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Red Sand: Where will the historic lighthouse find its new home?
The Roter Sand lighthouse, a historical symbol since 1885, is being relocated due to the risk of collapse in the North Sea.
Red Sand: Where will the historic lighthouse find its new home?
In the coming years, a remarkable step will take place on the North Sea coast: the “Roter Sand” lighthouse is to be dismantled and reinstalled at a new location. The historic building, which has now become a symbol of technical progress since its construction in 1885, is currently located in the Outer Weser and is no longer considered to be stable NDR reported. This requires urgent action because climate change has not only affected the structure of the tower, which is 53 meters high and weighs 70 tons, but has also increased the danger level for the monument.
The German Foundation for Monument Protection is currently examining several locations to give the lighthouse a new home. Four cities have expressed interest in the takeover: Bremerhaven, Fedderwardersiel, Wilhelmshaven and Hooksiel. However, Bremerhaven is already out of the running because urban development and nature conservation concerns speak against the locations examined. For the location in Hooksiel, the mayor of Wangerland, Mario Slezak, explained that there are no financial resources to accommodate the lighthouse there.
A piece of history with challenges
The Red Sand is considered to be the first structure in the world to be founded directly on the seabed and was an important maritime aid for a long time. But with the shifting of the shipping channel, the lighthouse lost its importance denkmalschutz.de explained. In the past, massive rusting and damage to the foundation meant that the tower had to be saved from impending decay until the 1980s.
A comprehensive renovation was initiated in 1987, which included stabilizing the foundation. In view of the currently increased risk of collapse, it is now essential that the state parliament secures support for the preservation of the structure. The foundation now urgently needs a decision on the new location, which is expected to take place next week.
Future of the lighthouse in the North Sea
The prospects are clear: it is estimated that the entire dismantling and transport of the lighthouse to land will take at least two to three years. However, discussions about the distribution of the costs remain tense. The new location that is ultimately selected will be asked to at least contribute to the moving costs. Wilhelmshaven, Butjadingen and Wangerland are currently emerging as possible new homes for the “Red Sand”.
The monument not only attracts attention from a technical perspective, but also reflects the changing times in the treatment of historical buildings and the challenges posed by climate change. The lighthouse has had an eventful history, and now it is up to society to secure a future for it that will enable it to be preserved for future generations.