Reykjanes Lighthouse

Reykjanesviti stands on the hill of Baejarfell at the south-western tip of the peninsula, on the site where lighthouse building in Iceland started. The first was built in 1878 on the cliff of Valahnukur, but an earthquake damaged it eight years later and the headland kept being undermined by earthquakes and heavy surf; the replacement was built further inland on the hill in 1907, lit on 20 March 1908, and has worked since. The ground around it steams from the Gunnuhver field, and the sea below throws spray over the whole point in a storm. The old foundation is still visible on Valahnukur, a short walk away.

History

Reykjanesviti is Iceland's oldest lighthouse. The original structure was built in 1878, and just eight years later it was wrecked by an earthquake; the present tower, 31 metres tall, stands on the hill above the old site and serves as the landfall light for Reykjavík and Keflavík (Wikipedia, Reykjanesviti).

Highlights

• Where Icelandic lighthouses began - the 1908 tower on Baejarfell.
• A predecessor lost to the sea - the 1878 light on Valahnukur, undermined.
• Steaming ground nearby - the Gunnuhver field beside the road.
• The old foundation - still on the cliff, a short walk away.

When to go

Year round; winter storms make the point dramatic and dangerous. An hour.

Practical notes

The tower is not usually open to go inside. Wind here is among the strongest on the coast and car doors get torn out of hands. The paths are unfenced near cliffs. Facilities are a car park.

Nearby

Valahnukamol and Gunnuhver are minutes away; Eldey is offshore.

Key facts