Leuchtturm Westerheversand
Westerhever, 25881, Germany
Name and Location
Leuchtturm Westerhever, also known as the Westerhever Lighthouse, is a coastal beacon located in Germany's Schleswig-Holstein region. Its address is Leuchtturm 1, 25881 Westerhever, Germany, and it stands on a narrow tongue of salt marsh and tidal flats about 600 meters from the nearest parking area.
Construction and History
The lighthouse was erected in 1908 to mark the entrance to the Eiderstedt coastal waters and guide vessels around the mud-flat shoals. The exact architect or builder is not documented, but it remains an active aid to navigation managed by the Waterways and Shipping Office (WSA) Tönning.
Architecture and Materials
The tower has a tapered cylindrical shape with a gallery and lantern, standing 40 meters above ground level and 41 meters above mean sea level. Its external appearance features five horizontal bands of red, white, and red, earning it the local nickname "Rot-weiß-roter Turm". The lighthouse is constructed from brick and iron framework.
Light and Navigation
The lighthouse remains fully operational, emitting an occulting group of three every 15 seconds (Oc (3) 15s). Its sectors and colors are as follows: Sector 012.2°–69°: white, range 21 nautical miles; Sector 69°–85°: green, range 16 nautical miles; and so on.
Accessibility and Visiting
Visitors can access the lighthouse through a guided tour of the interior, including the 162-step climb to the gallery. Tours are generally offered from spring through autumn, with parking and tourist information available at the tidal-road entrance.
Notable Views and Landscape
The surrounding area is part of the Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park, offering tide-flat walks and guided seal-watching tours. Nearby attractions include St. Peter-Ording and Tümlauer Koog on the Eiderstedt peninsula, as well as the local maritime museum in Tönning.
Further Information
For more information, visit the lighthouse's Wikidata page (Q454681), German Wikipedia article (de:Leuchtturm Westerheversand), or Commons image gallery (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Leuchtturm_Westerheversand).
Details
| Name | Leuchtturm Westerheversand |
|---|---|
| City | Westerhever |
| Country | Germany |
| Coordinates | 54.3733622, 8.6399181 |
| Year of construction | 1908 |
| Events | shipwrecks or rescues |
| Historic significance | Marking the entrance to the Eiderstedt coastal waters, guiding vessels around the mud-flat shoals |
| Keeper stories | {"stories":["quotes from former lighthouse keepers"]} |
| Stories | anecdotes, myths, or legends related to the lighthouse |
| Architectural style | tapered cylindrical tower with gallery and lantern |
| Construction material | brick, iron framework |
| Focal height | 41 |
| Tower height | 40 |
| Access description | by car, boat, footpath; parking and tourist information are available at the tidal-road entrance. |
| Accessible | true |
| Parking | true |
| Landscape type | Wadden Sea |
| View description | Set within the Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park, the lighthouse stands on a narrow tongue of salt marsh and tidal flats some 600 m from the nearest parking area. |
| Guided tours | true |
| Facilities | toilets, café, gift shop |
| Opening hours | {"spring-autumn":true,"rest of year":null} |
| Nearby attractions | Wadden Sea UNESCO World Heritage area, St. Peter-Ording and Tümlauer Koog on the Eiderstedt peninsula, Local maritime museum in Tönning (Eiderstedt coast history) |
| Light characteristic | Occulting group of three every 15 s (Oc (3) 15s) |
| Light range | {"sector1":{"range":21,"colour":"white"},"sector2":{"range":16,"colour":"green"},"sector3":{"range":21,"colour":"white"},"sector4":{"range":17,"colour":"red"},"sector5":{"range":21,"colour":"white"},"sector6":{"range":21,"colour":"white"},"sector7":{"range":17,"colour":"red"},"sector8":{"range":17,"colour":"red"}} |
| Automated | true |