Naissaare tuletorn
Naissaare tuletorn, Tagaküla / Bakbyn, 74023 Harju maakond, Estonia
Name and Location
Naissaare tuletorn, also known as Naissaar Lighthouse, is an active coastal light located on the western shore of Naissaar Island in the Gulf of Finland. The island is situated in Viimsi Parish, Harju County, Estonia.
Construction and History
The exact construction era and materials used to build the lighthouse are not publicly documented. However, local tradition suggests that a navigational beacon existed on the site prior to World War I. With full automation, there are no resident keepers remaining; historical records of former keepers are sparse.
Architecture and Materials
The official name of the lighthouse is Naissaare tuletorn. The tower height is 47 meters above ground, with a focal plane approximately 47.8 meters above sea level. The shape and appearance of the slender tower are not specified.
Light and Navigation
The light type is group-flashing white, with a flash sequence of 3+(7) every 10 seconds. The range of the light is 12 nautical miles, visible from 025° to 335°. The lighthouse is fully automated and managed by the Estonian Maritime Administration.
Accessibility and Visiting
Visitors can access the lighthouse by arrangement only. Upon arrival at the adjacent house, visitors should call out and wait for an attendant to unlock the tower. A ticket costs €5 per person (2020). There are no on-site facilities or restrooms. The recommended season for visiting is late spring through early autumn.
Notable Views and Landscape
From the top of the lighthouse, visitors can enjoy panoramic views over the Gulf of Finland, the Tallinn skyline on clear days, and neighboring islets and shipping lanes. The surrounding landscape features mixed pine and birch woodland atop a limestone plateau, with coastal meadows around the base.
Anecdotes and Folklore
Naissaar ("Witch Island") owes its name to a local legend of a sorceress's rock altar. Visitors sometimes explore nearby megaliths. The island has remnants of 19th-century Russian coastal fortifications (bunkers, trenches) and Naissaar Nature Reserve trails for bird-watching.
Technical and Operational Details
The lighthouse is fully automated and managed by the Estonian Maritime Administration. There is no public record of local AIS/Radar installations. Nautical charts feature Estonian chart series C 3790 and successors.
Further Information
- Estonian Maritime Administration AtoN database: https://nma.vta.ee/aton/aton_2775.html
- OpenStreetMap feature: way/224605672
- English Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naissaar_Lighthouse
- Local hiking guides: “Discover Naissaar” (RMK publication)
Details
| Name | Naissaare tuletorn |
|---|---|
| City | |
| Country | Estonia |
| Coordinates | 59.6036917, 24.510589 |
| Historic significance | local tradition holds that a navigational beacon existed here in the pre-WWI era. |
| Stories | local legend of a sorceress's rock altar—visitors sometimes explore nearby megaliths. |
| Focal height | 47.8 |
| Tower height | 47 |
| Access description | by arrangement only. Visitors should go to the house adjacent to the tower, call out, and wait for the attendant to unlock. |
| Accessible | false |
| Landscape type | mixed pine and birch woodland atop a limestone plateau, with coastal meadows around the lighthouse base |
| View description | panoramic scenes over the Gulf of Finland, Tallinn skyline on clear days, neighboring islets and shipping lanes |
| Facilities | toilets |
| Entrance fee | 5 |
| Nearby attractions | ["RMK Saunakari wilderness barbecue (lõkkekoht)","Remnants of 19th-century Russian coastal fortifications (bunkers, trenches)","Naissaar Nature Reserve trails and bird-watching sites"] |
| AIS Radar | false |
| Light characteristic | "group-flashing white" |
| Light range | 12 |
| Automated | true |