Irbe lighthouse, Maritime lighthouse in Baltic Sea, Latvia
The Irbe lighthouse is a 37-meter-tall structure with fourteen floors standing about 20 kilometers from the Latvian coast in the strait. The building consists of a solid tower with metal outer walls and a lantern on top that makes it visible at night.
The structure was built in 1986 and replaced an older lightship that had previously guided vessels through the Baltic Sea. This shift from a floating to a fixed lighthouse was an important step for improved navigation safety in these waters.
The lighthouse takes its name from the Irbe Strait, a shipping passage that has mattered to seafarers for centuries. Local people and sailors recognize this structure as a symbol of safe passage and the maritime connection between two sea regions.
The surroundings are marked by open water and can be rough during bad weather, so visitors should be prepared for the journey out. Access is limited and usually requires permission or booking through local authorities.
This is the only lighthouse standing in Latvian territorial waters and marks the boundary between the Gulf of Riga and the open Baltic Sea. Its isolated position makes it the sole such navigation marker within Latvia's sea borders.
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