Litløy Lighthouse

Litløy Lighthouse

Litløy Lighthouse overlooking Lofoten
Nordland
Location Litløy
Lofoten
Nordland
Norway
Coordinates 68°35′37.0″N 14°18′29.3″E / 68.593611°N 14.308139°E / 68.593611; 14.308139Coordinates: 68°35′37.0″N 14°18′29.3″E / 68.593611°N 14.308139°E / 68.593611; 14.308139
Year first constructed 1912
Automated 1991
Deactivated 2009
Construction stone tower
Tower shape octagonal prism tower with balcony and lantern
Markings / pattern white tower, red lantern
Height 55.5 metres (182 ft)
Focal height 48.7 metres (160 ft)
Range 12.1 nmi (22.4 km; 13.9 mi)
Characteristic Fl W 10s
Admiralty number L3146
NGA number 12232
ARLHS number NOR-435
Norway number NF-8000.1
Managing agent Litløy Fyr

Litløy Lighthouse (Norwegian: Litløy fyr) is located on the island of Litløya in Bø municipality, Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Vesterålen archipelago, which overlooks the nearby Lofoten islands.[1]

History

The lighthouse and the adjoining buildings were built in 1912, and the light itself was electrified in 1959. In the mid-1991 the light was automated. The people who worked at Litløy Lighthouse remained, however, first and foremost to do maintenance at the lighthouse and nearby beacons. Secondly, there was a need to keep shipping activity under observation, both to control and assist if need be. There was also a meteorological weather station on the island. Eventually the cost of keeping the staff at the island caused the lighthouse to be depopulated on 26 June 2003.

In 2005-06, the Norwegian Coastal Administration (NCA) sold 20 lighthouses along the coast of Norway.[2][3] One of these was Litløy Lighthouse. Bø municipality was offered to buy the lighthouse, but chose not to accept the offer. It was then sold to Ellen Marie Hansteensen. She bought the lighthouse in order to make it accessible to the public, in accordance to Norwegian law (Stortingsmelding 28 (2000–2001)).[4][5]

Since 2006, Hansteensen has renovated much of the property to offer accommodation and daytime visitors an opportunity to explore the island. Stein Halvorsen is the project's architect.[6] There are also guided tours of the facility, on request. The project at Litløy Lighthouse has been documented by the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (Norge rundt, autumn of 2006, ’Der ingen skulle tru at nokon kunne bu’, autumn of 2011)[7][8]

The lighthouse owner is the island's only remaining permanent inhabitant, though various support staff are often present to help with renovations and daily tasks.

NCA removed the diesel driven lighthouse beacon in November 2009. It was replaced by a light running on solar power, batteries and has a double LED 350 lightbulb. The new signal is one white blink, every 10 seconds. The light is visible for 12 nautical miles (22 km). The old light was visible for 20 nautical miles (37 km).[9][10]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Rowlett, Russ (19 July 2011). "Lighthouses of Norway: Lofoten". University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 2012-07-27.
  2. ↑ "Kystverket selger fyr" (in Norwegian). Kystverket.
  3. ↑ "20 fyr til salgs" (in Norwegian). NRK.
  4. ↑ "Ti nye fyr selges" (in Norwegian). Kystverket.
  5. ↑ "Solgte 16 eiendommer i 2005" (in Norwegian). Kystverket.
  6. ↑ "Stein Halvorsen AS Sivilarkitekter MNAL" (in Norwegian).
  7. ↑ "Dugnad på Litløy fyr" (in Norwegian). NRK Norge rundt. 2006-10-27.
  8. ↑ "Der ingen skulle tru at nokon kunne bu" (in Norwegian). NRK besøker Litløy fyr.
  9. ↑ "Det gamle fyret på Litløya i Bø er sløkt" (in Norwegian). Bø kommune.
  10. ↑ Kystverket (2011). Norske Fyrliste 2011 (PDF) (in Norwegian). ISBN 9788245010398.
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