Photos

A very calm day in August. There had been no wind for almost two weeks. We went out with two open boats, better safe than sorry, as it is quite far from mainland. The water was about 22-24 deg Celsius. According to the local guide, the weather had never been this good at Bengtskär in his life (he was 60+ in age). Sadly I didn't bring my swiming trunks, it would have been a small feather in my hat to go swiming here.

The little stone hut in front of the lighthouse is the sauna, still in use. Yeah, we Finns are a bit crazy. We build saunas everywhere! :-)

Horizon and barrel distorsion corrected. Levels, shadows and highlights adjusted. Usharp mask filter applied.
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Twenty-five kilometers southwest of Hanko, at the entrance of the Gulf of Finland stands Scandinavias tallest lighthouse. Towering 52 meters above the sea, the lighthouse of Bengtskär is the archipelago`s most imposing and magnificient monument. This massive stone structure has witnessed many dramatic events in Finland`s history. For nine decades the lighthouse has provided a safe passage to the thousands of vessels which plie the waters of the Gulf. The island is the most southern inhabited place in Finland. The nearest village, Rosala, is situated 18 kilometers north of Bengtskär.
(source: http://www.bengtskar.fi/position.htm)

See the history of Bengtskär at http://www.bengtskar.fi/history.htm