KÕPU TULETORN
Hiiumaa Island, Estonia
Before I came on this trip, a Dutch Vuurtoren website owner in the Netherlands sent me a link to some lighthouses in Finland and Estonia. This one particularly caught my eye because of its shape and age. This is Kõpu and it is 471 years old. Built in 1531 on the island of Hiiumaa, it stands only 36 meters high, or nearly 120 feet. However, its focal plane is 102 meters, or almost 340 feet!
We came to this light first once we got to the island. The ferry ride was okay, but long, I think it was 1 1/2 hours. You could get out of your car and go sit on either of the two indoor floors or on the top if the weather is nice. Kõpu is on the opposite side of the island. Rein wanted to come to this one right away so we could climb it. There is a couple of dollars charge. I bought a t-shirt. 78 steps take you up, but it is rather steep and narrow. The stairwell is really a spiraling tunnel up through the side fin. It also angles as it spirals. That's just up to the squared upper section of the light. Then you have rooms with larger wooden stairs taking you up to the door leading out to the deck that the lantern room sits on.
You are pretty much at the highest place on the island. You can see forever, it seems like. The view is absolutely breathtaking.
Here's how I saw it:
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OF THE MOUNTAINS
John B Caddell
Copyright 2001