Kylmäpihlaja Lighthouse and pilot station in Rauma

Located about ten kilometres from the mainland, Kylmäpihlaja Island is the outermost of the large islands off Rauma. It rose from the sea by the late 13th century and was probably used for hunting, fishing, and gathering long before the lighthouse was built. In the 17th century, the island was rented for sheep grazing in the summer, as was common practice in the Rauma archipelago.

A lightship preceded the lighthouse

Sea traffic off Rauma increased during the 1800s. Lightships were used during the spring melting period of the sea ice near Kylmäpihlaja Island from the late 19th century. These beacon ships became redundant when the massive lighthouse and pilot station building were completed in 1953. The rectangular lighthouse tower rises 31 metres above sea level, guiding its light for a distance of up to 45 kilometres out to sea.

The building is an interesting example of a later development phase of pilot and lighthouse communities, which originated in the 19th century. It was Finland's last manned lighthouse, which also served as a pilot station.

The building hosted its all of its functions under one roof. There were living spaces for twelve pilots, eight pilot boat attendants and two lighthouse keepers. The housekeeper took care of the workers' food supplies. Outbuildings were also built on the island, along with a breakwater to protect the harbour.

Kylmäpihlaja Lighthouse today

As navigation equipment developed, the position of the Kylmäpihlaja station became obsolete and the Finnish Maritime Administration sold the island to the city of Rauma in 2000.

An entrepreneur immediately set out to develop the island for tourism. The lighthouse and pilot building were converted into a hotel and the station's kitchen and dining area were adapted for use as a café. The tower opened a viewing platform with a magnificent view of the open sea. Although the signal light is still working, its carrying range has been dropped to 17 nautical miles, or just over 30 kilometres.

There are lots of interesting things to do and explore on the island of Kylmäpihlaja, including guided tours. Signs of the earliest activity include rock engravings from the 18th and 19th centuries. Even though the island is located on the edge of the high seas, the nature is very diverse and bustling with life, especially during the breeding season for birds. Pilots and patrol boats of the Finnish Border Guard can still be seen in the waters around the island.

Read more from Kylmäpihlaja Island’s own webpages!

The signal light of Kylmäpihlaja Lighthouse is lit.

Storybox

Victims of Kylmäpihlaja

The sea has claimed victims from almost every lighthouse island around the Finnish coastline. Sadly, this has also occurred on Kylmäpihlaja Island.

On the 9th of January 1964, the pilot Alpo Sunila and the pilot boat operator Eino Vänttinen set out in a powerful storm in their cutter, a single-masted, fore-and-aft rigged sailing ship. They had to retrieve the pilot from a ship leaving Rauma, but they disappeared en route.

After the storm ended, a large oil spill was observed at sea about 1.5 nautical miles from the lighthouse. This was the grave for the men and their ship. The sunken cutter was recovered from the bottom. Its stern flag, along with its mast is preserved in the lobby of the Kylmäpihlaja pilot station in memory of these men’s unwavering dedication to duty.

Original source: Seppo Laurell 1999, Suomen majakat (Eng. Lighthouses of Finland).

Visit

In summer the island can be reached by ferry. Visitors can also go there by private boat as the island has its own small harbour. The island is closed to visitors during the winter.

Information about the hotel and schedules can be found from the lighthouse’s own webpage.