Name and Location

The Malarrífsviti Lighthouse is situated on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in western Iceland. Its official name is Malarrífsviti, while the local name is Malarrifsviti (Icelandic). The lighthouse's geographic coordinates are 64°43′41″ N, 23°48′10″ W (64.7281909, –23.8028264), and it can be found at address Malarrifsviti, 356 Snæfellsbær, Iceland.

2. Construction and History

The Malarrífsviti Lighthouse was constructed in the mid-20th century as a coastal major light to guide vessels navigating among the rocky outcrops and lava-formed shorelines of this sparsely populated stretch of coast. The lighthouse is fully automated and remotely monitored by the Icelandic Coast Guard (Landhelgisgæsla Íslands) in cooperation with the Icelandic Maritime Administration (Siglingastofnun Íslands).

3. Architecture and Materials

The Malarrífsviti Lighthouse features a tapered cylindrical tower with a lantern and gallery, constructed from reinforced concrete and finished in white with a red lantern roof. The tower stands 30 meters above base (light focal plane at approximately 30 meters above mean sea level) and is typical of Scandinavian harbour and coastal lights of its period.

4. Light and Navigation

The lighthouse displays a group-flashing characteristic every 30 seconds, with distinct colored sectors: red (range 13 nautical miles; bearings 200°–265°), white (range 16 nautical miles; bearings 265°–105°), and green (range 13 nautical miles; bearings 105°–160°). The light source is a high-intensity marine LED, while AIS/radar equipment is not permanently installed.

5. Accessibility and Visiting

The Malarrífsviti Lighthouse can be easily reached by car or on foot from the paved Ring Road (Route 1) and Malarrif access road (Route 574). The tower is fenced, but visitors are free to explore the surrounding area and parking facilities are available. Informal picnic spots are also located near the lighthouse.

6. Notable Views and Landscape

The Malarrífsviti Lighthouse offers stunning views of the open waters of Breiðafjörður Bay and is situated on a low promontory overlooking the bay, surrounded by young lava fields and nearby Route 574.

7. Anecdotes and Folklore

No relevant anecdotes or folklore are available for this lighthouse.

8. Technical and Operational Details

The Malarrífsviti Lighthouse is managed by the Icelandic Coast Guard (Landhelgisgæsla Íslands) in cooperation with the Icelandic Maritime Administration (Siglingastofnun Íslands). No formal national monument status has been recorded, but the lighthouse is valued locally for its coastal landmark role.

9. Further Information

For further information on the Malarrífsviti Lighthouse, consult US NGA Pub. 115 (2010), Icelandic Place-Name Registry (“Staðfangaskrá”) entry for “Malarrifsviti”, Wikidata: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3378310, and OpenStreetMap: https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/184505007._