Vinga Lighthouse

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Lighthouse

57°37′56″N 11°36′05″E / 57.632130°N 11.601357°E / 57.632130; 11.601357TowerConstructed1841 (first)
1854 (second)FoundationporphyryConstructionporphyry towerAutomated1974Height29 m (95 ft)Shapesquare tower with balcony and lanternMarkingsunpainted tower, grey metallic lantern domePower sourcekerosene, electricity

OperatorSwedish Maritime Administration (Sjöfartsverket)^[1]Heritagegovernmental listed building

LightFirst lit1890 (current)Focal height46 m (151 ft)Lens1st order Fresnel lensRange25 nautical miles (46 km; 29 mi)CharacteristicFl (2) W 30s.Sweden no.SV-7547

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^[update] 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] The light shining from Vinga lighthouse is also mentioned in the song Dans på Brännö brygga.

References

^ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Sweden: Göteborg Area". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 2016-04-11.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Sweden: Göteborg Area". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 8 September 2008.