Harmaja

Harmaja Lighthouse
Harmajan majakka / Gråhara fyr
Map
LocationHelsinki, Finland
Coordinates60°06′18″N 24°58′32″E / 60.105043°N 24.975506°E / 60.105043; 24.975506
Tower
Constructed1883 (first)
Constructionstone basement, cast iron tower
Height15 metres (49 ft)
Shapecylindrical tower with balcony and lantern on a square basement
Markingsred tower with a horizontal white band, green lantern dome, unpainted basement
Light
First lit1900 (tower raised)
Focal height24 metres (79 ft)
Range14.9 nmi (27.6 km; 17.1 mi) Edit this on Wikidata
CharacteristicOc WRG 6s Edit this on Wikidata

Harmaja (Swedish: Gråhara) is an island and a lighthouse outside Helsinki, south of the Suomenlinna sea fortress. The island has been functioning as a landmark since the 16th century. A landmark structure was built on the island in the 18th century and a light house in 1883.[1] The first lighthouse was only 7.3 m high and it soon proved to be too low. In 1900 the height was doubled by creating a rectangular brick building on a granite base. A large foghorn alerted ships in fog and in bad visibility. Harmaja received the world's first directed and undirected radio beacon in 1936. The lighthouse is fully automated today.

There is also a pilot station on the island.

During the 1952 Summer Olympics this was the center of the Olympic sailing event.

  1. ^ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Southern Finland: Uusimaa (Helsinki Region)". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved January 19, 2016.