Şile Lighthouse, Maritime lighthouse in Şile, Turkey
Şile Lighthouse is a white octagonal structure with black horizontal bands that stands on the Black Sea coast. The tower is compact and positioned prominently at the water's edge to guide passing ships.
French engineers built the lighthouse in 1859 under Sultan Abdülmecid I's direction. The structure was part of the Ottoman Empire's efforts to modernize maritime safety infrastructure.
The lighthouse is a familiar landmark in the Şile waterfront and shapes how visitors see this fishing village. Local people have long used it as a reference point in their daily maritime activities.
The site is easily accessible on foot and offers free access to view the structure from the outside. The best time to visit is early morning or late afternoon, when the sun is low and provides good photo opportunities.
The light is powered by a manually operated mechanism that the keeper regularly winds to maintain operation. This older method of operation remains in use and shows how navigation at this coast has functioned for over a century.
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