Name and Location

Sandgerði Lighthouse, also known as Sandgerðisviti, is an active harbour light located in Sandgerði, Suðurnesjabær, Iceland. The address is Vitatorg 245, 245 Sandgerði. Its coordinates are 64°02′24″ N, 22°42′50″ W (decimal 64.040028, –22.714056).

Construction and History

The construction period of the lighthouse is unknown, but it is believed to be in the mid-20th century. The original keeper's house and early lights at Sandgerði are not well-documented.

Architecture and Materials

The tower height is 21 meters above base, with a focal plane at 25 meters above mean sea level. The structure is a metal skeletal tower, square in plan, with an enclosed lantern atop. It has a concrete base on the pier and is painted white.

Light and Navigation

Sandgerði Lighthouse is a major harbour light with an occulting characteristic every six seconds. The sectors and colours are: 0°–110.5° green (range 13 M), 110.5°–111.5° white (range 15 M), 111.5°–171° red (range 13 M), and 171°–200° green (range 13 M). It is listed in the US National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency's List of Lights as reference L 4476.

Accessibility and Visiting

The pier is open to pedestrians, but the tower itself is not open to the public. Visitors can walk along the harbour waterfront from the town centre (approximately 5 minutes) or park near Vitatorg. Nearby facilities include a café and fishing-boat museum in Sandgerði.

Notable Views and Landscape

The surrounding area features a birdwatching coastal lagoon just east of Sandgerði, Suðurnes Science and Learning Center with geology and coastal exhibits, and Gardur Old Lighthouse (Grótta) 5 km west, which is a popular photographic subject. The harbour itself is an active fishing port with local seafood markets.

Anecdotes and Folklore

According to oral tradition, local fishermen used bonfires on this pier in the 19th century to mark the entrance before a formal beacon was erected. No major shipwrecks are recorded directly attributed to failure of this light.

Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is fully automated and has been without a resident keeper since the late 20th century. It is monitored remotely by the Icelandic Coast Guard's maritime operations centre and maintained by the authority.

Further Information

For more information, consult US NGA Pub. 115 "List of Lights, Radio Aids and Fog Signals" (2010-09-09), the Icelandic Coast Guard website (Landhelgisgæsla Íslands), OpenStreetMap node: https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/206196246, or Wikidata entry Q3378369: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3378369.