Iso-Kraaseli daymark
The daymark of Iso-Kraaseli guides traffic into the city of Raahe
The island of Iso-Kraaseli is located in the Bay of Bothnia, off the city of Raahe and about three kilometres offshore. The city of Raahe was founded by Count Per Brahe the Younger in 1649 to promote commerce. Even from the time of its founding, shipping was an important part of the city’s life.
National Archives
National Archives
National Archives
The city was granted the right to conduct international trade in 1791, which led to an increase in both commerce and maritime traffic. Three sea lanes led into the city’s harbour, and a daymark beacon and pilot station were built on the island of Iso-Kraaseli, just off the coast of Raahe City.
Over the years, the old nautical markings became rotten, and eventually a new day beacon was built in 1852. The completed daymark consisted of a unique wooden tower with one red side and one white side.
Together with the church tower of Raahe City, the Iso-Kraaseli Daymark formed a navigational alignment for ships on the fairway leading into the Port of Raahe. It also formed a functional pair of nautical signs with the Tasku Daymark.
Pilot operations on Iso-Kraaseli Island
Beside the day beacon was a two-storey pilot’s cabin with a low observation tower on the roof. From there, the pilots could follow the ships with binoculars and telescopes. To facilitate good views around the entire pilot station, all of the trees were cut down as far the western shore.
A Pilot Master and three pilots were on duty on the island. These were men who knew the fairways of Raahe like the backs of their own hands. The daymark was also used to assist in observations and flags raised on its tower could be used to signal the approaching ships. Similarly, such a raised flag was also visible on the tower of Raahe Church, where another watchman was able to inform the city of the ship’s arrival.
In its heyday, life on the island of Iso-Kraaseli was busy and the pilot station was the centre of everything. The pilots lived on the island with their families and there were also cottages for their accommodation. There was easy access to the nearby mainland and the islanders did not have to live in isolation like on many other lighthouse islands. Leisure time was spent boating, fishing, and swimming or collecting berries.
Iso-Kraaseli Island is an easy excursion destination
The Finnish Maritime Administration handed over the pilot station and the lighthouse to the town of Raahe in 1983. Since then, the island has operated as a excursion destination for tourists.
There is accommodation available on Iso-Kraaseli Island, as well as a summer café in the old yellow pilot house. A path circles around the island along which visitors can explore the diverse nature and enjoy the seascapes.
There are also piles of ballast brought by old sailing ships, which are now considered ancient artifacts. There are also many shipwrecks in the surrounding waters. More information about the ancient remains and wrecks can be accessed in the cultural environment service window(siirryt toiseen palveluun).
Storybox
The mistake of the Iso-Kraaseli pilot was fateful for the icebreaker Tarmo
In the early summer of 1908, the handsome and newly-completed icebreaker Tarmo was dispatched to assist in the spring traffic of the Bothnian Bay.
Although the pilot of Iso-Kraaseli Island assisted Tarmo to enter the port of Raahe, something strange occurred. The ship strayed from the fairway and struck a submerged reef. The bottom of the hull was ruptured but it managed to safely reach the shipyard for repairs. Dozens of bottom hull-plates had to be replaced during the refit, which lasted all summer.
It was suspected that the cause of the accident was that the pilot had confused Raahe’s church tower with the daymark beacon of Iso-Kraaseli. The accuracy of the marine measurements was also questioned. After that, the pilotage did not send any of its icebreakers to the Bothnian Bay for a while.
Story source: Seppo Laurell, Suomen majakat 1999 (Eng. Lighthouses of Finland 1999).
The icebreaker Tarmo is now a museum ship in Kotka, near the Finnish Maritime Museum building known as Vellamo. This ship can also be accessed virtually at National Museum’s website(siirryt toiseen palveluun)!
Why and how is this location protected?
Important years
1791
Raahe City is granted the right to international trade
1852
The daymark beacon is constructed
1983
The day beacon and pilot station are transferred to tourism
Iso-Kraaseli Island is an important maritime monument. The buildings on the island form a historically valuable entity. The site is defined as a nationally significant built cultural environment.
Check out the site in the Finnish Heritage Agency’s register(siirryt toiseen palveluun)!
Visit
It is possible to go to the island with your own boat or order a shuttle via MeriRaahe Island Transport.
Read more about visiting the island:
Museoviraston karttapalvelu
P:7175303, I: 376119(siirryt toiseen palveluun) (ETRS-TM35FIN)
