Roter Sand Lighthouse

The Roter Sand Lighthouse was constructed in 1885 in the Weser estuary of the North Sea off the coast of Germany. It was one of the first structures in the world to be built directly on the sea floor rather than on a rocky outcrop.

The lighthouse was decommissioned as an active aid to navigation in 1986 due to structural deterioration. It has since been preserved as a historical monument and can be visited by boat tours during certain times of the year.

Engineers drove hollow iron piles into the sandy sea floor and then filled them with concrete, creating a stable foundation in the challenging marine environment. This innovative construction method was pioneering for offshore structures in the late 19th century.

The Roter Sand Lighthouse stands in the German Bight of the North Sea, at the mouth of the Weser River near Bremerhaven. It marked the entrance to one of Germany's most important shipping channels for over a century.