935 - Sõrve tuletorn
| Region: | Saaremaa | Light ordinates: | 57.909817 N, 22.055367 E | |
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| Light running: | night | Light characteristics: | Fl W 15s | |
| Light height from ground: | 52m | Light height from sea: | 53m | |
| Light visibility: | 15M | Built, y: | 1960, 1946 |
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Sõrve lighthouse and the rescue station on a early 20th century postcard. Jaan Vali’s collection.
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Sõrve harbor and lighthouse on the navigation map from 1650. National Archives in Sweden.
Sõrve lighthouse on the Swedish navigation map from 1695. Tallinn City Archives. |
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Sõrve tuletorn u 1930. Jaan Vali kogu. Sõrve lighthouse ca 1930. Jaan Vali’s collection.
The construction of the first lighthouse on Sõrve peninsula on the island of Saaremaa started in 1646. The initial timber structure was replaced with a stone building in 1650 designed by Heinrich Stegeling. The lighthouse was in private possession until 1737, after which it was managed by the state. The rectangular structure was reconstructed in 1770 and built higher in 1807. A temporary wooden structure was built in 1863, which served during the reconstruction of the 35m lighthouse and its catoptric apparatus. The light- house survived World War I, although the wooden ceilings and staircase were gutted by fire. Unfortunately in 1944 the whole structure was destroyed. A temporary octahedral wooden tower was constructed in 1949, which served until 1960, when it was replaced by the current 52m reinforced concrete conical lighthouse. The 19th century keeper’s house, cellar, sauna and a few 20th century warehouses have survived to this day. Sõrve lighthouse is among the tallest of its kind in Estonia and stands out with its utilitarian simplicity and slenderness.
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View from the Sõrve lighthouse to the maintenance buildings ca 1930. Jaan Vali’s collection.
Temporary wooden lighthouse in Sõrve ca 1955. Estonian Maritime Museum’s collections.
Lighting apparatus in the Sõrve lighthouse in 2009. Photo by Leo Käärmann.
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