Kõpu

Kõpu is the third oldest working lighthouse in the world and the first oldest in Estonia. The lighthouse, which has become a symbol of the island for the people of Hiiumaa, can be seen from 102,6 metres above sea level, almost 50 kilometres (26 nautical miles) away in good visibility.   

The history of Estonia's oldest lighthouse, which is also the oldest in the Baltic Sea and the Baltic countries, began more than 500 years ago, when the Hansa Union was in need of a landmark. The most important east-west trade route in northern Europe passed through Hiiumaa, and merchants complained about the loss of ships in the Baltic. So Kõpu lighthouse was built to warn ships of the Hiiu madal or Suurrahu (shallow reef) that had grounded many ships. 

The lighthouse was built 67 metres above sea level at the highest point of Hiiumaa. The lighthouse is 36 metres above the ground and the light is 102.6 metres above sea level. No other lighthouses by the Baltic Sea are as high.