Užava Lighthouse Explained

Užava Lighthouse
Užavas bāka
Location:Užava
Ventspils District
Latvia
Yearbuilt:1879 (first)
Yearlit:1925 (current)
Foundation:octagonal basement
Construction:limestone tower
Shape:cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern
Marking:white tower and lantern
Characteristic:white light, 1.5 s on, 2.5 s off, 1.5 s on, 4.5 s off
Country:Latvia
Countrynumber:UZ-650
Module:
Wikidata:yes
Marker:lighthouse
Zoom:16

Užava Lighthouse (Latvian: Užavas bāka) - a lighthouse located on the Latvian coast of the Baltic Sea. The lighthouse stands in an isolated location, on a 28 metres high sand dune, which is permanently threatened by the Baltic Sea waves' erosion.[1] For this reason, the first coastal reinforcement – a dense log wall was constructed to secure the lighthouse's location in 1910. Later, fir-tree baskets filled with gravel, and big boulders to absorb the waves' energy.[2] Currently, the base of the lighthouse is protected by rock armour.

History

The original tower of the Užava lighthouse was destroyed by artillery shells during World War I. The present-day lighthouse tower is 19 metres in height, completed in 1925. The inscription of the year 1924 on the nearby weather vane on the lightower's dome roof marks the beginning of construction works of the lighthouse.[3]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Latvian Lighthouses. Petriporkola. 11 May 2015. 18 May 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150518081055/http://www.petriporkola.fi/Petri_Porkola/Photo_Gallery/Pages/Lighthouses_Latvia.html. dead.
  2. 11 May 2015.
  3. Web site: Latvian Lighthouses. Bakas. 11 May 2015.