Ahırkapı Burnu - Eminönü - Istanbul

Geographic Coordinates : Latitude 41° 00' 25" N - Longitude 28° 59' 10" E

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This lighthouse stands on the west side of the entrance to the Bosporus from the Sea of Marmara. Located on the land side of the waterfront boulevard, the Kennedy Caddesi, on Ahırkapı Burnu.


It was needed to built a lighthouse in Ahırkapı after a big accident has occurred in this location. During the period of Ottoman Empire,1755, upon a galleon under the control of Hacı Captain who was transporting commodities to Egypt has destroyed , the vessel has run aground at night in the Kumkapı due to bad weather condition. When Sultan III. Osman heard of it, went to Kumkapı together with Grand Vizier Said Pasha and watched the rescued galleon and seamen then gave a new galleon to Hacı Captain.

Meanwhile, upon one of the seaman said that "if a lighthouse is built and its kerosene lamp illuminates during the night then vessels navigating far away places could easily find their routes and wont have an accident", Sultan gave an order to build a lighthouse there and a lighthouse was built by Suleyman Pasha who was a Commander of Marine Forces "Captain of Seas".

Today's Ahırkapı lighthouse was built by French constructor for Lighthouses Authority during Ottoman Empire period in 01.01.1857 and it still keeps its prior beauty and presence up.


It is the lighthouse to find the course for the vessels navigating from Marmara Sea to entrance of Istanbul Port and Istanbul Strait.

The visual sight distance of the lighthouse, in which has the flashing (white flash) charecter of Fl.W. 6 sec ( W. Fl. 6.0 Sn. 0,5 + 5,5 ), is 16 nautical miles.

Fog Signal is one blast every 20 seconds.


This lighthouse which is built with knitted stones is 36 meters ( 118 ft ) above the sea level with a tower having 26 meters ( 85 ft ) of height. Round stone tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-story stone keeper's house. Lighthouse painted white with one narrow black horizontal band. The lighthouse is in the shape of a white tower and erected on one of the ramparts of the fortresses.

Primarily oil lamp then high intense flament lamps work with LPCo as a light source has been used and it is currenty provided an illumination with the electric lamp of 1500 W.


In order to be seen from the long distance by strengthen the light source, cotodiyoptric cylinder lenses which has optical distance of BBT 500 mm as a optic system has been used.

Since the establishment date, the lighthouse has been flashing there by blacking and clearing to the light sourse by dark screens rounding around the optic light source. Above mentioned mechanism and optical panels has been under protection and still using in service. Lighthouse and guardian house is being under protection as national heritage by General Directorate of Coastal Safety and Salvage Administrations. The Coastal Safety Directorate has the history of the station. Site open, tower closed. This light is operational and active aid to navigation.

MORE INFO by General Directorate of Coastal Safety

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