Lighthouses of Western Finland

Finland has coastlines facing south on the Gulf of Finland and west on the Gulf of Bothnia, both arms of the Baltic Sea. Finland also administers the Åland Islands (Ahvenanmaa), an archipelago at the junction of the two gulfs. After centuries of rule by Sweden, Finland was conquered by Russia in 1809 and became an autonomous grand duchy within the Russian Empire. The country declared its independence from Russia in 1917, at the start of the Russian Revolution. This page includes the lighthouses of the Gulf of Bothnia on Finland's west coast. Most of this coast is in the province of Western Finland (Länsi-Suomi), but the some of the northern part falls in the province of Oulu, and the northernmost part in the province of Lapland (Lappi). There are separate pages for Southern Finland and for the Åland Islands. Lighthouses in Finland are maintained by the Finnish Maritime Administration (Merenkulkulaitos). The Finnish word for a lighthouse is majakka (plural majakat). Swedish is a second official language in Finland, and some of the lighthouses are commonly known by their Swedish names. ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. Admiralty numbers are from volume C of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA List numbers are from Publication 116. General Sources Suomen Majakat Lighthouse information (in Finnish) and photos posted by the Finnish Maritime Administration. Galleria Majakat Photos posted by Kimmo Koivunen. Lighthouses in Finland Aerial photos posted by Marinas.com. Weitere Europäische Leuchttürme auf historischen Postkarten Historic postcard images posted by Klaus Huelse. Finnish Lighthouse Society The national lighthouse preservation association.

Marjaniemi Light, June 2007 Wikipedia photo by Teemu Vehkaoja, GNU license

Lighthouses of Länsi-Suomi Province

Uusi and Rauma Area Lighthouses
Keskikallio

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 21 m (69 ft); four flashes every 6 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 16 m (52 ft) octagonal cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Upper half of the tower painted black, lower half white; lantern painted yellow. A photo is available (lower right of the four lighthouses depicted). Located on an islet about 3 km (2 mi) southeast of Isokari. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS FIN-079; Admiralty C4453; NGA 16972.

** Isokari (Kustavi) (2) 1833 (Gustaf Brodd). Active; focal plane 29 m (161 ft); continuous white light with a long (2.3 s), more intense flash every 20 s. 37 m (121 ft) round old-style masonry tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted with red and white horizontal bands. Keeper's house and other light station buildings are preserved, and the pilot station for Uusi is nearby. A photo is at right, Mikko Rauhala has a photo, Esa Orvasto has a closeup, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. This historic lighthouse is the one of oldest of the Gulf of Bothnia. Isokari is an island about 20 km (13 mi) west of Uusi and is accessible by ferry from that port. Located on the highest point of the island, accessible by a short hike from the ferry terminal. Site open, apparently the tower is also open during the summer season. ARLHS FIN-010; Admiralty C4450; NGA 16968. Sandbäck 1963. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); three white flashes every 10 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern, double gallery, and a helipad on top. Lighthouse painted orange with a white horizontal band. Koivunen has a good closeup photo. Located on a shoal about 13 km (8 mi) west of Isokari. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS FIN-054; Admiralty C4450.4; NGA 16952. Hylkkari Date unknown. Active; focal plane 8 m (26 ft); two quick flashes every 6 s, white, red or green depending on direction. Round concrete tower, painted red with a white horizontal band. No photo available. Located on an island about 7 km (4.5 mi) west northwest of Kammela. Site status unknown. Admiralty C4445; NGA 17248.

Isokari Light, September 2005 anonymous Creative Commons photo

Rauma

1981. Active; focal plane 22 m (72 ft); two flashes every 10 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 23 m (75 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern, double gallery, and a helipad on top. Lighthouse painted red. Located on a shoal about 16 km (10 mi) due west of Rauma. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS FIN-046; Admiralty C4417; NGA 17268.

** Kylmäpihlaja

1953. Active; focal plane 36 m (118 ft); four white flashes every 45 s. 32 m (105 ft) square cylindrical brick tower, originally incorporating keeper's quarters, attached to a large 2-story coast guard building. Carlos Raposo has an August 2007 photo, Koivunen has a good photo, and Juho Ruohola has a wider view. This large lighthouse was leased or sold in 2002, and it has been converted into a hotel and restaurant operated by Suvi and Tom Lindqvist. Located on an island about 10 km (6 mi) west of Rauma; accessible during the summer months by daily passenger ferry service from Rauma. Site open; hotel, restaurant, and tower open daily early June through late August. Site manager: Kylmäpihlajan Majakka. ARLHS FIN-024; Admiralty C4421; NGA 17328.

Pori Area Lighthouses
Säppi

1873. Active; focal plane 35 m (115 ft); two white flashes, followed 12.7 s later by a single white flash, every 30 s. 31 m round two-stage white tower with lantern and gallery, the lower third cylindrical and the upper 2/3 conical. Lighthouse painted white; lantern dome is red. 1-story wood keeper's house, wood barn, and other buildings, painted red. A photo is available, Jan Eerala has a second photo, Koivunen has a page for the lighthouse with a good photo, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. Säppi is an island about 1.5 km (1 mi) long, located about 10 km (6 mi) southwest of Mäntyluoto. Located on the highest point of the island. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS FIN-055; Admiralty C4398; NGA 17448.

* Kallo (Range Front)

1884. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, 1 s on, 1 s off. 8 m (26 ft) octagonal cast iron tower with eight ribs, lantern and double gallery, attached to a 1-story wood keeper's house. Lighthouse painted white, house red with white trim. A good photo is available, and a second photo shows the house. The rear light, known as Uniluoto, is on a skeletal tower. This attractive and historic lighthouse guides vessels into the port of Mäntyluoto, northwest of Pori. Located on the peninsula sheltering the west side of the harbor. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS FIN-015; Admiralty C4376; NGA 17456.

* Reposaari (Commercial Harbor Range Front)

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); continuous red light. 6 m (20 ft) round cylindrical tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white with a red horizontal band just below the gallery. A closeup photo is available, also a second photo. Reposaari and Mäntyluoto are separated by their common harbor entrance. Located on the waterfront of Reposaari; exact location unknown. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty C4394; NGA 17484.

Kaijakari

1933. Active; focal plane 20 m (66 ft); two white flashes every 20 s. Approx. 16 m (52 ft) square pyramidal steel skeletal tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white; the upper half of the tower is covered on all sides by a vertically slatted brown daymark. Another photo is available, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. Located on Kaija, a small island about 3 km (2 mi) west of Reposaari. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS FIN-012; Admiralty C4374; NGA 17452.

Pori ("Porin Majakka")

1985. Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); white flash every 12 s. 18 m (59 ft) concrete post light with a round equipment shelter and gallery, plus a second gallery at the top. Lower half of the lighthouse painted yellow, upper half black. Koivunen has a page for the lighthouse. Located on a shoal in the Gulf of Bothnia about 12 km (7.5 mi) northwest of Reposaari. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS FIN-041; Admiralty C4365; NGA 17534.

Kristinestad (Kristiina) and Kaskinen Area Lighthouses
** Yttergrund

1892. Active; focal plane 44 m (144 ft); three long (2.5 s) white flashes every 30 s. 41 m (134 ft) round tapered cast iron tower with lantern and triple gallery. The lantern and upper third of the tower are painted red, the lower 2/3 white. 1-story wood keeper's house and other buildings. Rauli Rautavuori has a closeup photo, another closeup is available, there is also a Swedish-language web site for the lighthouse with numerous photos, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. This historic tower was prefabricated by a Helsinki firm, Kone & Siltarakennus. Located on the island of Södra Yttergrund, at the south side of the entrance to Fladen. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower usually closed but several open house dates are offered during the summer. ARLHS FIN-077; Admiralty C4348; NGA 17616.

Kristiina (Kristinestad)

1991. Active; focal plane 23 m (75 ft); two white flashes every 20 s. 24 m (79 ft) steel and concrete post light with a conical equipment shelter near the bottom and a helipad on top. Upper half of the tower painted black, lower half white. Located on a shoal about 12 km (7.5 mi) southwest of Kristinestad, a predominantly Swedish-speaking port also known by its Finnish name Kristiina or Kristiinankaupunki (Kristiina Township). Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS FIN-023; Admiralty C4328.2; NGA 17663.

Härkmeri (Kristinestad) Range Front

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); quick-flashing white light. Square concrete tower, painted white; the seaward face carries a red rectangular daymark with a yellow vertical stripe on the range line. No photo available. Located on the island of Torngrund, about 6 km (3.5 mi) south southwest of Kristinestad. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS FIN-101; Admiralty C4330; NGA 17648.

Härkmeri (Kristinestad) Range Rear

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 24 m (79 ft); white light, 2 s on, 4 s off. Square masonry tower, painted white; the seaward face carries a red rectangular daymark with a yellow vertical stripe on the range line. No photo available. Located on the Hansnäs promontory about 5 km (3 mi) south of Kristinestad. Site status unknown. ARLHS FIN-128; Admiralty C4330.1; NGA 17652.

* Sälgrund

1875. Active; focal plane 30 m (98 ft); one very long (3.2 s) white flash every 30 s. 25 m (82 ft) round stone tower with lantern and gallery, painted with red and white horizontal bands. Rolf Sara has a page of Sälgrund photos, FMA also has a page for the lighthouse, an aerial photo is available, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Huelse has a historic (ca. 1902) postcard view. Adjacent to the light station is the former pilot station for Kaskinen, deactivated in 1986. The town is restoring the pilot station buildings as a tourist attraction. Located at the southwestern tip of the island of Sälgrund, about 4 km (2.5 mi) southwest of Kaskinen. Passenger ferry service is available in the summer from Kaskinen. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS FIN-051; Admiralty C4318; NGA 17708.

Storremmargrund

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 7 m (23 ft); continuous white light. 7 m (23 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white one red horizontal band. Rolf Sara has an excellent photo with the Sälgrund lighthouse in the background. Located on a rocky reef in the entrance to the harbor of Kaskinen, roughly 500 m (1/4 mi) east southeast of the Sälgrund lighthouse. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty C4321.5; NGA 17720.

Norrskär Area Lighthouses
Note: The lighthouses in this group are located far offshore, near the centerline of the Gulf of Bothnia west of Vaasa.
Strömmingsbåden

1885. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); four long (2 s) flashes every 20 s, white or red depending on direction. 14 m (46 ft) round stone tower with lantern and gallery. Lantern and top of the tower painted red, lower part of the tower white. 1-story wood keeper's house, painted red. Ferries crossing the gulf between Vaasa and Sundsvall, Sweden, probably pass close to this remote lighthouse. Located on the small island of Norra Kallan, about 45 km (28 mi) west southwest of Vaasa. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS FIN-059; Admiralty C4294; NGA 17820.

Veckargrund

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 7 m (23 ft); flash every 3 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 6 m (20 ft) square concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white. The NGA list says the east side of the tower is painted red, but the aerial photos of Marinas.com do not show this. Instead, they show a rectangular daymark panel, painted red with a yellow vertical stripe, standing about 14 m (46 ft) from the tower. Located on a skerry about 35 km (22 mi) west of Vaasa. Accessible only by boat; there is probably a view from ferries sailing across the gulf between Vaasa and Sundsvall, Sweden. Site status unknown. ARLHS FIN-059; Admiralty C4259; NGA 17964.

Norrskär 1848. Active; focal plane 32 m (105 ft); white light, 6 s on, 21 s off, 3 s on, 6 s off, 3 s on, 21 s off. 21 m (69 ft) octagonal old-style stone tower with lantern and gallery, painted black with one white horizontal band. Several 1-story wood keeper's houses and other light station buildings. Tommy Lahti has a closeup photo, Tero Koski has a 2008 closeup, Jean Guichard has a winter 1970 photo, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. This was the last Finnish lighthouse to be automated, in 1987. The lighthouse is built on the island of Västra Norrskär in the center of the Gulf of Bothnia, about 50 km (35 mi) west of Vaasa. Located on a low hill on the southwestern peninsula of the island. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS FIN-033; Admiralty C4250; NGA 17912. Norrkallan Date unknown. Active; focal plane 9 m (30 ft); flash every 5 s, white, red or green depending on direction. Round concrete tower, painted red. No photo available. Located on the northwestern tip of Västra Norrskär. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS FIN-082; Admiralty C4251; NGA 17916. Lotsgrund Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12.5 m (41 ft); quick-flashing white light. 12.5 m (41 ft) stone tower. Upper half painted black, lower half yellow. Located on a shoal about 13 km (8 mi) southeast of the Norrskär lighthouse. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NGA 17912.5. Östra Norrskär Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); four flashes every 15 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 8.5 m (28 ft) square cylindrical tower with lantern and gallery. Tower painted black, lantern white. Pertti Malinen has a photo, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. Located on the northeastern tip of the island of Östra Norrskär, about 7 km (4.5 mi) east northeast of the Norrskär lighthouse. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty C4252; NGA 17908. Utgrynnan 1960. Active; focal plane 24 m (79 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, 3 s on, 9 s off. Approx. 19 m (62 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted with red and white horizontal bands. Tero Koski has four photos, a view from the sea is also available, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. Located on a small island about 20 km (13 mi) north northeast of Norrskär. Ferries crossing the gulf between Vaasa and Umeå, Sweden, probably pass close to this lighthouse. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS FIN-072; Admiralty C4248; NGA 18172.

Norrskär Light, June 2008 Creative Commons photo by Hagen and Tine Graf

Vaasa Archipelago Lighthouses
Note: The Vaasa Archipelago, including the large islands of Replot and Björkö, lies in the Gulf of Bothnia west of Vaasa. There are two approach channels to the port, one north of the islands and one to the south.

Korsö

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 26 m (85 ft); flash every 5 s, white, red or green depending on direction. Approx. 17 m (56 ft) round cylindrical tower with lantern and gallery. Upper half of the lighthouse painted black, lower half white. Stefan Kuni has a closeup photo. Located on the southeast side of Korsö, an island just off the southwest coast of Replot. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty C4236; NGA 18080.

Norra Gloppsten

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); flash every 2 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 15 m (49 ft) round concrete tower, painted white with a red horizontal band. No photo available. Located on a skerry about 5 km (3 mi) southwest of Replot on the southern approach to Vaasa. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty C4262; NGA 18076.

Vaasa

1981. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); two flashes every 10 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 19 m (62 ft) round cylindrical tower with a large lantern structure and a gallery on top of the lantern. Tower painted white, lantern red. Located on a shoal about 7 km (4.5 mi) west southwest of Replot, marking the start of the southern approach to Vaasa. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS FIN-075; Admiralty C4261; NGA 17928.

Valassaaret (Valsörarna)

1886. Active; focal plane 38 m (125 ft); four white flashes every 20 s. 36 m (118 ft) octagonal cast iron tower with lantern, central cylinder, and triple gallery. Entire structure painted red. The original 1° Fresnel lens, removed in the 1980s, is on display at the Vaasan Merimuseo (maritime museum) in Vaasa. Bertil Berg has a closeup photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Huelse has a historic postcard view. This wonderful lighthouse was designed in Paris by Henry Lepaute, then working for the firm of Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel. It is unusually slender for its type, and guy wires have been added to steady it in the northern winds. Located on the island of Storskär, about 6 km (3.5 mi) northwest of Panike. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS FIN-076; Admiralty C4226; NGA 18148.

Ritgrund

1863 (substantially rebuilt in 1945). Active; focal plane 25 m (82 ft); two flashes every 10 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 18 m (59 ft) octagonal pyramidal wood tower (rebuilt with a steel skeletal frame) with lantern and gallery. Entire structure painted red. 2-story wood keeper's house and other buildings. Tero Koski has a portfolio of photos, Chris Hart has a good photo, Pirkko Salmo has a photo of the entire light station, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. Located on a small island about 6 km (3.5 mi) northeast of Björkö, marking the start of the northern approach to Vaasa. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS FIN-048; Admiralty C4224; NGA 17824.

Northern Länsi-Suomi Lighthouses
Stubben

1954. Active; focal plane 21 m (69 ft); three long (2.5 s) white flashes every 30 s. Approx. 18 m (59 ft) lantern and gallery mounted atop a 4-story pilot station building. Upper half of the building painted black, lower half white: lantern and gallery painted white. Marinas.com has aerial photos. Located on a small island about 3 km (2 mi) off the mainland and about 16 km (10 mi) west of Nykarleby. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS FIN-060; Admiralty C4219; NGA 18176.

Pietarsaari (Jakobstad) 1985. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); white flash every 12 s. 17 m (56 ft) steel and concrete post light with a round cylindrical equipment shelter near the bottom and a gallery at the top. Upper half of the tower painted black, lower half yellow. Located on a shoal about 9 km (4.5 mi) northwest of Pietarsaari, a small port more often called by its Swedish name Jakobstad. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS FIN-040; Admiralty C4214.3; NGA 18197. Kallan 1956. Active; focal plane 23 m (75 ft); two flashes every 6 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 19 m (62 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and double gallery. Lighthouse painted red with one white horizontal band above the lower gallery. Jonas Thomén has a good view from the sea. Located on a small island about 1 km (0.6 mi) northwest of the Pietarsaari light. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS FIN-014; Admiralty C4214; NGA 18196. Tankar 1889. Active; focal plane 38 m (125 ft); white flash every 3.5 s. 30 m (98 ft) round cast iron tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted red with one white horizontal band; lantern dome is gray metallic. A photo appears at right, a 2007 photo is available, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. In addition to the main light, the rear light of the Tankar Range (white light, 3 s on, 3 s off) is shown though a lower window of the tower at a focal plane of 20 m (66 ft). Located on a small island about 15 km (9 mi) west northwest of Kokkola. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS FIN-065; Admiralty C4200; NGA 18224. Kokkola 1977. Active; focal plane 22 m (72 ft); two flashes every 10 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 23 m (75 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, incorporating keeper's quarters, with lantern, two galleries, and a helipad on top of the lantern. Upper half of the lighthouse painted red, lower half white. Another photo is available. Located on a shoal about 12 km (7.5 mi) northwest of Kokkola. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS FIN-020; Admiralty C4203; NGA 18240.

Tankar Light, undated anonynmous Wikipedia photo, GNU license

Lighthouses of Oulu Province

Raahe Area Lighthouses
** Ulkokalla

1872 (Axel Hampus Dahlström). Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); three white flashes every 20 s. 12 m (39 ft) round masonry tower with lantern and gallery, mounted on a round cylindrical base. Lighthouse painted black with one white horizontal band. A large wood keeper's house is now open for overnight accommodations. Located on a small island about 20 km (13 mi) west of Kalajoki. Boat transportation is available from Kalajoki during the summer. Site open; light station and tower open to paying guests. Site manager: FemEmare Oy (Ulkokalla Lighthouse Island). ARLHS FIN-069; Admiralty C4192; NGA 18392.

Nahkiainen

1976. Active; focal plane 28 m (92 ft); four white flashes every 20 s. 24 m (79 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, incorporating keeper's quarters, with lantern, two galleries, and a helipad on top of the lantern. Upper half of the lighthouse painted red, lower half white. Located on a shoal about 16 km (10 mi) north of Kalajoki and 25 km (15 mi) west of Raahe. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS FIN-032; Admiralty C4188; NGA 18400.

Raahe

1965. Active; focal plane 22 m (72 ft); two yellow flashes every 10 s. 19 m (62 ft) round cylindrical 2-stage masonry tower with lantern and two galleries, mounted on a round concrete pier. This lighthouse shares its design with the three Oulu lighthouses (see below). Lighthouse painted white with one red horizontal band. Located on a shoal about 12 km (7.5 mi) west of Raahe. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS FIN-045; Admiralty C4183; NGA 18404.

[Tasku]

1853. Daybeacon. 19 m (62 ft) square wooden tower, the lower half cylindrical and the upper half pyramidal. Tower painted a dark yellow. Google has a satellite view. One of several historic daybeacons in service in northern Finland. Located on an island that helps shelter the harbor of Raahe. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed.

* Tauvo

1978. Active; focal plane 34 m (112 ft); white light, 2 s on, 4 s off. 30 m (98 ft) square pyramidal steel skeletal tower with gallery. The tower also carries a solid rectangular daymark, painted black. Wikipedia has a closeup photo by Teemu Vehkaoja. Located on a low cape about 12 km (7.5 mi) northeast of Raahe and a similar distance west of Siikajoki. Site open, and it appears that the lighthouse should be accessible by a fairly short walk on the beach. Tower closed. ARLHS FIN-067; Admiralty C4172; NGA 18444.

Oulu (Uleåborg) Area Lighthouses

* Marjaniemi

1872 (Axel Hampus Dahlström). Active; focal plane 20 m (98 ft); two white flashes every 20 s. 25 m (82 ft) round masonry tower with lantern and gallery, mounted on a round cylindrical base. Lighthouse painted white; lantern painted red with a green dome. A 2-story pilot station stands next to the lighthouse. Teemu Vehkaoja's photo appears at the top of this page, Timo Suomela has a July 2007 closeup photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Huelse has a historic postcard view. This handsome tower is one of the oldest, best known, and most accessible lighthouses of northern Finland. Located on a sharp point at the western tip of the island of Hailuoto, about 50 km (30 mi) west of Oulu. The island is accessible by auto ferry, and the lighthouse is at the end of highway 816, which crosses the island. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS FIN-028; Admiralty C4142.1; NGA 18452.

* [Keskiniemi (1)] 1858. Never lit as a lighthouse. 19 m (62 ft) square pyramidal wood tower rising from a square 1-story base. Tower painted white, roof black. Teemu Vehkaoja's photo is at right. This historic tower has always been a daymarker only, but there is a sector light nearby (next entry). Located on a promontory on the northwestern coast of Hailuoto. Site open, tower closed. * Keskiniemi (2) Range Front Date unknown (daybeacon established 1858). Active; focal plane 9 m (29 ft); white flash every 6 s. 9 m (30 ft) square skeletal steel tower with white lantern and gallery, with an unused wooden gas-bottle storage shed at the foot of the tower. This is the front light of a range; the rear light, Hyypänmäki, is on a skeletal tower 7 km (4 mi) southeast on the highest hill of Hailuoto. Located on a promontory on the northwestern coast of Hailuoto. The light is accessible by foot or car, located 6.3 km (3.9 miles) northeast of Marjaniemi Lighthouse. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS FIN-080; Admiralty C4144. Oulu 1 1965. Active; focal plane 22 m (72 ft); flash every 5 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 24 m (79 ft) round cylindrical 2-stage masonry tower with lantern and two galleries, mounted on a round concrete pier. Lighthouse painted black with one white horizontal band. This is the outermost of three identical lighthouses built to guide ships around the north side of Hailuoto island to the port of Oulu. Located about 8 km (5 mi) northwest of the Marjaniemi lighthouse. Accessible only by boat, but there is a distant view from Marjaniemi. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS FIN-037; Admiralty C4145; NGA 18472. Oulu 2 1965. Active; focal plane 22 m (72 ft); two flashes every 6 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 24 m (79 ft) round cylindrical 2-stage masonry tower with lantern and two galleries, mounted on a round concrete pier. Lighthouse painted white with one narrow black horizontal band. Riku Peltokorpi also has a photo. This is the second of three identical lighthouses built to guide ships around the north side of Hailuoto island to the port of Oulu. Located about 6.5 km (4 mi) north of the Marjaniemi lighthouse. Accessible only by boat, but there is a distant view from Marjaniemi. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS FIN-038; Admiralty C4146; NGA 18476.

Keskiniemi Daybeacon, June 2007 Wikipedia photo by Teemu Vehkaoja, GNU license

Oulu 3

1964. Active; focal plane 22 m (72 ft); three flashes every 10 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 24 m (79 ft) round cylindrical 2-stage masonry tower with lantern and two galleries, mounted on a round concrete pier. Lighthouse painted white with one red horizontal band. This is the innermost of three identical lighthouses built to guide ships around the north side of Hailuoto island to the port of Oulu. Located about 3 km (2 mi) off the north coast of Hailuoto. Accessible only by boat, but there is distant views from the shore of Hailuoto. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS FIN-039; Admiralty C4147; NGA 18480.

Lansiletto (Luodematala Range Rear)

1930. Active; focal plane 19 m (62 ft); one long white flash every 8 s. 16 m (52 ft) square concrete tower, painted white with a red vertical stripe facing the range line. Wikipedia has Teemu Vehkaoja's distant photo. This range also guides vessels toward Oulu. Located on a small island about 8 km (5 mi) northeast of Hailuoto and a similar distance from the mainland near Haukipudas. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty C4150.1; NGA 18496.1.

[Laitakari] 1851. Approx 17.5 m (57 feet) wooden hexagonal structure resting on top of supporting wooden piles. Tower painted red with a pyramidical black roof. One of several historic daybeacons in service in northern Finland, this tower replaced older beacons placed on the island as early as the 1750s. When aligned with the belfry of the Oulu Cathedral the daybeacon guides vessels towards a range leading past the northern coast of Hailuoto island. Located on the small gravel island of Laitakari, approx 5 km (3 mi) east of the easternmost tip of Hailuoto and 16 km (10 mi) west of Oulu. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. * Koskela 1940. Inactive since the late 1990s. 5 m (17 ft) octagonal cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Tower painted red, lantern white. The tower carried a directional light guiding vessels into Toppila harbor. Teemu Vehkaoja reports the lighthouse is abandoned and covered with graffiti. Located on the south side of the Letonniemi promontory in Oulu; accessible by a foot path. Site open, tower closed. Rivinletto Date unknown. Active; focal plane 8 m (26 ft); white flash every 3 s. 8 m (26 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white with one black horizontal band. Teemu Vehkaoja took the photo at right, and he also has a closeup. Located on a gravel bar on the south side of the entrance to the Kiiminki River in Haukipudas. Accessible only by boat, but there should be good views from shore. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty C4122; NGA 18680.

Rivinletto Light, May 2006 Wikipedia photo by Teemu Vehkaoja, GNU license

Ulkokrunni Range Rear

1874 (unlit until recent years). Active; focal plane 26.5 m (87 ft); one long white flash every 8 s in a sector towards the range. Approx. 29.6 m (97 ft) hexagonal wooden tower with pyramidical roof. Tower painted red. No photo available. One of several historic daybeacons in service in northern Finland. Located on the northeastern tip of Ulkokrunni island in the Krunni archipelago, about 20 km (12.5 mi) west of the mainland and 40 km (25 mi) northwest of Oulu. The island is a natural preservation area; landing is prohibited unless authorized by the Maakrunni Society. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed.

Lighthouses of Lappi Province

Kemi Area Lighthouses

Härkäletto

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); flash every 3 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 11 m (36 ft) triangular concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Tower painted black, lantern white. No photo available. Located on a small island about 8 km (5 mi) south of Simoniemi near the border of Oulu Province. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS FIN-053; Admiralty C4100; NGA 18792.

Ykskivi

1874 (unlit until 1954). Active; focal plane 9 m (30 ft); flash every 4 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 19 m (62 ft) hexagonal wood tower with a pyramidal roof. The light is shown through a small window cut in the lower portion of the tower. Tower painted white with a red vertical stripe on the side facing the range line. A small photo is available. This is one of several historic daybeacons in service in northern Finland. Located on the island of Ykskivi, 3.3 km (2 mi) south of the fishing harbor of Karsikko and about 12 km (7.5 mi) southeast of Kemi. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty C4098.5; NGA 18824.

Kemi 1

1975. Active; focal plane 25 m (82 ft); white flash every 4 s. 25 m (82 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, incorporating keeper's quarters, with two galleries and a helipad on top. It appears that the original lantern has been removed and the light is now mounted at the edge of the helipad. Lighthouse painted with red and black horizontal bands. Located on a shoal about 22 km (14 km) southwest of Kemi; this location is very near the Swedish border on the centerline of the gulf. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS FIN-016; Admiralty C4082; NGA 18772.

Kemi 2

1981. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); two white flashes every 6 s. 16 m (52 ft) steel and concrete post light with a round cylindrical equipment shelter near the bottom and a gallery at the top. Upper half of the tower painted red, lower half white. This lighthouse replaced the lightship Kemi, which will be on display at the Maritime Museum of Finland in Kotka beginning in 2008. Located on a shoal about 16 km (10 mi) southwest of Kemi. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS FIN-017; Admiralty C4082.5; NGA 18796.

Keminkraaseli (2)

1957 (station established 1937). Active; focal plane 25 m (82 ft); three flashes every 12 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 24 m (79 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white with a black horizontal band at the top of the tower. Located on a gravel bar about 6 km (3.5 mi) south of Kemi. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS FIN-018; Admiralty C4083; NGA 18828.

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

• Nallikari, near Oulu, is an observation tower, not a lighthouse.

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Posted October 8, 2007. Checked and revised January 29, 2009. Lighthouses: 52. Site copyright 2009 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.