Liepāja Lighthouse Explained

Liepāja Lighthouse
Liepājas bāka
Location:Liepāja
Latvia
Coordinates:56.5168°N 20.9923°W
Yearbuilt:1868
Construction:cast iron tower
Shape:cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern
Marking:white tower with red horizontal bands, red lantern
Characteristic:Iso W 3s.
Country:Latvia
Countrynumber:UZ-700
Module:
Wikidata:yes
Marker:lighthouse
Zoom:18

The Liepāja Lighthouse (Latvian: Liepājas bāka) is a lighthouse located in Liepāja on the Latvian coast of the Baltic Sea.[1]

History

The lighthouse is located on the southern bank of the civil harbour of Liepāja, near the entrance. It was built of cast iron from resmelted ship-wreckage in 1868.[2] During its lifetime the lighthouse suffered wartime damage, mainly during World War I, when it was hit by sixteen rounds fired by the German light cruiser SMS Augsburg. Their traces have survived to the present day, as indentations in the lighthouse's external cladding. The new iron sheets covering the lighthouse bear the inscription KOD, meaning they have come from Liepāja, the port and harbour town the lighthouse is located in. Currently the lighthouse's top viewing gallery can be accessed by an internal staircase of one hundred and forty nine steps.[3]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Main Page. Latvia Travel. 10 May 2015.
  2. Web site: Liepaja Lighthouse. Lighthouse Digest. 10 May 2015.
  3. Web site: Latvian Lighthouses. Bakas. 10 May 2015.