One of Iceland’s most famous landmarks, the Imagine Peace Tower, built on Viðey Island near Reykjavik, will be relit this year on October 9. The tower was created by Yoko Ono in 2007 in memory of John Lennon and to honor his campaign for peace. The monument is relit each year on his birthday and stays lit until the anniversary of his death, December 8th. Each year, the tower is illuminated in a unique ceremony and thousands watch as it’s lit to create a beautiful display of light beams in the sky.
The light tower is composed of a number of individual lights that join together to form a single beam. Six of the lights travel through corridors across a platform that surrounds the well and are reflected upwards to the sky with mirrors. An additional nine lights shine straight up to the sky, strengthening the tower of light. The strength, intensity and brilliance of the light tower continually change as particles in the air fluctuate with the changing weather and atmospheric conditions unique to Iceland.
The words “Imagine Peace” are carved into the white stone of the monument in 24 different languages in reference to Lennon’s song “Imagine” and his advocacy for world peace. Located underneath the monument are over one million wishes that Yoko Ono gathered for her project, “Wish Tree.” All guests of the relighting ceremony are invited to contribute their own wishes to one of the four wishing trees.
What wishes would you add if you could attend the illumination ceremony? Let us know by tweeting @IcelandNatural or tweeting directly to The Imagine Peace Tower website.
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