Skagen Lighthouse
{{Infobox lighthouse
| name = Skagen Lighthouse
| image = Skagen Lighthouse and Adjacent Buildings.jpg
| image_width =
| caption = Skagen Lighthouse
| location =
| coordinates = {{coord|57.735550|N|10.630144|E|display=inline}}
| yearbuilt = 1747 (first)
| yearlit = 1858 (current)
| automated =
| yeardeactivated =
| foundation =
| construction = brick tower
| shape = tapered cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern
| marking = unpainted tower, grey metallic lantern
| height = {{convert|46|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| focalheight = {{convert|44|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| lens =
| currentlens =
| lightsource =
| intensity =
| range = {{convert|20|nmi|km|abbr=on}}
| characteristic = Fl W 4s
| fogsignal =
| racon =
| country = Denmark
| countrynumber = DFL-0330{{cite rowlett|dnk1a|accessdate=January 16, 2016}}
| countrylink =
| managingagent =
| heritage =
| module =
}}
Skagen Lighthouse ({{langx|da|Skagen Fyr}}), also known as Skagen's Grey Lighthouse (Det Grå Fyr), is an active lighthouse {{convert|4|km|abbr=off|spell=in|frac=2}} northeast of Skagen in the far north of Jutland, Denmark. Designed by architect Niels Sigfred Nebelong, it was brought into operation on 1 November 1858.[http://www.denstoredanske.dk/Danmarks_geografi_og_historie/Danmarks_geografi/Jylland/Jylland_-_fyr/Skagen_Fyr "Skagen Fyr"], Den Store Danske. {{in lang|da}} Retrieved 8 November 2013.
Description
Skagen's first lighthouse, the White Lighthouse (Det Hvide Fyr), designed by Philip de Lange and completed in 1747, was the first lighthouse in Denmark to be built in brick.[http://www.denstoredanske.dk/Danmarks_geografi_og_historie/Danmarks_geografi/Jylland/Jylland_-_fyr/Det_Hvide_Fyr_i_Skagen "Det Hvide Fyr i Skagen"], Den Store Danske. {{in lang|da}} Retrieved 8 November 2013. The Skagen Lighthouse which replaced it consists of an unpainted round brick tower with a lantern and gallery, reaching a height of {{convert|151|ft|m|order=flip|abbr=on}}. The two-storey keeper's house to which it is attached is painted bright yellow. When it was built it was more or less at the centre of the Skagen Odde peninsula, but as a result of coastal erosion, it is now very near the Kattegat coast to the southeast.
The lighthouse has a two-tonne rotating lens resting on mercury. Originally there was a five-wicked paraffin lamp which was successively replaced with a 1000-watt then a 1500-watt electric lamp. Today there is a 400-watt sodium lamp which every four seconds can be seen up to {{convert|37|km|nmi|frac=2|abbr=off}} away.
Until 1952, Skagen Lighthouse was the country's tallest. Dueodde Lighthouse on Bornholm is now just one meter higher.[http://skagen.dk/2013/05/29/nu-kan-du-komme-op-i-skagen-fyr/#more-4254 Dennis Kragholm Lysgaard, "Kom op i ‘Det Grå Fyr’ og se Skagen fra oven"], Skagen.dk, 29 May 2013. {{in lang|da}} Retrieved 9 November 2013.
In 2017, the lighthouse was launched as a new international bird center Skagen Grey Lighthouse - Center for Migratory birds.{{cite web |url=http://www.skagen-tourist.dk/ln-int/tad/skagen-grey-lighthouse |title=Skagen {{!}} Grey Lighthouse {{!}} Centre for migratory birds |website=www.skagen-tourist.dk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170629000533/http://www.skagen-tourist.dk/ln-int/tad/skagen-grey-lighthouse |archive-date=2017-06-29}} The center consists of an interactive exhibition and a working bird observatory -Skagen Bird Observatory.{{Cite web|url=https://www.skagenfuglestation.dk/english|title = In English}} Skagen and the Grenen area is known for its wide range of migrating birds, so the lighthouse is a perfect place for birdwatching.
Open to visitors
See also
{{Portal|Denmark}}
References
{{Reflist}}
Literature
{{Commons category|Skagen Fyr}}
- {{cite book|last1=Lønstrup|first1=Jørn|last2=Nielsen|first2=Ingrid|last3=Egnsmuseum|first3=Skagen By- og|title=Skagen - fyr og flamme: Det hvide Fyr og dets forgængere|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UhFXPgAACAAJ|year=1997|publisher=Skagen By- og Egnsmuseum|isbn=978-87-88940-10-7|language=da}}
{{Coord|57|44|07|N|10|37|49|E|display=title}}
{{Skagen}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Lighthouses completed in 1888
Category:Lighthouses in Denmark
Category:Buildings and structures in Skagen
Category:Tourist attractions in the North Jutland Region