Year first lit 1856 (current) Focal height 58 m (190 ft) First lit 1856 | Construction stone tower Height 30 m Year first constructed 1830 (first) | |
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Location Rumelifeneri
Sarıyer
Istanbul Province
Turkey Tower shape two-stage octagonal prism tower with balcony and lantern Markings / pattern white tower and lantern Address Rumelifeneri Mahallesi, Atatürk Cd. No:41, 34450 Rumelifeneri/Sarıyer/İstanbul, Turkey Similar Anadolu Feneri, Ahırkapı Feneri, Şile Feneri, Kadıköy İnciburnu Feneri, Rumelihisarı | ||
Rumeli feneri
Rumeli Feneri, a.k.a. Türkeli Feneri, a historical lighthouse still in use, is located on the European side of Bosphorus' Black Sea entrance in Istanbul, Turkey. Rumeli (or Rumelia) is a former name for Greek-speaking Eastern Roman Empire. It is across from the Anadolu Feneri lighthouse, which is on the Asian side of the strait at a distance of 2 nmi (3.7 km). In Greek myth of Jason and the Golden Fleece, the two islets these lighthouses were built were called the Symplegades. They clashed together randomly, destroying any ship who passed between them. A line connecting the two lighthouses marks the northern boundary of the Port of Istanbul. The place where the lighthouse is erected is named Rumelifeneri, which today is a fishermen's village in Sarıyer district.
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The lighthouse was built by the French in order to provide safe navigation for the French and British war ships entering the Istanbul Strait from Black Sea during the Crimean War (1853–1856). The lighthouse went in service on May 15, 1856, together with its counterpart. It was run by the French until 1933 when the 100-year concession was cancelled and the Turkish authorities took over. Today, it is maintained by the Coastal Safety Authority (Turkish: Kıyı Emniyeti Genel Müdürlüğü) of the Ministry of Transport and Communication.
The lighthouse is situated on a hillside 58 m (190 ft) high above the sea level and the entirely white painted tower has a height of 30 m (98 ft). It is the tallest lighthouse in Turkey. The tower has the form of a two-staged octagonal prism. Initially, it was lit by kerosene that was later replaced by Dalén light using carbide (acetylene gas). Today, the light source is electricity, however, a butane gas lighting system is also installed for backup purposes. The Fresnel lens with 500 mm (1.6 ft) focal length allows the white light that group flashes every 12 seconds, a range of 18 nmi (33 km).
The lighthouse is listed in Turkey under the code "TUR-053" and its radio call sign is TC1RLH.
Rumeli Feneri is open to public visit as a historical site.
A Muslim saint by the name of Sarı Saltuk has a tomb inside the lighthouse.