Kõpu lighthouse
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| Kõpu lighthouse | |
|---|---|
 Kõpu lighthouse in 2006 |
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| Location: | Hiiumaa, Estonia |
| Coordinates WGS-84 (GPS) |
58°54′57″N 22°11′59″E / 58.91583°N 22.19972°ECoordinates: 58°54′57″N 22°11′59″E / 58.91583°N 22.19972°E |
| Year first constructed: | 1531 |
| Year first lit: | 1649 |
| Automated: | 1963 |
| Construction: | Monolithic limestone |
| Tower shape: | Rectangular on a tetrahedral prism |
| Markings/Pattern: | White square stone tower with retaining walls. Balcony, red lantern |
| Height: | Tower - 36 m (120 ft) |
| Focal Height: | 102 m (330 ft) |
| Intensity: | 1,800,000 cd |
| Range: | 26 nmi (48 km; 30 mi) |
| Characteristic: | Fl(2) W 10s |
| Admiralty number: | C3746 |
| NGA number: | 12720 |
| ARLHS number: | EST-006 |
Kõpu lighthouse (Estonian: Kõpu tuletorn) is one of the best known symbols and tourist sights on the Estonian island of Hiiumaa. The lighthouse has been previously known under its Swedish name, Upper Dagerort lighthouse (composed of the word dag (day) and ort (peninsula)).[1] It is the third oldest operating lighthouse in the world, having been in continuous use since its completion in 1531.[2] The lighthouse marks Hiiu sandbank (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.[3]
Contents |
[edit] Design and location
The lighthouse is built to the top of the highest hillock of Hiiumaa island, (now is called Tornimägi (English: Tower Hill), 67 metres (220 ft)).[4] The height of the building itself is 36 metres (120 ft)), the light is 103 metres (340 ft)[3] above sea level, making it the highest lighthouse light on the Baltic Sea.
Kõpu lighthouse is shaped as a tetrahedral 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 being built without mortar.[5]
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).[1] Local limestone and glacial erratic stones were used as a material.[6]
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 stairs. During reconstruction in 1810, a stairway was cut into the tower and has been in use since.[4]
[edit] Construction and history
[edit] Construction of the original tower
The most important East-West shipping lane in the Baltic Sea passed dangerous Hiiu sandbank. Building of a landmark was requested by the Tallinn city council in 1480,[7] but the request was ignored until around 1490 powerful Hanseatic League requested building of an effective sea-mark, as the merchants complained that ships were getting lost in the Baltic Sea. After that the Tallinn city council was granted permission by the bishop Johannes (John) III Orgas of Bishopric of Ösel-Wiek in 1500 to erect a lighthouse.[4] In return for construction permit, bishop bargained for tributes in wine and favorable salt rates.
Building started around 1504 and lasted for twenty-six years. Construction of the lighthouse was financed by Tallinn city council, magistrate Lambert Ottingk was in charge.[8]
The construction was slowed by plague, famine and wars. The most active construction era was 1514-1519, when among other workers about 15 stonemasons were involved in the construction. The lighthouse was initially finished in 1531, but the negotiations to make the sea-mark higher started almost immediately.[4]
At first there was no fire lit on the top of the 20 m (66 ft) high and 8 m (26 ft) wide tower. It was visible for up to 20 kilometres (12 mi) with the naked eye on a clear day. Starting from autumn 1531 a fire was lit during the night.[8]
[edit] Reconstruction and rebuilding
In 1649 a wooden staircase was built to the outside wall of the tower and an open iron grate for burning wood was set to the top. The fire consumed up to 1000 cords of firewood every year during the 180-day navigation period, a such quantity that most of the Kõpu peninsula was deforested as a result. A team of six was on guard every night, but storms extinguished the fire often.[9] A rule dating from 1652 decreed that the fire must be strong and a fathom high.[4]
In year 1659 the lighthouse was given to a private property and built higher. At the same time the wooden stairs were replaced with iron staircase. The light was visible as far as 24 kilometres (15 mi) away. The fire was lit one hour after the sunset and extinguished one hour before the sunrise.[8]
Russian Crown took over the administration of the lighthouse in 1805. Major reconstruction of the tower was started in 1810. Into its southern counterfort, a stone staircase was cut and two subsidiary rooms were restored. 23 oil lamps and silver-plated reflectors were installed to the top of the tower.[1] Hemp oil was burned in the lamps.[7]
In 1845, a crack in the upper part of the lighthouse demanded extensive reconstructions, during which the tower gained its final height. A wooden structure with lamp-chimneys was built for the lantern and its optical devices. [1]
As a part of his naval reform, Grand Duke Constantine Nikolaevich of Russia demanded a modernization of the Kõpu lighthouse in 1859. In May 1860, a novel gyratory device (manufactured by Le Paute in Paris) was installed to the lighthouse. It rotated at speed of one revolution per four minutes and used clockwork powered by a pulley weight. The device had one lamp of the Carsel system with four concentric light sources and a Fresnel lens. It was said to be visible up to 27 nautical miles (50 km; 31 mi).[1] The lamp used rapeseed oil at the rate of half liters in an hour and the pump was powered by the same clockwork. A team of seven serviced the lighthouse, one of them had to be near the light at all times.[6]
The counterfort with the staircase was roofed with wooden boards in 1869. A telegraph and rescue stations were established near the lighthouse at 1869; the first worked until 1898 when it was replaced by a phone.[1]
[edit] Twentieth century
A new light system was bought from Paris World Fair in 1900 for three million gold rubles. The new system (including the light chamber) was made by Sautter, Marlé & Co[10], it used a kerosene lamp with gas mantle.[8] Heavy cast iron system floated and rotated in a bath of mercury, which acted like a bearing. Bath contained roughly 500 kilograms (1,100 lb) of mercury. Poisonous mercury was used for decades by children of surrounding villages for playing.[11]
Light system as set in rotation by suspended load of 400 kilograms (880 lb); it needed to be rewound every two hours.[1]. The new light was installed during repairs of 1901.
In 1939, the lighthouse underwent major repairs for its anniversary. As a part of that, the tower was painted with high quality oil paint, which was the main contributor to the deterioration of the tower in subsequent decades - thick waterproof layer of paint did not allow the limestone to dry.[6] The mortar began to deteriorate rapidly.[4]
In 1940, the lighthouse was connected to the electricity grid. In the august of 1940, German planes bombed Kõpu lighthouse, but only the lantern structure and optical system were destroyed.[8]
After the World War II, various optical systems were tested. Kohler generators were installed in 1949 along with the stationary electric light system.[8] A new rotating light system (EMV-3[12]) was installed in 1963, making the lighthouse fully automated. It was in use until 1982, when EMV-930M system (made in Ukraine) was installed. That light system is still in use.[12]
Due to the progressing deterioration, the lighthouse underwent constant repairs. Major repairs were in 1957, 1970, 1979–1981 and 1982.[12] Walls crumbled partially during 1980s.[5] To stop the deterioration, a 15 centimetres (5.9 in) thick reinforced concrete dress was built to support the foundation and walls (1989–1990).[6][4] Small air channels were left into concrete.[5]
Kõpu lighthouse lost its importance only in 1997, when a radar lighthouse took over its duties.[9] The top of the lighthouse was renovated in 2001.[10]
[edit] Current status
Kõpu lighthouse is protected as a cultural memorial.[13] Due to its popularity and memorable shape it is often used as a symbol for Hiiumaa. The tower is a major tourism attraction and open for tourists since 1999.
Together with the nearby Ristna lighthouse, the Kõpu lighthouse was displayed on a post stamp in 2000.[14]
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g "Kõpu lighthouse" (in English). poolsaar.ee. State Nature Conservation Centre, Hiiumaa department. http://www.poolsaar.ee/en/hiiumaa/lighthouses/kopu-lighthouse.html. Retrieved on 2009-06-26.
- ^ Richard C. Frucht, ed (2005) (in English). Eastern Europe: an introduction to the people, lands, and culture. ABC-CLIO. pp. 929. ISBN 9781576078006. http://books.google.com/books?id=lVBB1a0rC70C&lpg=PA62&dq=k%C3%B5pu%20lighthouse&pg=PA62. Retrieved on 2009-06-26.
- ^ a b "Kõpu lighthouse" (in English). Database of Aids to Navigation. Estonian Maritime Administration. http://195.50.203.61/TORNID00?Lan=668. Retrieved on 2009-06-26.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Kõpu lighthouse" (in English). Hiiumaa Lighthouse Tour. Hiiumaa.ee. http://www.hiiumaa.ee/tuletorn/english.php?id=11. Retrieved on 2009-06-26.
- ^ a b c Vali, Jaan. "Degradation of Estonian Lighthouses in Surrounding Environment". Estonian National Heritage Board. http://www.arcchip.cz/w06/w06_vali.pdf. Retrieved on 2009-06-30.
- ^ a b c d "Kõpu küla" (in Estonian). eestigiid.ee. Hansalevi OÜ. http://www.eestigiid.ee/?CatID=90&ItemID=525. Retrieved on 2009-06-26.
- ^ a b "Kõpu lighthouse" (in English). Kõrgessaare parish. http://www.korgessaare.ee/public/files/weng.pdf. Retrieved on 2009-06-29.
- ^ a b c d e f Kolk, Tiina (2006-08-25). "Kõpu tuletorn - Põhja-Euroopa vanim tuletorn töötab Kõpul juba 475 aastat!" (in Estonian). Äripäev Online (Bonnier Business Press). http://www.ap3.ee/Default2.aspx?PaperArticle=1&code=3323/new_eri_artiklid_332305. Retrieved on 2009-06-29.
- ^ a b Taylor, Neil (2007-09-01) (in English). Estonia: The Bradt Travel Guide (5th ed.). Bradt Travel Guides. pp. 288. ISBN 978-1841621944. http://books.google.com/books?id=MGDmMPZMgBgC&lpg=PA243&dq=k%C3%B5pu%20lighthouse&pg=PA243. Retrieved on 2009-06-29.
- ^ a b "Kõpu tuletornil uus müts" (in Estonian). Eesti Päevaleht (EkspressMeedia AS). 2001-10-31. http://www.epl.ee/artikkel/179967. Retrieved on 2009-06-30.
- ^ Viidik, Aivar (2001-02-01). "Elavhõbedapomm Kõpu majakas" (in Estonian). Eesti Ekspress (EkspressMeedia AS). http://paber.ekspress.ee/arhiiv/2001/05/Aosa/kuum4.html. Retrieved on 2009-06-30.
- ^ a b c "Kõpu tuletorn" (in Estonian). poolsaar.ee. State Nature Conservation Centre, Hiiumaa department. http://www.poolsaar.ee/en/hiiumaa/lighthouses/kopu-lighthouse.html.. http://www.poolsaar.ee/hiiumaa/tuletornid/kopu-tuletorn.html. Retrieved on 2009-06-30.
- ^ "Kõpu tuletorn" (in Estonian). Kultuurimälestiste riiklik register. Muinsuskaitseamet. http://register.muinas.ee/?menuID=monument&action=view&id=23453. Retrieved on 2009-06-30.
- ^ "Ristna and Kõpu Lighthouses". Eesti Post. 2000-02-25. http://www.post.ee/?id=1946&prod_id=160. Retrieved on 2009-06-30.
