Name and Location

Sprogø Lighthouse stands at the heart of the tiny island of Sprogø in the Great Belt, Denmark. The lighthouse's address is Sprogø Fyr, Sprogø, 4220 Korsør, Denmark.

2. Construction and History

The Sprogø Lighthouse was constructed in 1868 to improve navigation through the Great Belt. It was commissioned by the Danish Lighthouse and Buoy Authority to replace a smaller lightship. The lighthouse was originally staffed by keepers but was automated and demanned in the late 20th century.

3. Architecture and Materials

The Sprogø Lighthouse is a 19th-century functional tower with a round tapering form. It is made of brick, with a cast-iron lantern room. The height of the lighthouse is 19 meters (structural height), while the focal height is approximately 21 meters above mean sea level.

4. Light and Navigation

The Sprogø Lighthouse emits a light characteristic that is not publicly documented. Its range is also unknown. The power source is mains electricity with battery backup, and it functions as a nominal sector light on nautical charts.

5. Accessibility and Visiting

Sprogø island is a restricted area (nature reserve and traffic control zone). Landing is by special permission only. There are no regular tours of the lighthouse, but occasional guided visits can be arranged by the Danish Lighthouse Society or nature-reserve authorities.

6. Notable Views and Landscape

The Sprogø Lighthouse offers panoramic sightlines across the Great Belt, the wooded shores of Funen to the west, and Zealand to the east. The surrounding landscape is characterized as low-lying basalt island rising only a few meters above the sea, dominated by heather and grassland.

7. Anecdotes and Folklore

Sprogø has served various roles throughout history, including a medieval toll station, plague quarantine site, women's "asylum", and later a wartime fortification. The former keepers' quarters once housed a small family community.

8. Technical and Operational Details

The Sprogø Lighthouse is currently an active coastal lighthouse that is fully automated. Its managing authority is the Danish Maritime Authority, and it is listed in Denmark's national registry of historic lighthouses.

9. Further Information

For further information on the Sprogø Lighthouse, you can visit the websites of the Danish Lighthouse Society, the Danish Maritime Authority, or consult the National Registry of Protected Buildings and Places, Kulturarvsstyrelsen.