Slītere Lighthouse

Slītere Lighthouse
Slīteres bāka

Slītere Lighthouse
Latvia
Location	Dundaga Latvia
Coordinates	57°37′43.6″N 22°17′20.6″E / 57.628778°N 22.289056°ECoordinates: 57°37′43.6″N 22°17′20.6″E / 57.628778°N 22.289056°E
Year first constructed	1849
Year first lit	1961
Deactivated	1999
Construction	limestone tower
Tower shape	large cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern
Markings / pattern	red tower
Height	24 metres (79 ft)
Focal height	82 metres (269 ft)
Admiralty number	C3477
ARLHS number	LAT-015
Managing agent	Slītere National Park

Slītere Lighthouse (Latvian: Slīteres bāka), is an inactive lighthouse located on the Latvian coast of the Baltic Sea.

History

The lighthouse was built between 1849–1850; however the area historically, since the eleventh century, has been a site of plunderers who lit misleading signal-fires to confuse passing ships, causing them to run aground, once wrecked they would be raided of their cargo.^[1] The site of the lighthouse may have been an ancient holy place as old maps refer to the locality as Temple Mount (Domkalns), and Church Hill (Baznīckalns). Towards the end of the nineteenth century Baron Osten-Zakens cut-down a number of trees; making this a key-location spot for fishermen in the area; which is why the 24 metre stone lighthouse was built there between 1849–1850. The lighthouse is located in the Slītere National Park, which now maintains the lighthouse and its surroundings.^[2] The light has a focal height of 82 metres above sea level, making it the highest light in Latvia until it was deactivated in 1999. The lighthouse is the second oldest in Latvia, the oldest being that of Ovisi which first entered service in 1814.^[3]

See also

• List of lighthouses in Latvia

References

1. Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Latvia". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
2. "Slītere National Park". Latvia Travel. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
3. "Latvian Lighthouses". Bakas. Retrieved 11 May 2015.