Koskela Light Explained

Location:Oulu, Finland
Coordinates:65.0573°N 25.4017°W
Yearbuilt:1939
Yearlit:1939
Yeardeactivated:late 1990s
Construction:concrete tower
Shape:octagonal tower with balcony and lantern
Marking:red tower and balcony, white lantern
Height:5m (16feet)

Koskela Light (Finnish: Koskelan loisto) is a sector light tower located on the southern shore of Letonniemi promontory in Taskila district of the City of Oulu in Finland. The tower is located within the boundaries of the Letonniemi natural preserve.[1]

History

The current tower was built in 1939 to guide vessels towards the Toppila harbour.[2] It replaced an older and smaller light built in 1911; the older light was located approximately 920m (3,020feet) southeast from the current tower.

The tower is -high octagonal concrete structure with an octagonal steel lantern, resting on a square slab of concrete. The tower was originally painted red with a white lantern. The light displayed a flash every three seconds, green, red or white depending on direction. The focal plane was and the range was 6.6nmi.

The light was noted as an active light in the 1996 List of Lights of Finland, but was not mentioned in the 2000 edition.[3]

The light was deactivated in the late 1990s and nautical charts dated in 2005 shows the light marked down as a cairn. It served as a cairn until 20 June 2023 when it was deleted from the charts.[4]

Due to the glacial rebound the tower is located away from the coastline, and is almost completely hidden by the shrub. A footpath leading to the western end of the Letonniemi promontory leads next to the tower.

References

65.0573°N 25.4017°W

Notes and References

  1. January 19, 2016.
  2. https://www.doria.fi/handle/10024/172007 Annual Report from Oulu Pilot District in 1939, pages 16–17 (in Finnish)
  3. List of Lights of Finland 1996, page 34. Published by Merenkulkulaitos (Finnish Maritime Administration).
  4. https://www.traficom.fi/sites/default/files/media/file/TM_2023_17_EN.pdf Notices to Mariners, 123/2023, page 12, item 8992 (Traficom, Finland)