Hellir Lighthouse
6RR7+HP Höfn, Iceland
Name and Location
Hellir Lighthouse is a small, fully automated harbour light located in Höfn, Iceland. The address of Hellir Lighthouse is Plus-code 6RR7+HP Höfn, Iceland, and it can be found at the head of Hornafjörður bay.
2. Construction and History
The exact construction date and original design details of Hellir Lighthouse are not recorded in publicly available sources. It was erected to replace earlier temporary beacons and has always been unmanned and automated.
3. Architecture and Materials
Hellir Lighthouse is a minor harbour beacon mounted on the seaward end of the pier, with no keeper's house or enclosed tower. The structure stands 15 meters tall above its base (focal plane).
4. Light and Navigation
The light of Hellir Lighthouse has a characteristic group flashing pattern of three flashes every 15 seconds, with flash duration 0.5 s, eclipse 2.5 s, flash 0.5 s, eclipse 2.5 s, flash 0.5 s, and eclipse 8.5 s. The light is red for bearings between 252° and 322° true, white for bearings between 322° and 328° true, and green for bearings between 328° and 360° true (wrapping). The range varies by bearing sector.
5. Accessibility and Visiting
The pier is open to pedestrians, but visitors cannot enter any enclosure as there is none. Visitors can walk to the light's base from Höfn town centre, following signs to the harbour and walking onto the Hellir pier, approximately 500 meters from the main quay. Harbour amenities are available in nearby Höfn.
6. Notable Views and Landscape
Hellir Lighthouse stands against a backdrop of the Vatnajökull glacier to the north and the town of Höfn to the east. On clear days, it offers panoramic views of Hornafjörður bay, rugged coastline, and offshore skerries.
7. No Anecdotes or Folklore
8. Technical and Operational Details
Hellir Lighthouse is a fully automated harbour light, operated continuously without an on-site keeper. It is managed by the Icelandic Maritime Administration (Siglingastofnun Íslands).
9. Further Information
For more information, please refer to the United States National Geospatial–Intelligence Agency, NGA Pub. 115 (2010-09-09), Wikidata: Q3378249, and the Icelandic Maritime Administration (Siglingastofnun Íslands) website (Aids to Navigation section).
Details
| Name | Hellir Lighthouse |
|---|---|
| City | Höfn |
| Country | Iceland |
| Coordinates | 64.2414969, -15.1857082 |
| Historic significance | As a modern minor harbour light it was erected to replace earlier temporary beacons; it has always been unmanned and automated. |
| Focal height | 15 |
| Access description | From Höfn town centre, follow signs to the harbour and walk onto the Hellir pier—approximately 500 m from the main quay. |
| Accessible | true |
| Landscape type | rugged coastline |
| View description | On clear days the light offers panoramic views of Hornafjörður bay, rugged coastline, and offshore skerries. |
| Facilities | harbour amenities (fuel berth, fish-processing facilities) in nearby Höfn; no visitor centre at the light itself. |
| Nearby attractions | Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon, Vatnajökull National Park visitor centres, Stokksnes peninsula and Vestrahorn mountain, Höfn town museum and fishing-boat harbour |
| AIS Radar | false |
| Light characteristic | Fl (3) 15 s |
| Light range | {"252°–322° T":10,"322°–328° T":13,"328°���360° T & 0°–30° T (wrapping)":10,"30°–43° T":10} |
| Automated | true |