Ryvingen fyr
Ryvingen fyr is the southernmost lighthouse in Norway . It is located on the island of Låven near Mandal ( Agder ). The first fire was set up in 1867 and renewed in 1897. This fire still exists today, is 23.5 meters high and was automated in 2002.
history
The beginnings
A growing trade with good conditions in the middle of the 19th century created the need to ensure the safety of the ports. As early as 1865 it was proposed to build a lighthouse south of Mandal; This was completed just two years later. The first light was lit on October 20th with the help of an oil burner. The construction was extremely simple: a wooden hut with the light bulb on the roof.
Conversions
Due to increasing shipping traffic, the need for better beacons grew. In 1897 it was therefore decided to build a cast iron tower in place of the old wooden tower. After the technical advances of this time were enormous, Ryvingen was the first lighthouse to be equipped with an electric light.
A steam engine was installed in the lighthouse to provide the electricity it needed; but this required large amounts of coal . When this construction was put into operation on August 25, 1897, it was the strongest beacon in the world at around 272,000 candelas. Today's fire, on the other hand, is much weaker.
The reactions to this bright light were not long in coming: fishermen from the Skaggerak coast complained to the Norwegian Parliament that the bright light would drive away birds and fish.
World wars
The First World War created a shortage of coal. Since the coal consumption of the steam engine was up to 900 kg on winter days and this could not be financed with the rising prices at the time, the still existing oil burner was used again between 1917 and 1921. Then the fire was switched to gas.
During the Second World War , this part of Norway quickly came under German occupation, so the lighthouse was also taken over by the Germans. During the war the station was manned by 20 Germans.
present
When it was converted to a purely electrical system in 1957, the lighthouse lost some of its luminosity, but was still rated as powerful enough. The crew was continued after the war, but not maintained around the clock. In 1988 a power cable was laid to the island, which is to serve as a backup supply in the event of failure of the main unit. In 2002 the station was completely automated.
See also
Web links
- RYVINGEN FYRSTASJON. NORSK FYRHISTORISK FORENING, accessed April 19, 2014 (Norwegian).
- History. In: ryvingensvenner.no. March 7, 2018, accessed December 4, 2018 (Norwegian).
Coordinates: 57 ° 58 ′ 14 " N , 7 ° 29 ′ 41" E