Ursholmen

Ursholmen
Location Ursholmen, Strömstad Archipelago, Sweden
Coordinates
Year first constructed 1891 (twin lighthouses)
Year first lit 1891
Automated 1965
Deactivated Active
Foundation Concrete
Construction Concrete, iron
Tower shape cylindrical tower
Markings / pattern White with black upper section
Height 13 m
Focal height 33 m
Original lens 3rd order Fresnel lens
Current lens Original lens still in use
Range 17 nautical miles (31 km; 20 mi)
Characteristic Fl. (2) 12 s WRG
Admiralty number C0304

Ursholmen is a Swedish island and lighthouse located west of Strömstad town. It is the westernmost lighthouse in Sweden. In 1891 two identical lighthouses were built on the island to replace two lighthouses on Nordkoster. It was the first time in Sweden lighthouses were built in concrete. In 1931 the north tower was deactivated and its lantern room removed, but the tower remains. In 1965 the south tower was electrified and automated. In 2000 solar cells was installed and the electric cable removed. In 2008 the Swedish Maritime Administration handed ownership of the towers to the Naturvårdsverket witch already owned all of the other buildings on the island. SMA didn't find the lighthouse important for the modern commercial shipping any more, but they paid an amount of money to Naturvårdsverket for restoration of the two towers.

There is a very small lighthouse museum in a cabin on the island. The whole island is a nature reserve, a part of Kosterhavet national park.

References