Name and Location

Utö Lighthouse (Swedish: Utö fyr; Finnish: Utön majakka) is located in the outer Archipelago Sea on the island of Utö in the municipality of Pargas (Parainen), Southwest Finland (Egentliga Finland). The address is Utö byväg 25, 21740 Pargas, Finland.

2. Construction and History

Utö Lighthouse was constructed in the early 19th century, specifically between 1814-1815. It was built to mark the main fairway through the outer Archipelago Sea, guiding vessels between the island of Utö and the open Baltic. The lighthouse was converted to automatic operation in the mid-20th century, marking the end of permanent on-site keeper services.

3. Architecture and Materials

The lighthouse stands 27 meters tall on a granite foundation. It features a traditional Nordic masonry design with a square tapering tower, gallery, and lantern, attached to a single-storey keeper's house (now repurposed). The exterior is painted white, while the lantern roof and gallery rail are black.

4. Light and Navigation

The lighthouse remains an active aid to navigation. However, technical details such as exact light characteristic, focal height, and nominal range were not available in the provided sources. Chart references can be found on Finnish charts series, specifically those from the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency (Väylävirasto).

5. Accessibility and Visiting

The grounds are open to the public year-round. While the tower interior is not generally accessible, visitors can reach Utö Lighthouse by taking a regular ferry connection from the mainland port of Pargas (Parainen), followed by a short walk along Utö byväg (approx. 500 meters). Facilities include a small café and museum in former keeper's quarters (seasonal opening) as well as picnic areas on the cliffside.

6. Notable Views and Landscape

Perched atop reddish granite cliffs, Utö Lighthouse commands panoramic views of the Baltic's skerries. Visitors can look east toward the open sea and west over a labyrinth of wooded islets. In summer months, seabirds and passing sailboats add to the maritime atmosphere.

7. Anecdotes and Folklore

Over two centuries of service, Utö Lighthouse has witnessed many storms and shipwrecks in the shallow channels. Local lore speaks of 19th-century keepers rowing out at night to rescue sailors from icebound vessels—a testament to the station's vital role in Archipelago Sea navigation.

8. Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is managed by the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency (Väylävirasto) / Finnish Maritime Administration. It is recognized as a cultural property of Finland's maritime history and protected under national heritage legislation.

9. Further Information

For further reading, please visit Wikidata (Q11899745), Finnish Wikipedia (fi:Utön majakka), OpenStreetMap (https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/39007334), the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency (www.vayla.fi; search "Utö fyr"), or the Utö Pilot Station Museum (www.utoomuseo.fi).