Mērsrags lighthouse, lighthouse in Latvia
Mērsrags lighthouse is a national industrial monument standing on Latvia's coast about one kilometer north of town center. The white metal structure, reinforced by eight iron columns and decorated with red trim, reaches 19 meters in height and features a small balcony near its top where keepers once stood.
The lighthouse was constructed in 1875 after the Riga Stock Exchange Committee requested its build to protect ships from the rocky shoreline. Original French equipment was restored in 1922 following war damage repairs, and it has served as a navigation aid for maritime traffic ever since.
The lighthouse serves as a symbol of maritime heritage and fishing traditions in the Mērsrags community. Its white tower with red trim shapes the visual identity of this coastal town and represents generations of connection to the sea.
The lighthouse sits on a rocky peninsula best reached on foot from town center. A nearby observation tower offers views across the coast and toward the adjacent sandy beach.
Locals call the lighthouse the French lady because its original equipment came from Paris and was installed by French craftsmen. The distinctive domed lantern room at the structure's top contributes to this affectionate nickname.
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