Name and Location

Slettnes Lighthouse, also known as Slettnes fyr in Norwegian, is located on the Nordkinn Peninsula in Gamvik Municipality, Troms og Finnmark county, Norway. The address is 36Q9+R7 Gamvik, Norway (plus code), with coordinates 71°05′22″ N, 28°13′05″ E (lat 71.089564, lon 28.218232). The lighthouse is situated on a rugged promontory overlooking the Barents Sea, about 30 km northeast of the village of Gamvik.

Construction and History

The Slettnes Lighthouse was first lit in 1906. Carl Wiig designed the overall station layout, while the tower was built by municipal craftsmen. The lighthouse has guided mariners along the Barents Sea coast since its construction and today combines automated operation with a small visitor facility.

Architecture and Materials

The Slettnes Lighthouse features a steel-reinforced concrete tower 39 meters high, with a focal plane of 46 meters above sea level. The adjacent keeper's houses are made of local stone and wood. The lighthouse has an architectural style that blends functional seaside design with Art Nouveau touches in the keeper's quarters.

Light and Navigation

The Slettnes Lighthouse emits a characteristic group flashing, consisting of three white flashes every 30 seconds (Fl (3) W 30 s), with a nominal range of 18 nautical miles (approximately 33 kilometers). The lighthouse has been fully automated since 1980 and is remotely monitored by the Norwegian Coastal Administration.

Accessibility and Visiting

The Slettnes Lighthouse is open seasonally, typically from mid-June to mid-August. Visitors can take guided tours of the tower interior several times a day or explore the keeper's buildings and café on their own. Entrance fees apply for tower climbs, while lodging and café services are charged separately.

Notable Views and Landscape

The lighthouse offers panoramic views of the Barents Sea, surrounding skerries, and sea-ice in spring. Birdwatchers can spot important nesting areas for seabirds like guillemots and puffins during the summer months. The Northern Lights can be seen on clear autumn and winter nights.

Anecdotes and Folklore

The Slettnes Lighthouse has earned the nickname "the guardian of the north" from local fishermen's families. A folklore tale tells of a lighthouse keeper's wife who rowed out in storms to rescue stranded sailors, although this anecdote remains unverified.

Technical and Operational Details

The Slettnes Lighthouse is still active as an aid to navigation under the management of the Norwegian Coastal Administration (Kystverket). It is listed in international nautical publications such as the Admiralty List of Lights A–2594 and NGA 2080. The lighthouse has no permanent radar installation but features a modern AIS transmitter.

Further Information

For more information, please consult publicly available heritage registers, lighthouse directories, and municipal visitor information sources.