Suurupi sihi alumine tuletorn
Suurupi liitsihi alumise tuletorni, Suurupi, 76907 Harju maakond, Estonia
Name and Location
The Suurupi Lower Range Lighthouse, also known as Suurupi sihi alumine tuletorn in Estonian, is located on the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland in Estonia. The official address is Pärtli tee 29, Suurupi, 76907 Harju maakond, Estonia.
2. Construction and History
The lighthouse was built in the mid-19th century, with an exact construction date not recorded. Its purpose is to mark the safe channel into Suurupi harbour, together with its upper range light counterpart. The lighthouse has been administered by various authorities since its inception, including the Russian Empire, Soviet Union, and currently the Estonian Maritime Administration.
3. Architecture and Materials
The Suurupi Lower Range Lighthouse is a simple cylindrical tower set directly on the ground, measuring 16 meters tall with a focal height of 18 meters above mean sea level. The structure is made of masonry or brick substrate with a rendered finish, typical for 19th-century Estonian aids to navigation. The tower and lantern are painted white.
4. Light and Navigation
The lighthouse serves as the lower rear sector light of the Suurupi leading line, guiding vessels into safe waters. Its characteristic is an isophase white light with a period of three seconds (Iso W 3s), visible within a narrow sector from 242.5° to 250°. The range is approximately 11 nautical miles.
5. Accessibility and Visiting
The tower is closed to the public, but the grounds can be viewed from a public footpath and nearby parking area. Visitors can reach the site by car or bicycle via Pärtli tee, then walk about 200 meters south to the shoreline. Coastal trails from Suurupi village also pass nearby.
6. Notable Views and Landscape
The lighthouse sits at the edge of a mixed pine–spruce forest, immediately above a rocky shoreline. On clear days, the Tallinn skyline is visible across the Gulf of Finland about 15 kilometers to the east.
7. Anecdotes and Folklore
No notable anecdotes or folklore are available for this lighthouse.
8. Technical and Operational Details
The Suurupi Lower Range Lighthouse is fully automated and has no keeper on site. It is listed in Estonian national mapping authority (Maa- ja Ruumiamet ETAK 6102024) but not currently as a state-protected heritage building.
9. Further Information
For more information, consult the official light list entry and source data at nma.vta.ee/aton/2853 or visit the Estonian Maritime Administration's website for further details on Estonian aids to navigation.
Details
| Name | Suurupi sihi alumine tuletorn |
|---|---|
| City | Suurupi |
| Country | Estonia |
| Coordinates | 59.4716643, 24.416546 |
| Architectural style | purely functional, lacking decorative elements |
| Construction material | "masonry or brick substrate with rendered finish" |
| Focal height | 18 |
| Tower height | 16 |
| Heritage status | false |
| Access description | reach by car or bicycle via Pärtli tee, then walk ~200 m south to the shoreline; coastal trail from Suurupi village also passes nearby |
| Accessible | true |
| Landscape type | typical Baltic littoral, nesting waterfowl in summer; sea ice forms in winter |
| View description | open panorama northward across the Gulf of Finland; on clear days Tallinn towers visible ~15 km to the east |
| Facilities | nearest café and restrooms in Suurupi village (~1 km inland) |
| Nearby attractions | ["Suurupi Upper Range Lighthouse (\"Suurupi sihi ülemine tuletorn\", larger late-19th-century tower)","Suurupi clifftop coast and pine forest trails","Tallinn skyline viewpoints across the gulf"] |
| AIS Radar | false |
| Light characteristic | "Iso W 3s" |
| Light range | 11 |
| Automated | true |