Örskär

Örskär

Location	Örskär, north of Gräsö, Östhammar, Sweden
Coordinates	60°31′N 18°22′E / 60.517°N 18.367°E / 60.517; 18.367Coordinates: 60°31′N 18°22′E / 60.517°N 18.367°E / 60.517; 18.367
Year first constructed	1740
Year first lit	1684
Automated	1978
Deactivated	Active
Foundation	Stone
Construction	Stone
Tower shape	Massive stone tower, octagonal lower section, round upper section
Markings / pattern	White with two black bands
Height	32 m
Focal height	36,5 m
Original lens	Mirrors
Current lens	4th order fresnel lens
Range	16 nautical miles (30 km; 18 mi)
Characteristic	Fl. (2) 10 s W
Admiralty number	C6236
NGA number	10256
ARLHS number	SWE-2158

Örskär, is a Swedish island and lighthouse station located north of Gräsö on the Uppland coastline. A large part of the island is a nature reserve and it is rich of unusual flowers such as wild orchids. The island is also noted to be a good place for birding. A very small hostel exists on the island.

Örskär was one of the first lightstations to be built in Sweden. The first lighthouse was constructed of wood in 1684, but was burned down in 1738 when it was hit by the lightning. The present tower was constructed by the royal architect Carl Hårleman. The flame in the lantern ran on colza oil lamps, and mirrors collected the light. Kerosene lamps replaced the colza oil lamps in the 1870s. It was finally electrified in 1954. Today the lighthouse is owned and remote-controlled by the Swedish Maritime Administration.

References

• Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Sweden: Southern Bothnia". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/lighthouse/swe6.htm. Retrieved 13 May 2009.