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]
 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 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]
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Aerial view of Majakkasaari, with Luotsisaari behind -
View from the top of the tower, showing the residential and service buildings
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Söderskär lighthouse tower -
Söderskär light and Fresnel lens
References
edit- ^ "Söderskär's Lighthouse". soderskar.fi. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
- ^ a b "Söderskärin majakka suojeltiin" (in Finnish). Yle. 22 June 2010. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Söderskär". Majakkaseura.fi (in Finnish). Suomen Majakkaseura (Finnish Lighthouse Society). 21 March 2017. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
- ^ a b c "Historia". Soderskar.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved 30 December 2020.
- ^ a b c d e "Söderskärin majakka". reijoheikkinen.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved 30 December 2020.
- ^ "Söderskär Lighthouse – Helsinki This Week". Archived from the original on 2021-11-26. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
- ^ Svenska YLE: Unika illustrationer av Tove Jansson utställda i Söderskärs fyr (in Swedish)
- ^ Tove Janssonin jäljillä Söderskarin majakalla (in Finnish)
