Ursholmen is a Swedish island and lighthouse located west of Strömstad town. It is the westernmost lighthouse in Sweden.

Ursholmen light station
Map
LocationKosteröarna (naturreservat), Strömstad Municipality, Sweden Edit this at Wikidata
Coordinates58°49′57″N 10°59′24″E / 58.83262°N 10.99008°E / 58.83262; 10.99008
Constructed1890 Edit this on Wikidata
Constructionreinforced concrete Edit this on Wikidata
Shapecylindrical towers with balcony and lantern
OperatorStiftelsen Ursholmen[1]
Light
First lit13 November 1891 Edit this on Wikidata
Sweden no.SV-8608
Ursholmen southern lighthouse
Ursholmen
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Constructed1890 Edit this on Wikidata
Constructionreinforced concrete Edit this on Wikidata
Automated1965 Edit this on Wikidata
Height13.5 m (44 ft) Edit this on Wikidata
Markingswhite (tower), black (stripe, lantern) Edit this on Wikidata
Power sourcekerosene, electricity Edit this on Wikidata
First lit13 November 1891 Edit this on Wikidata
Focal height33 m (108 ft) Edit this on Wikidata
Lensthird order Fresnel lens Edit this on Wikidata
Range10 nmi (19 km; 12 mi) (white), 7.6 nmi (14.1 km; 8.7 mi) (red), 6.4 nmi (11.9 km; 7.4 mi) (green) Edit this on Wikidata
CharacteristicLFl(2) WRG 15s (2000–) Edit this on Wikidata
Ursholmen northen lighthouse Edit this at Wikidata
Constructed1890 Edit this on Wikidata
Constructionreinforced concrete Edit this on Wikidata
Height13 m (43 ft) Edit this on Wikidata
Markingswhite (tower), black (stripe, lantern) Edit this on Wikidata
Power sourcekerosene Edit this on Wikidata
First lit13 November 1891 Edit this on Wikidata
Deactivated18 July 1931 Edit this on Wikidata
Focal height33 m (108 ft) Edit this on Wikidata
Lensthird order Fresnel lens (–1932) Edit this on Wikidata
CharacteristicExting (1931–) Edit this on Wikidata

History

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Houses for lightkeepers and their families. Lighthouse and former lighthouse in background.

In 1891 two identical lighthouses were built on the island to replace two lighthouses on Nordkoster. It was the first time in Sweden lighthouses were built in concrete. In 1931 the north tower was deactivated and its lantern room removed, but the tower remains. In 1965 the south tower was electrified and automated. In 2000 solar cells was installed and the electric cable removed. In 2008 the Swedish Maritime Administration handed ownership of the towers to the Naturvårdsverket which already owned all of the other buildings on the island. SMA didn't find the lighthouse important for the modern commercial shipping any more, but they paid an amount of money to Naturvårdsverket for restoration of the two towers.

There is a very small lighthouse museum in a cabin on the island. The whole island is a nature reserve, a part of Kosterhavet national park.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Sweden: Tanum Area (Northern Bohuslän)". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
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