Vinga Lighthouse

Vinga Lighthouse
Vinga fyr

Vinga Lighthouse
Sweden
Location Vinga island
Gothenburg Archipelago
Sweden
Coordinates 57°37′56″N 11°36′05″E / 57.632130°N 11.601357°E / 57.632130; 11.601357Coordinates: 57°37′56″N 11°36′05″E / 57.632130°N 11.601357°E / 57.632130; 11.601357
Year first constructed 1841 (first)
1854 (second)
Year first lit 1890 (current)
Automated 1974
Foundation porphyry
Construction porphyry tower
Tower shape square parallelepiped tower with balcony and lantern
Markings / pattern unpainted tower, grey metallic lantern dome
Height 29 m (95 ft)
Focal height 46 m (151 ft)
Original lens 1st order Fresnel lens
Range 25 nautical miles (46 km; 29 mi)
Characteristic Fl (2) W 30s.
Admiralty number C0565
NGA number 1020
ARLHS number SWE-076
Sweden number SV-7547
Managing agent Swedish Maritime Administration (Sjöfartsverket)[1]

Vinga Lighthouse (Swedish: Vinga fyr), is a Swedish lighthouse on Vinga island. The present-day lighthouse was built in 1890, although Vinga has been a significant island for mariners long before that. This lighthouse is the third built on the island. It is one of Sweden's most noted lighthouses and a special symbol for the city of Gothenburg.

History

The first tower was built in 1841, it was the first Swedish lighthouse with lens. A second was built in 1854 to make Vinga a "double light",[2] since there had been complaints that it was hard to tell the difference between the lighthouse in Skagen, Denmark, and Vinga, Sweden, from afar. The flame ran on colza oil. In the 1880s the need for a better and higher lighthouse was urgent and in 1890 the new lighthouse was built, it ran on paraffin. The lantern on the second lighthouse was removed and it was transformed into a watchtower (the red and gray short tower on the picture). The first lighthouse was demolished and only the foundation remains.[2]

In 1948, the tower was electrified and in 1974, it was automated. It is now remote controlled by the Swedish Maritime Administration, who wanted to deactivate the lighthouse in 2007 since the commercial shipping did not need it anymore. The proposition met with heavy opposition and as of 2015 the tower is still active.

The Vinga station also has a distinctive red pyramid, a day beacon, adjacent to the tower. It was built in 1857.[2]

Cultural significance

Today, Vinga lighthouse is a popular tourist attraction, and during summer there are often guided tours on the island. The Swedish poet and musician Evert Taube was the son of one of the light keepers. Being born the same year (1890) the third lighthouse was built, he spent his childhood there.[2]

See also


References

  1. ↑ Vinga The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved April 11, 2016
  2. 1 2 3 4 Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Sweden: Göteborg Area". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 8 September 2008.


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