Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse

Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse (Danish: Rubjerg Knude Fyr) is on the coast of the North Sea in Rubjerg [da], in the Jutland municipality of Hjørring in northern Denmark. It was first lit on 27 December 1900.[2] Construction of the lighthouse began in 1899.

Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse
The lighthouse in 2004
Map
LocationRubjerg, Hjørring Municipality, Denmark
Coordinates57°26′56″N 9°46′28″E / 57.448903°N 9.77433657°E / 57.448903; 9.77433657
Tower
Constructed1900
Constructionmasonry tower
Height23 metres (75 ft)
Shapesquare tower with balcony and lantern
Markingswhite tower, red lantern
OperatorVendsyssel Historiske Museum[1]
Light
Deactivated1968
Focal height90 m (300 ft) Edit this on Wikidata
CharacteristicFl(1+2) W 30s Edit this on Wikidata

Description and history

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The lighthouse is on the top of Lønstrup Klint (cliff), 60 metres (200 ft) above sea level. Until 1908 it operated on gas which it produced from a gasworks on the site.[3]

Shifting sands and coastal erosion are a serious problem in the area. The coast is eroded on average 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) a year, which can be seen most clearly at the nearby Mårup Church.[2] Built around 1250, the church was originally 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) from the coast,[4] but was dismantled in 2008 to prevent its falling into the sea.

The lighthouse ceased operating on 1 August 1968.[3][5] For a number of years, the buildings were used as a museum and coffee shop, but continually shifting sands caused them to be abandoned in 2002.[3] By 2009, the small buildings were severely damaged by the pressure of the sand[5] and were later removed.

In 2016, the lighthouse was rejuvenated with the installation of a new stair and an internal kaleidoscopic light display.[6]

It was expected that the tower would fall into the sea by 2023; however, works to relocate the lighthouse started on 14 August 2019,[7] and on 22 October 2019 the 23 metres (75 ft) high lighthouse, weighing 720 tonnes, was moved 70 m (230 ft) inland on specially built rails. The cost of the move was 5 million Danish kroner (£0.6 million; €0.7 million; $0.75 million) and was paid by Hjørring Council with government funding. The move is expected to secure the future of the lighthouse at least until around 2060.[8][9]

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Denmark: West Coast". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  2. ^ a b Rubjerg Knude området, Vendsyssel Historiske Museum, Miljøministeriet Naturstyrelsen Vendsyssel (in Danish)
  3. ^ a b c Description of lighthouse Archived 2 March 2005 at the Wayback Machine Danish Museums Online. Retrieved 6 September 2011
  4. ^ Mårup Church's history Archived 31 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine Vendsyssel Historiske Museum, Hjørring, Denmark. Retrieved 8 September 2011
  5. ^ a b Description of lighthouse Archived 9 January 2006 at the Wayback Machine Lighthouse Duo. Retrieved 6 September 2011
  6. ^ "Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse". JAJA Architects.
  7. ^ Graham, Adam H. (31 December 2012). "The world's most mysterious buildings". cnn.com. CNN. Archived from the original on 1 January 2013. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
  8. ^ "LIVE-TV Rubjerg Knude Fyr lander". DR (in Danish). Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  9. ^ "Lighthouse saved from falling into sea with skates". BBC News. 22 October 2019. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
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