Name and Location

Osmussaar Lighthouse, also known as Osmussaare tuletorn, is located on the island of Osmussaar (Odensholm) in the Gulf of Finland, Lääne County, Estonia. The official address is Osmussaare tuletorn 425, and its coordinates are 59°18′13″ N, 23°21′40″ E.

Construction and History

The present lighthouse tower was erected in 1957 to replace an earlier wartime structure. Early lights on Osmussaar date from the late 18th century under Imperial Russian administration, with repeated damage caused by storms and military action. The new tower is a utilitarian-modernist design, made of reinforced concrete with a metal lantern room.

Architecture and Materials

The lighthouse has a cylindrical tower approximately 22 meters above its base, with a balcony and lantern. Its focal plane is 39 meters above sea level.

Light and Navigation

The Osmussaar Lighthouse is a major seamark light with a characteristic flashing white every 18 seconds in a group of two flashes. It has a range of 11 nautical miles and is managed by the Estonian Maritime Administration.

Accessibility and Visiting

The lighthouse tower itself is closed to the public, but the surrounding grounds may be explored subject to wildlife-reserve rules. Visitors can reach Osmussaar by private boat or seasonal charter from Haapsalu and coastal villages during summer months.

Notable Views and Landscape

The island offers panoramic views of the sea horizon, with vistas toward continental Estonia and, on clear days, neighboring Finnish shores. The landscape is characterized by low-lying limestone, alvars, coastal meadows, and boreal forest, making it an important stopover for migratory birds.

Anecdotes and Folklore

Local lore recounts that keepers in the 19th century endured harsh winters trapped by ice and fog; no documented shipwrecks are directly tied to the old tower. During World War II, the island changed hands, and the light was extinguished for several years.

Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is automated and has been so since the late 20th century. The Estonian Maritime Administration manages the light, with no public records of on-site radar or AIS transponders. Chart datum reference is C 3760 (Admiralty list).

Further Information

For more information, please refer to the Estonian Maritime Administration's "Aids to Navigation" (nma.vta.ee/aton), OpenStreetMap feature way/198264921, Wikidata Q3376581, and English Wikipedia (if available) or Estonian Wikipedia.