Name and Location

The Farul Sulina, also known as the Sulina Lighthouse, is located in Sulina, Tulcea County, Romania. Its official address is approximately 4QX5+8M Sulina, Romania (postal code 825400), and it sits at the seaward end of the Sulina Channel, on the western bank of the Danube's Sulina arm.

Construction and History

The Farul Sulina was first erected under Ottoman administration in the late 1860s to mark the newly dredged Sulina Channel. After Romania gained independence in 1878, the lighthouse passed into Romanian state control. The structure has undergone periodic modernization in the 20th century, including the replacement of its original oil lamp with an electric beacon.

Architecture and Materials

The Farul Sulina is a cylindrical masonry tower with a gallery and lantern, constructed using brick and mortar with a white-washed exterior. The site elevation is approximately 49 meters above sea level.

Light and Navigation

The lighthouse uses an electric lamp as its light source and functions as an active aid to navigation for vessels entering or exiting the Sulina arm. While some technical specifics are not publicly available, the Farul Sulina serves as a vital navigation point for maritime traffic in the region.

Accessibility and Visiting

Unfortunately, the Farul Sulina is not open to the public, and the tower itself is closed. Visitors can reach the lighthouse on foot via the Canal breakwater (a 30-40 minute walk from town center) or by small boat tours. There are no on-site facilities, such as a museum or visitor center.

Notable Views and Landscape

From its vantage point, the Farul Sulina offers breathtaking views of waving reeds, the entrance to the Sulina arm of the Danube, and (on clear days) the Black Sea horizon. The lighthouse is situated within the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO-designated habitat of reed beds, lagoons, and migratory birds.

Anecdotes and Folklore

Local lore holds that in the late 19th century, the first keeper was a Bulgarian ��migré who kept nightly logs in French. The Farul Sulina has also survived severe ice jams and floods during the winters of 1935 and 1942.

Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is fully automated and has been since the late 20th century, with no resident keeper on site. There are no installed AIS or radar systems on the tower itself; local vessel-traffic oversight is handled from Sulina port authority.

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