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For centuries, the coast between Selvogur and Stokkseyri was one of the most challenging stretches of shoreline in Iceland. Three lighthouses still stand guard along it today, and together they give the Lighthouse Trail its name.

A coast without harbours

The south coast of Iceland has almost no natural harbours. Heavy surf and shifting sands made landing difficult, and many ships, both Icelandic and foreign, were wrecked along the shore. Eyrarbakki and Stokkseyri grew into important trading and fishing communities despite their exposed landing places, while Þorlákshöfn, with its natural harbour, became a key fishing station. Lighthouses were essential to guide boats safely to land.

The three lighthouses

  • Selvogsviti - The oldest of the three, Selvogsviti was first built in 1919 as an iron frame tower on Selvogstangi. Within ten years the sea air had rusted it so badly that a new concrete lighthouse, 15.8 m tall, was built in 1930 and taken into use the following year. It was electrified in 1988 and is still in operation today, fully automated.
  • Hafnarnesviti - Standing at the edge of Þorlákshöfn, Hafnarnesviti was built in 1951. At 8 m tall, it is the smallest of the three, with its light 12 m above sea level.
  • Knarrarósviti - Built in 1938 and 1939 east of Stokkseyri, Knarrarósviti was the first lighthouse in Iceland made of reinforced concrete. Designed by engineer Axel Sveinsson in a blend of functionalism and Art Nouveau, it stands 26.2 m tall and was for a long time the tallest building in South Iceland. The lighthouse is open to visitors on set days in summer.

Life at the fishing station in Þorlákshöfn

Þorlákshöfn was a classic seasonal fishing station. During the winter fishing season, which ran from early February to mid May, farmers and workers came from across the country to fish from open rowing boats. At its busiest, 30 to 40 boats fished from Þorlákshöfn, and 300 to 400 people lived there for the season in stone and turf dwellings. The work was hard and dangerous, and in their time ashore the fishermen passed the evenings with games, poetry and storytelling.

Selvogsviti Lighthouse
Selvogsviti was built in 1919 and rebuilt in 1931. The light height is 20 meters above sea level. In 1919, a 15-meter high iron frame was built on Selvogstangi. It was fitted with a 3.3 meter high light and a 200 ° dioptric 1000 mm lens and gaslight fixture. The lighthouse was the same type as the Stokksnes lighthouse, built-in 1922. After only ten years, the lighthouse had become so rusty that it became necessary to build a new lighthouse, and in 1930 a 15.8 m high lighthouse was made of concrete. A year later, the lighthouse, lens, and gaslight fixtures of the iron frame lighthouse were installed on it, and the new Selvog lighthouse was taken into use. In 1987, the walls of the lighthouse were renovated. The lighthouse was electrified a year later, and a radar detector was installed on it. The light is now lit on the lighthouse for safety reasons, but the radio transmitters on top of it are the most important thing now. The lighthouse is still in operation and is fully automated today.   Selvogsviti lighthouse is part of the beautiful South Coast Lighthouse trail that you can find more information about here.  
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Knarrarósviti Lighthouse
Built-in 1938-1939, the lighthouse was the first one in Iceland to be built out of reinforced concrete. For a long time, the lighthouse was the tallest building in South Iceland, 26,2 meters (86 feet) high. It was designed by the engineer Axel Sveinsson as a blend of functionalism and art nouveau (jugendstil).  In summertime (mid of June to start August) the lighthouse is open every day. Knarrarósviti lighthouse is part of the beautiful South Coast Lighthouse trail that you can find more information about here.  
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