Świnoujście Lighthouse

Świnoujście Lighthouse
Świnoujście Lighthouse
Poland
Location Świnoujście
West Pomeranian Voivodeship
Poland
Coordinates 53°54′58″N 14°17′04″E / 53.915979°N 14.284340°E / 53.915979; 14.284340Coordinates: 53°54′58″N 14°17′04″E / 53.915979°N 14.284340°E / 53.915979; 14.284340
Year first constructed 1828 (first)
Year first lit 1857 (current)
Construction brick tower
Tower shape cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern rising from an octagonal prism basement with balcony
Markings / pattern unpainted yellow brick tower, red dwelling, black lantern
Height 212 feet (65 m)[1]
Focal height 223 feet (68 m)
Original lens 1st order Fresnel lens
Range white: 25 nautical miles (46 km; 29 mi)
red: 9 nautical miles (17 km; 10 mi)
Characteristic white light s on, 1s off; red light southwestward
Admiralty number C2668
NGA number 116-6116
ARLHS number POL-019[2]

Świnoujście Lighthouse, also known as Swinemünde Lighthouse, is an active lighthouse in Świnoujście (German: Swinemünde), Poland. At a height of 212 feet (65 m) it is the fifteenth tallest "traditional lighthouse" in the world, as well as the tallest brick lighthouse,[3] and the tallest in Poland. It is located on the east bank of the river Świna just inside the entrance.

History

The first lighthouse in the location was built in 1828 when the town was part of Germany as Swinemünde. The current structure is from 1857. The cross-section of the entire 1857 tower was octagonal. However, in 1902–1903 the tower was restored to repair spalled brickwork. This converted the shape of the tower above the first gallery to the current round shape.

The tower was damaged during World War II. In 1945, during the retreat of the German troops, an order was given to destroy the lighthouse. However, the German keeper refused the order and the tower survived. The damage was only repaired in 1959, some fourteen years after the town was transferred to Poland.

In 1998–2000, for the new Millennium, the lighthouse was restored. It was and opened to the public in August 2000,[4] along with a lighthouse museum in the keeper's house.

Construction

The tower is built of yellow bricks and is unpainted. The base of the tower is octagonal with a gallery. The tower itself is round with a second gallery and a lantern. In clear weather the view from the top gallery is about 45 kilometres (28 mi). Adjacent to the tower is a 2-story brick keeper's house and a museum.

There are 300 steps up to the second gallery.[4]

Visiting

The museum and tower are open Monday through Friday.

See also

References

  1. ↑ According to the List of Lights. 213 feet (65 m) according to The Lighthouse Directory.
  2. ↑ Świnoujście Lighthouse The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved March 17, 2016
  3. ↑ Rowlett, Russ. "The Tallest Lighthouses". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
  4. 1 2 "Tourism". swinoujscie.pl. Archived from the original on 29 July 2010. Retrieved 10 August 2010.

  • List of Lights, Pub. 116: Baltic Sea with Kattegat, Belts and Sound and Gulf of Bothnia (PDF). List of Lights. United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. 2010. p. 86. Listed as "Pilot Tower"
  • Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Poland: Świnoujście and the Odra". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
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