Stora Karlsö Fyrhus
N 57° 17.380 E 017° 57.520
33V E 678301 N 6353506
The lighthouse on the western edge of the island of Stora Karlsö was build in 1886/1887 and is still in use.
Waymark Code: WM177KG
Location: Gotland, Sweden
Date Posted: 12/30/2022
Views: 6
With the increasing shipping traffic on the Baltic Sea, a beacon was built by the Swedish government against the will of the owner, the Karlsöverein, on the island of Stora Karlsö in 1886 and 1887 on the western 40m high rocky coast. The design is by architect Johan Höjer and represents the urban architectural style of the 1880s. The building contained apartments for the lighthouse keeper and his assistants, a laundry and kitchen, storeroom, a separate room for the kerosene used by the lamp, woodsheds, latrine and cellar.
In contrast to most lighthouses of the time, the 18m high tower with the beacon is part of the two-storey residential building. Limestone from the island was used as building material. At the beginning of its operation from 1887, only two officials from the royal pilotage office were constantly present, in later years two more officials and their families were added.
Up until the 1960s, the rotation of the lamp with a fourth-order belt lens was kept going by a clockwork and a plumb bob, the clockwork had to be rewound every three to four hours and the fuel for the lamp refilled. After 1960 the lamp was replaced by an electric model with 1000W - the necessary power was supplied by a diesel generator.
It was only in 1974 that the operation of the lighthouse could be fully automated when the island was finally electrified, and from 1989 the regularly present security personnel were no longer required. The building was added to the register in the year 2000. Since 2010, the Conservation Authority staff, who are regularly on the island, have also been keeping an eye on the site. The island and the lighthouse can be visited only from May to the end of September as part of a boat tour from Klintehamn on Gotland, in the summer time you can also stay overnight in the lighthouse.
References:
- Aron Hejdström: "Inselführer Stora Karlsö", German edition, page 12f.
- Where to stay over night on Stora Karlsö, storakarlso.se
- STORA KARLSÖ FYRHUS, Bebyggelseregistret