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Lighthouses today Most of the functioning lighthouses and other aids to navigation belong to the Estonian state and are administrated by Estonian Maritime Administration. EMA has five regional departments responsible for maintenance of navigation marking of seaways: North Estonian Aids to Navigation Department in Tallinn for Harju and Viru Counties; Läänemaa Aids to Navigation Department in Haapsalu for Hiiumaa and Läänemaa Counties; Pärnu Aids to Navigation Department in Pärnu; and Saaremaa Aids to Navigation Department in Kuressaare. Lighthouses are losing their significance as essential aids to navigation. However, in lighthouses or their vicinity there can still be found historically valuable technological equipment and facilities, for instance, lifeboat stations that might be of interest to visitors fascinated by maritime heritage. At present 16 lighthouse complexes are protected under heritage conservation: Kõpu, the rear and front lighthouse of Suurupi, Keri, the rear and front lighthouse of Tallinn, Vilsandi, Mohni, Vormsi, Ristna, Tahkuna, Ruhnu, Pakri, Käsmu ja Laidunina, and the ruins of Kunda lighthouse. It is anticipated that the lighthouses of Kihnu, Abruka, Sorgu, Vaindloo and Sõrve will also be taken under protection. A number of lighthouses are located in nature conservation areas. Even if a lighthouse cannot be opened or if it is not worth opening for the public, it could still become a part of a hiking trail offering a spectacular sea view from its base and providing information about maritime history.
Of Estonian lighthouses only three – all of them in the territory of Kõrgessaare rural municipality, Hiiumaa Island - are presently open for visitors: the lighthouses of Kõpu, Tahkuna, and Ristna. Several other Estonian lighthouses have great potential for tourism development. The lighthouse of Sõrve in Saaremaa Island would certainly be popular with tourists, as well as the lighthouses located on small islands (Kihnu, Ruhnu, Vormsi, Vilsandi, Naissaar, Osmussaar) where an opening of the local lighthouse for the summer at would add another tourist attraction to the list of sights. several other Estonian lighthouses having great potential for tourism development. The lighthouse of Sõrve in Saaremaa Island would certainly be popular with tourists, as well as the lighthouses located on small islands (Kihnu, Ruhnu, Vormsi, Vilsandi, Naissaar, Osmussaar) where opening of a local lighthouse for the summer at least would add another tourist attraction to the list of sights.
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