Fenerbahçe Lighthouse

Coordinates: 40°58′05.2″N 29°01′55.4″E / 40.968111°N 29.032056°E / 40.968111; 29.032056
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Fenerbahçe Lighthouse
Fenerbahçe Feneri
Fenerbahçe Lighthouse with keeper's house in front.
Map
LocationFenerbahçe
Kadıköy
Istanbul
Turkey
Coordinates40°58′05.2″N 29°01′55.4″E / 40.968111°N 29.032056°E / 40.968111; 29.032056
Tower
Constructed1856
Constructionmasonry tower
Height25 m (82 ft)
Shapecylindrical tower with double balcony and lantern
Markingswhite tower and lantern
OperatorDirectorate General of Coastal Safety
Fog signalblast every 60 seconds
Light
Focal height20 m (66 ft)
Lens500 mm (20 in) cylindrical
Intensity1,000 W
Range15 nmi (28 km)
CharacteristicLFl (2) W 12s.
Map

The Fenerbahçe Lighthouse (Turkish: Fenerbahçe Feneri), a historical lighthouse still in use, is located on the northern coast of Sea of Marmara at Fenerbahçe neighborhood of Kadıköy district in Istanbul, Turkey.

History[edit]

Historical documents mention that the location of the cape caused often maritime damage. In 1562, Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent (reigned 1520–1566) issued a decree, in which he ordered the establishment of a light on the rocks at Kalamış Cape, as the location was called that time.[1]

The lighthouse in the late 1800s

Built in 1857, the lighthouse stands on a point at Cape Fenerbahçe close to the eastern side of the Bosporus entrance. The location Fenerbahçe was named after the lighthouse (literally: "Fener" for lighthouse and "bahçe" for garden). It is situated about 1.5 km (0.93 mi) south of Kadıköy in a public park.[2] The 20-metre-high (66 ft) tower with a cylindrical form has two galleries. The lighthouse is painted white. A masonry one-story keeper's house is attached to it.[3][4]

The lighthouse was initially lit by kerosene, however the light source was later replaced by Dalén light using carbide (acetylene gas). Currently, it runs on electricity. The lighthouse's lantern has a 1,000 W light source. The light flashes twice in group white through a catadioptric reflector system with cylindrical lens having a focus length of 500 mm (20 in) every 12 seconds 1.5 seconds long, which is visible at a range of 15 mi (24 km). The lighthouse's foghorn blasts every 60 seconds in foggy conditions.[3][4]

Fenerbahçe lighthouse is listed in Turkey under the code "TUR-021" and its radio call sign is TC2FLH.[3] It is operated and maintained by the Coastal Safety Authority (Turkish: Kıyı Emniyeti Genel Müdürlüğü) of the Ministry of Transport and Communication.[4]

The lighthouse and the keeper's house are under protection as a national heritage site. The site is open to the public, however the tower is closed.[4]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Deniz fenerleri". Hürriyet (in Turkish). 1998-12-15. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
  2. ^ "Türkiye'deki Fenerler-Fenerbahçe Feneri". Sabah (in Turkish). 2010-11-27. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
  3. ^ a b c Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Northwestern Turkey". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
  4. ^ a b c d "Tarihi Fenerler-Fenerbahçe Feneri" (in Turkish). Kıyı Emniyei Genel Müdürlüğü. 2012-05-19. Retrieved 2013-05-05.

External links[edit]