![]() Söderskär lighthouse and island in 2005 | |
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Location | Söderskär, Porvoo, Finland |
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Coordinates | 60°06′34″N 25°24′36″E / 60.10939°N 25.41004°E |
Tower | |
Constructed | 1862
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Automated | 1957
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Height | 32.5 m (107 ft)
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Heritage | protected by the law on the protection of the architectural heritage in Finland
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Light | |
Deactivated | 1989
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Focal height | 40 m (130 ft)
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Characteristic | Exting
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The Söderskär lighthouse ( Finnish: Söderskärin majakka, Swedish: Söderskär fyr, South Skerry lighthouse) is a decommissioned 19th-century lighthouse in the outer Porvoo archipelago of the Gulf of Finland. [1] It was built in 1862, replacing an earlier unilluminated daymark, automated in 1957, and decommissioned in 1989. [2] [3]
The lighthouse is situated on a small islet, known as Majakkasaari ( lit. 'Lighthouse Island'). Connected to it by a footbridge is another islet, Luotsisaari ('Pilot Island'), where a pilot station was based since before the construction of the current lighthouse. Three lighthouse keepers, with their families, and on-duty pilots used to reside on the islets, until the lighthouse was automated. [4] [5]
The lighthouse was designed by architect Ernst Lohrmann. [3] The tower is octagonal in shape, and comprises six storeys. [3] The lighthouse is 32.5 metres (107 ft) tall, and constructed of granite up to 8.6 metres (28 ft) height, with brick-and-mortar above that. [5] In the early years of the 20th century it was discovered that the tower swayed in strong wind, and was also leaning to one side; consequently, in 1914-1917 a steel and concrete ' girdle' was added to stabilise the structure. [5] [4]
The light source is 40 metres (130 ft) above mean sea level. [5] The light is equipped with a Fresnel lens, and when commissioned, Söderskär was renowned for its exceptionally bright and long-range light. [3] [5]
The lighthouse itself is now privately owned, having been sold by the government in 2003. [4] The building is protected by the Finnish Heritage Agency, meaning that no exterior or interior alterations are allowed, and the technical equipment may not be removed without permission. [2]
Tove Jansson is said to have used Söderskär as a model when writing the lighthouse island of the book Moominpappa at Sea. [6] [7] [8]
![]() Söderskär lighthouse and island in 2005 | |
| |
Location | Söderskär, Porvoo, Finland |
---|---|
Coordinates | 60°06′34″N 25°24′36″E / 60.10939°N 25.41004°E |
Tower | |
Constructed | 1862
![]() |
Automated | 1957
![]() |
Height | 32.5 m (107 ft)
![]() |
Heritage | protected by the law on the protection of the architectural heritage in Finland
![]() |
Light | |
Deactivated | 1989
![]() |
Focal height | 40 m (130 ft)
![]() |
Characteristic | Exting
![]() |
The Söderskär lighthouse ( Finnish: Söderskärin majakka, Swedish: Söderskär fyr, South Skerry lighthouse) is a decommissioned 19th-century lighthouse in the outer Porvoo archipelago of the Gulf of Finland. [1] It was built in 1862, replacing an earlier unilluminated daymark, automated in 1957, and decommissioned in 1989. [2] [3]
The lighthouse is situated on a small islet, known as Majakkasaari ( lit. 'Lighthouse Island'). Connected to it by a footbridge is another islet, Luotsisaari ('Pilot Island'), where a pilot station was based since before the construction of the current lighthouse. Three lighthouse keepers, with their families, and on-duty pilots used to reside on the islets, until the lighthouse was automated. [4] [5]
The lighthouse was designed by architect Ernst Lohrmann. [3] The tower is octagonal in shape, and comprises six storeys. [3] The lighthouse is 32.5 metres (107 ft) tall, and constructed of granite up to 8.6 metres (28 ft) height, with brick-and-mortar above that. [5] In the early years of the 20th century it was discovered that the tower swayed in strong wind, and was also leaning to one side; consequently, in 1914-1917 a steel and concrete ' girdle' was added to stabilise the structure. [5] [4]
The light source is 40 metres (130 ft) above mean sea level. [5] The light is equipped with a Fresnel lens, and when commissioned, Söderskär was renowned for its exceptionally bright and long-range light. [3] [5]
The lighthouse itself is now privately owned, having been sold by the government in 2003. [4] The building is protected by the Finnish Heritage Agency, meaning that no exterior or interior alterations are allowed, and the technical equipment may not be removed without permission. [2]
Tove Jansson is said to have used Söderskär as a model when writing the lighthouse island of the book Moominpappa at Sea. [6] [7] [8]