Liepāja Lighthouse

Liepāja Lighthouse
Liepājas bāka

Location	Liepāja Latvia
Coordinates	56°31′0.58″N 20°59′32.35″E
Tower
Constructed	1868
Construction	cast iron tower
Height	33 metres (108 ft)
Shape	cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern
Markings	white tower with red horizontal bands, red lantern
Heritage	National industrial monument
Light
Focal height	32 metres (105 ft)
Range	16 nautical miles (30 km; 18 mi)
Characteristic	Iso W 3s.
Latvia no.	UZ-700[1]

The Liepāja Lighthouse (Latvian: Liepājas bāka) is a lighthouse located in Liepāja on the Latvian coast of the Baltic Sea.[2]

History

The lighthouse is located on the southern bank of the civil harbour of Liepāja, near the entrance. It was built of cast iron from resmelted ship-wreckage in 1868.[3] During its lifetime the lighthouse suffered wartime damage, mainly during World War I, when it was hit by sixteen rounds fired by the German light cruiser SMS Augsburg. Their traces have survived to the present day, as indentations in the lighthouse's external cladding. The new iron sheets covering the lighthouse bear the inscription KOD, meaning they have come from Liepāja, the port and harbour town the lighthouse is located in. Currently the lighthouse's top viewing gallery can be accessed by an internal staircase of one hundred and forty nine steps.[4]

See also

• List of lighthouses in Latvia

References

1. Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Latvia". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
2. "Main Page". Latvia Travel. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
3. "Liepaja Lighthouse". Lighthouse Digest. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
4. "Latvian Lighthouses". Bakas. Retrieved 10 May 2015.

External links