Lighthouses history


Eesti Saarte Kogu Lighthouse Tourism Development Plan History of Lighthouses Ligthouses on Estonian Islands	On history of lighthouse construction The history of lighthouse construction can be divided into three periods: The stone period – until the middle of the 19th century; The metal period – from the middle of the 19th century until the early 20th century, however, even now small aids to navigation are made of metal; The reinforced concrete period in the 20th century. Building of wooden lighthouses and light beacons forms a separate chapter in lighthouse history. Wooden structures should rather be considered temporary buildings, despite the fact that many of them have survived over a respectable number of years. Wooden light beacons have been the predecessors of all the biggest Estonian lighthouses in Ruhnu, Sõrve, Keri, Mohni; Naissaar, and also Tallinn. Of the wooden lighthouses built in the 19th century have survived and are still in good shape the lower wooden lighthouse of Suurupi built in 1859, and the lighthouse of Käsmu (1892). The wooden lighthouse of Kunda (1896) perished in the fire in 1999. Wooden lighthouses were built in later periods too when it was necessary to quickly mark places dangerous for navigation. Lighthouse construction from the 16th century – the middle of the 19th century Metal lighthouses Concrete lighthouses Modernisation of lighthouses after Estonia re-established its independence References: Aleksejev, Igor. Eesti tuletornid = Estonian lighthouses. Tallinn: GT Projekt, 2003 Peetsalu, Peeter. Eesti majakamaailm = The world of Estonian lighthouses. Tallinn: Olion, 2006 Luige, Armas. Eesti tuletornid: fakte ja meenutusi. (Estonian lighthouses: facts and recollections.) Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1982