Söderarm
Encyclopedia
Söderarm is the name of a Swedish lighthouse station and its surrounding small archipelago in the west part of the sea of Åland. The light station is located on the island of Thorskär. This area, together with the tiny island of Tjärven
north of Söderarm, marks the entrance for the shipping route
leading to the ports of Kapellskär
, Norrtälje
, and also the north entrance to Stockholm
. The area has been severely fortified by the Swedish military and coastal artillery
, and many traces of military activity from the years during the second world war are still visible. On the island of Håkanskär, for example, stands a large military radar mast. In 2002, the coastal artillery was formally liquidated at Söderarm, but still some islands are forbidden for the public to visit. The Swedish Maritime Administration
has confirmed that many Russian mines dating from the first world war may still lie on the sea bottom east of the light station, making anchoring or diving there dangerous.
In the 17th century, the first land beacons were constructed at Thorskär, Söderarm. In 1839, the lighthouse was built and the island staffed. The light ran on colza oil
, and mirrors reflected it. More houses and buildings were added during the 19th century. In 1882, a kerosone lamp replaced the old lamp, but the mirrors remained until 1928 when a third order lens and Gustaf Dalén
s AGA-light
replaced the old equipment. In 1953, the light was finally electrified and automated. The station was, however, staffed until September 1997. In 1999, a small aerobeacon mounted on a metallic mast replaced the traditional light, which was deactivated and taken away by the Swedish Maritime Administration in the summer of 2007. Söderarm had been seen as a typical example of a lighthouse not needed for modern commercial shipping. However, the old lens and light equipment remains, and plans to reactivate the lighthouse have been in talks. The metallic mast was removed in the autumn of 2009. A conference company currently promotes activity in the old light station buildings. Overnight accommodations are available in the keeper's house. Söderam is frequently reported as a weather station in the SMHI
shipping news. The lighthouse has been protected by Swedish law since 1935 as a culturally important building.
Tjärven
Tjärven is the name of a small island and light station surrounded by deep water and located in the sea of Åland, north of the Söderarm archipelago of the coast of Sweden. The lighthouse functions as the entrance to the shipping route for the ports of Kapellskär, Norrtälje and Stockholm. A day...
north of Söderarm, marks the entrance for the shipping route
Shipping route
A shipping route is a trade route used by merchant ships.Early routes usually were coastal in nature as navigators had to rely on the coastal landmarks...
leading to the ports of Kapellskär
Kapellskär
Kapellskär is a port about north of Stockholm, in Sweden. It is located by the Baltic Sea, in Norrtälje Municipality, Stockholm County and is served by frequent passenger ferry services to Mariehamn, Åland, Finland, operated by Viking Line, with 3 services per day and direction during peak season...
, Norrtälje
Norrtälje
Norrtälje is a locality and the seat of Norrtälje Municipality, Stockholm County, Sweden with 17,275 inhabitants in 2010.- History :Norrtälje traces its history to 1219, when the location was first mentioned as Tälje. After some time, the name officially became Norrtälje, to separate it from the...
, and also the north entrance to Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
. The area has been severely fortified by the Swedish military and coastal artillery
Coastal artillery
Coastal artillery is the branch of armed forces concerned with operating anti-ship artillery or fixed gun batteries in coastal fortifications....
, and many traces of military activity from the years during the second world war are still visible. On the island of Håkanskär, for example, stands a large military radar mast. In 2002, the coastal artillery was formally liquidated at Söderarm, but still some islands are forbidden for the public to visit. The Swedish Maritime Administration
Swedish Maritime Administration
The Swedish Maritime Administration is the Swedish government agency which provides services to the transport sector by keeping the sea lanes open and safe...
has confirmed that many Russian mines dating from the first world war may still lie on the sea bottom east of the light station, making anchoring or diving there dangerous.
In the 17th century, the first land beacons were constructed at Thorskär, Söderarm. In 1839, the lighthouse was built and the island staffed. The light ran on colza oil
Colza oil
Colza oil is a nondrying oil obtained from the seeds of Brassica rapa, var. oleifera, a variety of the plant that produces turnips. Colza is extensively cultivated in France, Belgium, the United States, the Netherlands and Germany and Poland. In France, especially, the extraction of the oil is an...
, and mirrors reflected it. More houses and buildings were added during the 19th century. In 1882, a kerosone lamp replaced the old lamp, but the mirrors remained until 1928 when a third order lens and Gustaf Dalén
Gustaf Dalén
Nils Gustaf Dalén was a Swedish Nobel Laureate and industrialist, the founder of the AGA company and inventor of the AGA cooker and the Dalén light...
s AGA-light
Dalén light
The Dalén light was the predominant form of light source in lighthouses from the 1900s through the 1960s, when electric lighting had become dominant. The system was invented by Gustaf Dalén and marketed by his company AGA. Dalén later invented the AGA cooker in 1922. The Dalén light is notable...
replaced the old equipment. In 1953, the light was finally electrified and automated. The station was, however, staffed until September 1997. In 1999, a small aerobeacon mounted on a metallic mast replaced the traditional light, which was deactivated and taken away by the Swedish Maritime Administration in the summer of 2007. Söderarm had been seen as a typical example of a lighthouse not needed for modern commercial shipping. However, the old lens and light equipment remains, and plans to reactivate the lighthouse have been in talks. The metallic mast was removed in the autumn of 2009. A conference company currently promotes activity in the old light station buildings. Overnight accommodations are available in the keeper's house. Söderam is frequently reported as a weather station in the SMHI
SMHI
SMHI is an abbreviation for Sveriges Meteorologiska och Hydrologiska Institut, . SMHI is a government agency in Sweden and operates under the Ministry of Sustainable Development...
shipping news. The lighthouse has been protected by Swedish law since 1935 as a culturally important building.