Name and Location

The Hraunhafnartangaviti Lighthouse, also known by its local name Hraunhafnartangi, is located on the northernmost tip of mainland Iceland at Hraunhafnartangi ("Lava Harbour Point"). The official address is 9CR5GXPF+FG, and the road/route is Hraunhafnartangi, 671 Norðurþing. The coordinates are 66°32′10″ N, 16°01′34″ W.

Construction and History

The lighthouse was first lit in 1953 during the mid-20th century construction era. It was built by the Icelandic Coast Guard with an undesignated architect using a reinforced concrete foundation and steel skeletal tower.

Architecture and Materials

The structure is a small triangular steel skeletal tower with an integrated equipment shelter at its base. The tower is painted white, while the lantern room and gallery railings are painted red. The height of the tower is approximately 6 meters (20 feet), with a focal plane of 9 meters above mean sea level.

Light and Navigation

The lighthouse features a flashing light characteristic of Flashing (2) White every 10 seconds (Fl(2) W 10 s). Its nominal range is 6 nautical miles (11 kilometers). The light source is a modern sealed beam lantern, and the power and automation are fully solar-powered since 1995. There are no AIS or radar transponders installed.

Accessibility and Visiting

The site can be reached by a 4-kilometer unpaved gravel track branching off Route 84. However, the tower and machinery room are fenced and not open to the public. There are no facilities on site, including visitor centers, restrooms, or signage. Informal parking is available beside the fence.

Notable Views and Landscape

The lighthouse stands on a windswept coastal heath with basaltic lava fields. The surrounding environment offers panoramic 360-degree views over the Arctic-subarctic waters of the Greenland Sea. Seabirds breed on nearby sea cliffs, and seals are frequently spotted offshore.

Anecdotes and Folklore

Local fishermen's tales warn of sudden storms and treacherous submerged lava skerries around the point. No specific shipwrecks are historically documented at this exact location.

Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is currently an active coastal navigation light managed by the Icelandic Coast Guard, Aids to Navigation Division. It appears on nautical charts such as Icelandic chart A 2731 (formerly chart 423).

Further Information

For more information, refer to the Icelandic Coast Guard's "List of Lights, Buoys and Fog Signals" or the Norðurþing Visitor Guide's "Hraunhafnartangi: Iceland's Northern Tip" pamphlet.