The Fenerbahçe Lighthouse (Turkish: Fenerbahçe Feneri), a historical lighthouse still in use, is located on the northern coast of Sea of Marmara at Fenerbahçe neighborhood of Kadıköy district in Istanbul, Turkey.
![]() Fenerbahçe Lighthouse with keeper's house in front. | |
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Location | Fenerbahçe Kadıköy Istanbul Turkey |
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Coordinates | 40°58′05.2″N 29°01′55.4″E / 40.968111°N 29.032056°E |
Tower | |
Constructed | 1856 |
Construction | masonry tower |
Height | 25 m (82 ft) |
Shape | cylindrical tower with double balcony and lantern |
Markings | white tower and lantern |
Operator | Directorate General of Coastal Safety |
Fog signal | blast every 60 seconds |
Light | |
Focal height | 20 m (66 ft) |
Lens | 500 mm (20 in) cylindrical |
Intensity | 1,000 W |
Range | 15 nmi (28 km) |
Characteristic | LFl (2) W 12s. |
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History
editHistorical documents mention that the location of the cape caused often maritime damage. In 1562, Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent (reigned 1520–1566) issued a decree, in which he ordered the establishment of a light on the rocks at Kalamış Cape, as the location was called that time.[1]
Built in 1857, the lighthouse stands on a point at Cape Fenerbahçe close to the eastern side of the Bosporus entrance. The location Fenerbahçe was named after the lighthouse (literally: "Fener" for lighthouse and "bahçe" for garden). It is situated about 1.5 km (0.93 mi) south of Kadıköy in a public park.[2] The 20-metre-high (66 ft) tower with a cylindrical form has two galleries. The lighthouse is painted white. A masonry one-story keeper's house is attached to it.[3][4]
The lighthouse was initially lit by kerosene, however the light source was later replaced by Dalén light using carbide (acetylene gas). Currently, it runs on electricity. The lighthouse's lantern has a 1,000 W light source. The light flashes twice in group white through a catadioptric reflector system with cylindrical lens having a focus length of 500 mm (20 in) every 12 seconds 1.5 seconds long, which is visible at a range of 15 mi (24 km). The lighthouse's foghorn blasts every 60 seconds in foggy conditions.[3][4]
Fenerbahçe lighthouse is listed in Turkey under the code "TUR-021" and its radio call sign is TC2FLH.[3] It is operated and maintained by the Coastal Safety Authority (Turkish: Kıyı Emniyeti Genel Müdürlüğü) of the Ministry of Transport and Communication.[4]
The lighthouse and the keeper's house are under protection as a national heritage site. The site is open to the public, however the tower is closed.[4]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Deniz fenerleri". Hürriyet (in Turkish). 1998-12-15. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
- ^ "Türkiye'deki Fenerler-Fenerbahçe Feneri". Sabah (in Turkish). 2010-11-27. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
- ^ a b c Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Northwestern Turkey". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
- ^ a b c d "Tarihi Fenerler-Fenerbahçe Feneri" (in Turkish). Kıyı Emniyei Genel Müdürlüğü. 2012-05-19. Retrieved 2013-05-05.