Name and Location

The Leuchtturm Hörnum, also known as the Hörnumer "Rot-Weiß-Riese" ("Red-White Giant"), is a lighthouse located on the southern tip of Sylt island in Germany. Its official address is An der Düne 333C, 25997 Hörnum (Sylt), Nordfriesland, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.

2. Construction and History

The Leuchtturm Hörnum was constructed in 1907 to replace a smaller beacon that had been built in 1855 but proved insufficient for the growing North Sea traffic. The lighthouse is an early 20th-century sea navigation tower with a cylindrical brick construction, gallery, and lantern.

3. Architecture and Materials

The Leuchtturm Hörnum features a freestanding, tapered cylindrical tower that stands 34 meters above its base. It is constructed from reinforced brick masonry and has a cast-iron lantern room. The exterior of the lighthouse is marked by three horizontal bands - red at the base, white in the midsection, and red at the top.

4. Light and Navigation

The lighthouse emits a group flashing light with a characteristic of Fl(2) W 9 s (two white flashes every 9 seconds; sequence 0.4 seconds flash, 2.6 seconds eclipse, 0.4 seconds flash, 5.6 seconds eclipse). The focal height is 48 meters above high water, and the light range extends to 20 nautical miles.

5. Accessibility and Visiting

The Leuchtturm Hörnum is fenced and not open for interior visits. Visitors can walk up to the fenced enclosure along the beach promenade or access the site by foot or bicycle from the coastal path in Hörnum town centre (approximately 2 kilometers). Parking is available at the western end of An der Düne road.

6. Notable Views and Landscape

The lighthouse is situated on a scenic coastline with dune heath and tidal flats, which are part of the Wadden Sea National Park UNESCO. Nearby points of interest include the Hörnum Odde nature reserve and bird-watching hides, the Hindenburgdüne with panoramic North Sea views, and the Sylter Welle leisure pool and the Hörnum harbour.

7. Anecdotes and Folklore

Until automation in the mid-20th century, a small team of three keepers lived on-site in adjacent houses (now private residences). During World War II, the tower remained unlit during blackout periods and survived coastal storms with minor damage. Local legend speaks of a "white lady" lighthouse keeper said to walk the galleries on stormy nights.

8. Technical and Operational Details

The Leuchtturm Hörnum is an automated lighthouse that uses BOS VHF and POCSAG pager channels for maritime safety. It does not have an AIS beacon, but serves primarily as a visual landmark.

9. Further Information

• For further information, please visit the Waterways and Shipping Administration (WSV) "Directory of German Lighthouses," 2020 edition;
• de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leuchtturm_Hörnum;
• Baudenkmale in Schleswig-Holstein, listing entry no. 9025.