Name and Location

The Suurupi tuletorn, also known as the Suurupi Range Upper Lighthouse in Estonian, is an active minor navigation light located on the coast of northern Estonia. Its official address is Tuletorni tee / Meretule tee 5, Suurupi küla, Harku Parish, 76907 Harju maakond, Estonia.

2. Construction and History

The exact date of the lighthouse's first establishment is unknown, but local records suggest it was constructed in the mid-19th century. The purpose of the lighthouse is to mark the upper point of a two-light leading line guiding vessels into Tallinn Bay.

3. Architecture and Materials

The tower has a cylindrical shape, with a height of 17 meters above its base. The exterior is painted white, with a gallery platform at the focal plane. The exact material used in its construction is not specified.

4. Light and Navigation

The lighthouse emits an Oc(2) W 15 s light characteristic (group of two occultations every 15 seconds), with a nominal range of 12 nautical miles. Its focal height is approximately 20-25 meters above sea level, based on the terrain. The lighthouse is fully automated and powered by mains electricity with a backup battery.

5. Accessibility and Visiting

The site can be reached on foot via a short forest trail from Tuletorni tee. Parking is available at street level. While the tower itself is not open to public climbing, visitors can enjoy the exterior views of the lighthouse and its surroundings.

6. Notable Views and Landscape

From the foot of the tower, visitors can enjoy panoramic views over Tallinn Bay, Suurupi beach, and the distant North Estonian limestone coast.

7. Anecdotes and Folklore

According to local fishermen, the "white eye" of Suurupi guides small craft safely through summer fogs. The lighthouse has also prevented groundings along the shallow approach without any major shipwrecks directly associated with it.

8. Technical and Operational Details

The managing authority is the Estonian Maritime Administration (Veeteede Amet), AtoN office. The lighthouse does not have a keeper-in-residence, but is instead fully automated. It can receive AIS signals from nearby shore stations.

9. Further Information

For more information, visit the Estonian Maritime Administration AtoN database or consult the Wikidata entry for Suurupi tuletorn.