 metre reinforced concrete lighthouse was built. In 1971 the reflector apparatus was replaced and the glare configuration of: 1.5 s on, 3.5 s off.[3]

See also

References
  1. Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Northwestern Estonia". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  2. "Details". Virtsu. Archived from the original on 6 September 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  3. "Virtsu Lighthouse". Estonian Lighthouse Society. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
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