Ristna
Coordinates: 58 ° 56 '24.1 " N , 22 ° 3' 18.8" E
Ristna (historical German and Swedish name Dagerort ) is the name for the headland of the Kõpu peninsula ( Kõpu poolsaar ). It is located in the extreme west of the second largest Estonian island Hiiumaa (German Dagö ) and administratively belongs to the village of Kalana .
location
The area is characterized by two headlands, each protruding about 400 meters into the Baltic Sea : the stony and forested Lõuna-Ristna nina in the south and the rather sandy Põhja-Ristna nina in the north. The more than 1.5 kilometers wide bay between the two headlands is a popular meeting place for divers and surfers, for the latter especially when the waves are piling up by westerly winds; Swimming is not really popular here.
In the area there is a meteorological station as well as the remains of Soviet military installations. Large parts of the area are now part of the Kõpu Nature Reserve ( Kõpu looduskaitseala ).
lighthouse
Ristna is also known for its lighthouse ( Ristna tuletorn ). In 1873 the current lighthouse was ordered in Paris and erected a year later on Hiiumaa. He is 30 meters high. The illuminated sign is 37 meters above sea level and can be seen from a distance of 31.5 km. In 1884 a fog bell was added to the tower, which was replaced by a fog horn five years later .
The lighthouse consists of two concentric iron cylinders with a spiral staircase between them. During the First World War , the lighthouse was slightly damaged during the German advance into the Riga Bay in August 1915 when German warships were shelling. In 1920 it was reinforced with concrete, extensively renovated and received its current appearance. There is now a small café at the foot of the lighthouse.
About 8.5 kilometers to the east stands the mighty Kõpu lighthouse ( Kõpu tuletorn ), a landmark on Hiiumaa Island. It is often shrouded in fog because of its location near a moorland. This was the main reason for building the Ristna lighthouse.
literature
- Baltic historical local dictionary. Part 1: Estonia (including Northern Livonia). Started by Hans Feldmann . Published by Heinz von zur Mühlen . Edited by Gertrud Westermann . Cologne, Vienna 1985 (= sources and studies on Baltic history. Volume 8/1), ISBN 3-412-07183-8 , p. 51.
Web links
- Description of the area (Estonian)
- Ristna Lighthouse (Estonian Maritime Administration)
- History of the Ristna lighthouse (Estonian)
- List of Estonian lighthouses (Estonian)