Name and Location

The Pilsumer Leuchtturm, also known locally as the "Ottoturm" or "Otto Lighthouse," stands on the dyke of the Bay of Sielmönken near the village of Pilsum in the municipality of Krummhörn, Lower Saxony, Germany. Its official address is Zum Alten Leuchtturm 2, 26736 Krummhörn, Germany.

2. Construction and History

The lighthouse was constructed in 1889, with a late-19th-century German coastal beacon design. It was originally erected to guide coastal traffic through the Emden–Pilsum channel. The lighthouse has been listed as a historic monument since its construction, with Heritage-ref "452014.00216."

3. Architecture and Materials

The Pilsumer Leuchtturm is a typical late-19th-century German coastal beacon design, rising from a circular base to a conical tower 65.3 meters above sea level. The structure's shape and markings are notable for its broad red and yellow horizontal bands, serving as a distinctive daymark.

4. Light and Navigation

The lighthouse's original light pattern and luminous range are unrecorded in available data. It is presumed to have been automated or decommissioned, with no keeper service since the retirement of manned operation.

5. Accessibility and Visiting

Today, the Pilsumer Leuchtturm serves as a tourist attraction and landmark rather than an active navigational aid. Visitors can access the site directly on the dyke, but interior access and climbing are generally restricted (no public stairs reported). There is no official website or on-site facilities.

6. Notable Views and Landscape

The lighthouse offers panoramic coastal views and expansive horizons across the bay, situated on a low mudflat dyke overlooking the Wadden Sea tidal flats.

7. Anecdotes and Folklore

The local nickname "Ottoturm" gained popularity through association with German comedian Otto Waalkes, who adopted the lighthouse as a personal emblem in promotional material. The tower has also been frequently featured in art photography and regional promotion as an icon of East Frisian maritime heritage.

8. Technical and Operational Details

There is no information available on the lighthouse's technical and operational details, including its original light pattern, luminous range, or automation status.

9. Further Information

For further reading, please visit the Wikimedia Commons image gallery (File:J38 476 Pilsumer Leuchtturm.jpg), German Wikipedia article (de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilsumer_Leuchtturm), Wikidata entry (Q539709), and official website (http://www.pilsumer-leuchtturm.de/).