The Söderskär lighthouse (Finnish: Söderskärin majakka, Swedish: Söderskär fyr) 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
Söderskär fyr

Söderskär lighthouse and island in 2005
Location	Söderskär, Porvoo, Finland
Coordinates	60°06′34″N 25°24′36″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]

References