Lighthouses of Norway: Kristiansund Area

One of the world's most maritime nations, Norway is long and narrow, with drowned valleys called fjords that bring the sea far inland in most regions. With such a lengthy and rocky shore, it's not surprising that Norway has a large number of lighthouses. This page lists lighthouses of the northern part of Møre og Romsdal County in the central part of the west coast, including the port of Kristiansund. This region includes the two traditional districts of Romsdal and Nordmøre.

Although it has always been considered a separate realm, Norway has only been independent since 1905; it was ruled by the Danish king until 1814 and then by the Swedish king until the Norwegian parliament arranged a peaceful separation of the two kingdoms.

In Norway a lighthouse is simply called a fyr (fire); a smaller light is called a lykt (light). Aids to navigation are maintained by the Kystverket (Coast Directorate), an agency of the Fiskeri og Kystdepartementet (Fisheries and Coast Department).

ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. NF numbers are from the Norsk Fyrliste. Admiralty numbers are from volumes B and L of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA List numbers are from Publication 115.

General Sources
Norwegian Lighthouse Association (Norsk Fyrhistorisk Forening)
With pages in both Norwegian and English, the Association's site provides photos and information on selected lighthouses. For photos and descriptions of lights in this area, see the Møre og Ramsdal page.
Lighthouse Pages from Anke and Jens - Norway
Excellent photos of more than 60 Norwegian lighthouses.
Norway's Fjorden and Lighthouses
Photos taken by Charles W. Bash on a 2010 cruise from Bergen to North Cape.
Leuchttürme an der norwegischen Küste
Photos posted by Bernd Claußen.
Norwegische Leuchttürme auf historischen Postkarten
Historic postcard images posted by Klaus Huelse.
Liste over Norske Fyr
From Wikipedia, a handy list of Norwegian light stations with their dates of establishment.

Stavenes Fyr
Stavenes Fyr, Averøy, July 2008
Wikipedia Creative Commons photo by Trond Viggo Håpnes

Romsdal Lighthouses

Sandøy Lighthouses
* Marøy
1915. Active; focal plane 28 m (92 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting twice every 8 s. 7 m (23 ft) square skeletal tower, covered with white siding, with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white; lantern roof painted red. No photo available, and Google has only a very distant satellite view of this area. Located on Marøy, a small island just off Morsundet, at the western point of Harøy. Site open, tower closed. NF-3470; Admiralty L0884; NGA 6292.
Flatflesa (2)
1988 (station established 1902). Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting three times every 10 s. Approx. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical fiberglass tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white with two narrow black horizontal bands; lantern roof is red. 1-1/2 story wood keeper's house, boathouse, and other light station buildings. Geir Ole Søreng has a nice view of the lighthouse, Romsdal Havrafting has posted several photos, and another photo is available, but Google has only a very distant satellite view of the area. Accommodations are available in the keeper's house. Located on a small island about 4 km (2.5 mi) west of the island of Gossa. Accessible only by boat; there should be a view from ferries between Gossa and Harøy. Site open, tower closed. Site manager: Flatflesa Fyr. ARLHS NOR-082; NF-3525; Admiralty L0910; NGA 6340.
* Ona
1867. Active; focal plane 40 m (131 ft); continuous white light with a red flash every 30 s. 7 m (23 ft) round cast iron tower with lantern and gallery, painted red. The original rotating Fresnel lens remains in use. The keeper's houses are private residences. The station also has a fog light (bifyr), a 3 m (10 ft) square tower with lantern, painted white with a red lantern roof. Camilla Hoel's closeup photo is at right, and Bjørn Fransgjerde has a 2008 photo and a view from the harbor. Google has a very distant satellite view of the island. Scarcely changed in 140 years, this little lighthouse crowns a hill in the center of a remote fishing village, accessible by passenger ferry from Gossa. Located on the island of Husøy about 20 km (13 mi) north of Haram. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS NOR-037; NF-3535; Admiralty L0914; NGA 6356.
* Husøy
1895. Active; focal plane 28 m (92 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting in groups of two. 7 m (23 ft) square masonry tower with lantern and gallery. The tower is unpainted; lantern painted white with a red roof. No photo available. Located on a small island about 1 km (0.6 mi) southwest of Ona. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS NOR-024; NF-3540; Admiralty L0916; NGA 6360.

Ona Fyr, April 2005
Creative Commons photo by Kjell Jøran Hansen

Molde Lighthouses
Julholmen
1919. Active; focal plane 8 m (26 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting twice every 8 s. 4 m (13 ft) octagonal lantern mounted on a concrete pad. Lantern painted white with a red roof. A photo is available, and Google has a distant satellite view of the site. Located on a point of land on the east side of the Julsundet. Accessible by hiking trail. Site open, tower closed. NF-3580; Admiralty L0934; NGA 6424.
* Molde (1)
Date unknown. Inactive. 7 m (23 ft) square wood tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. Michel Moré has a closeup photo, Bash has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the foot of the Reknes mole on the Molde waterfront. Site open, tower closed.
* Molde (2)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 9.5 m (31 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting twice every 8 s. 7.5 m (25 ft) concrete post light with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white, lantern roof red. Bash's photo is at right, Wikimedia has a photo by Joachim Müllerchen, Manual Carnota has a photo, Patrick Cornello has a closeup, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the west end of the Reknes Mole in Molde harbor. Accessible by walking the mole. Site open, tower closed. NF-3599; Admiralty L0952; NGA 6459.
* Molde (Fuglset) Vestmolja
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 7 m (23 ft); two red lights, one above the other, 1 s off, 1 s on. 6 m (20 ft) lantern and gallery mounted on a concrete post. Lighthouse painted white; lantern roof is red. A distant view is available, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located on the west mole of the ferry terminal at Molde, on the north side of the Moldefjord. Site open, tower closed. NF-3603.02; Admiralty L0955; NGA 6474.
Årø
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting once every 6 s. 11 m (36 ft) building; the light is shown from a tripod mast on the roof. The building is seen at the edge of the fjord in an aerial photo (click on the photo for a better view), and Google has a satellite view. The building is associated with Molde's airport, which stretches alongside the Romsdalfjord. Located on the north side of the fjord about 3 km (1.8 mi) east of Molde harbor. Site and tower closed. NF-3620; Admiralty L0956; NGA 6476.
Molde Fyr
Molde Fyr, October 2010
Creative Commons photo by C.W. Bash

Fræna Lighthouses
* Bjørnsund (1)
1871. Inactive. Lantern attached to one corner of a 1-1/2 story keeper's house. House painted white, lantern red. Frank ove Vold has a photo, and Geir Ole Søreng has a view from the sea, but Google has only a very distant satellite view of the area. Located on a small island about 4 km (2.5 mi) north of Gossa and the same distance west of Bud. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown.
* Bjørnsund (2)
Date unknown (station established 1871). Active; focal plane 26 m (85 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting twice every 8 s. 9 m (30 ft) square cylindrical wood tower with gallery, attached to one end of a 1-story wood keeper's house. Located next to the original lighthouse. Site status unknown. ARLHS NOR-057; NF-3550; Admiralty L0918; NGA 6372.
Storesundet
1915. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting twice every 10 s. 8 m (26 ft) lantern and gallery mounted on four straight piles. Lantern painted white with a red roof, piles painted black. A photo and a distant view are available, but Google has only a distant satellite view of the harbor. Located on a rocky point at the west entrance to the harbor of Bud. Probably accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NF-3561; Admiralty L0926; NGA 6392.
* Askvåg (Haugeneset)
1913. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting twice every 8 s. 7 m (23 ft) square skeletal tower, covered with wood siding, with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white; lantern roof painted red. A photo is available (second photo in second row), but Google has only a very distant satellite view. Located on the ocean shore about 5 km (3 mi) northeast of Bud. Site open, tower closed. NF-3691; Admiralty L0997; NGA 6552.
* Storholmvågen (Storholmen)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 7.5 m (25 ft); flash every 5 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 4 m (13 ft) octagonal lantern, painted white with a red roof. A closeup photo is available, but Google has only a distant satellite view of the harbor. Located on Knappen, an island in the entrance to a small harbor about 2 km (1.25 mi) west of Farstad. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NF-3693; Admiralty L0998; NGA 6560.
* Nordneset
1902. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting once every 6 s. 3 m (10 ft) octagonal lantern mounted directly on a stone base. Lantern painted white with a red roof. Martin Hamerla has a photo, and another photo is available (3/4 of the way down the page), and Google has a very distant satellite view. Located on a rocky promontory about 13 km (8 mi) northeast of Bud. Site open, tower closed. NF-3695; Admiralty L0999; NGA 6564.

Nordmøre Lighthouses

Eide Lighthouses
Kvitholmen (1)
1842. Inactive since 1956. 12 m (93 ft) round old-style stone tower with gallery; lantern removed. Tower painted white. A 1-1/2 story wood keeper's house, turbine house, boathouse, farm buildings, and other station buildings are all preserved at this station. Kvitholmens Venner (Friends of Kvitholmen) manage the station and its restoration; their web site has a fine collection of historic photos. A page with historical information in English is available, Wikipedia has a Norwegian article on the lighthouse, and a sea kayaker has a report of a visit, with many photos. Google has a distant satellite view of the station. Located on a small island about 1.5 km (1 mi) offshore and about 8 km (5 mi) west of Averøy. The island is protected as a bird sanctuary. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS NOR-144.
Kvitholmen (2)
1956 (station established 1842). Active; focal plane 25 m (82 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting once every 6 s. 12 m (39 ft) cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Tower painted white, lantern and gallery red. Geir Ole Søreng has a good photo. Located close to the historic lighthouse. Site and tower closed. ARLHS NOR-407; NF-3705; Admiralty L1002; NGA 6572.
Vevang
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 7 m (23 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting once every 6 s. 8 m (26 ft) lantern and gallery mounted on tripod piles. Lantern painted white with a red roof, gallery white, piles black. No photo available, and Google has only a distant satellite view of the harbor. Located in the harbor of Vevang, about 6 km (3.5 mi) west of Averøy. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NF-3716; Admiralty L1011; NGA 6588.
Kvitholmen Fyr
1842 Kvitholmen Fyr; Norwegian Culture Ministry photo

Averøy Lighthouses
Flatskjær
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 7 m (23 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting twice every 8 s. 7 m (23 ft) octagonal lantern and square gallery mounted on four straight piles. Lantern painted white with a red roof; piles painted black. No photo available, and Google has only a distant satellite view of the area. Located on a skerry marking the entrance to a sound west of Averøy. Accessible only by boat, but there must be a good view from highway 64, which crosses the sound on a series of bridges nearby. Site open, tower closed. NF-3725; Admiralty L1015; NGA 6592.
Hestskjær (1)
1879. Inactive since 1986. Approx. 20 m (66 ft) square cylindrical tower with gallery, rising from a 3-1/2 story keeper's house. Lantern removed. Lighthouse painted white. Kjell Jøran Hansen's photo is at right, Wikipedia's Norwegian article has a distant view, and the Møre og Ramsdal cultural office has a page with historic photos of the station. Located on a skerry about 1.4 km (0.9 mi) north of Langøy and 8 km (5 mi) northeast of Averøy. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS NOR-119.
Hestskjær (2)
1986 (station established 1879). Active; focal plane 24 m (79 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting twice every 8 s. 21 m (69 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, rising from a square 3-story building. Frank Stuke has a good photo, and Marinas.com has aerial photos of this station, but Google has only a fuzzy satellite view of the island. Lighthouse painted white, lantern red. Located adjacent to the historic lighthouse. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS NOR-401; NF-3755; Admiralty L1022; NGA 6644.
Raudsandneset
1896. Active; focal plane 5 m (18 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting once every 6 s. 4 m (13 ft) octagonal lantern mounted on a concrete base. Lantern painted white with a red roof. Several photos are available (second and third photos on the page), and Google has a satellite view. Located on a rocky point projecting into the Bremnesfjord, on the east side of the island of Averøy, about 4 km (2.4 mi) southwest of Kristiansund. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NF-3814; Admiralty L1050; NGA 6728.

Hestskjær Fyr, July 2008
Creative Commons photo by Kjell Jøran Hansen
Stavenes (Stavnes) (2)
1894 (station established 1842). Active; focal plane 22 m (72 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting in groups of three, but NGA does not list the period. Approx. 7 m (23 ft) 1-1/2 story square building with lantern mounted on the roof. Lighthouse painted white, lantern red. Helge Potesta has posted an excellent closeup photo, Geir Ole Søreng has a good photo, the Møre og Ramsdal cultural office has a page with photos and historical information, Bash has a distant view, and Google has a satellite view. This light marks the entrance to the Sørsundet and the harbor of Kristiansund. Located at the northeastern tip of Averøya about 3 km (2 mi) north of Bremsnes. Site status unknown. ARLHS NOR-224; NF-3780; Admiralty L1028; NGA 6676.

Kristiansund Lighthouses
* Baltsernes (Kristiansund)
Date unknown (station established 1887). Active; focal plane 31 m (102 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting once every 6 s. 4 m (13 ft) octagonal lantern mounted directly on the ground. Lantern painted white with a red roof. Bash has a view from the fjord, and Google has a satellite view. This light marks the entrance to the inner harbor of Kristiansund. Located at the west end of Innlandet south of the Kristiansund waterfront. The island is accessible by bridge and the lighthouse is accessible by road. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS NOR-396; NF-3781; Admiralty L1030; NGA 6680.
* Kvitnes (2)
1911 (station established 1877). Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting once every 6 s. 4 m (13 ft) octagonal lantern, painted white with a red roof. A photo is available, Bash has a very distant view, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a promontory on the east side of a northeastern entrance to Kristiansund, about 5 km (3 mi) northeast of the city. Site open, tower closed. NF-3801; Admiralty L1046; NGA 6716.
Flathårskollen Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); quick-flashing white light, intensified on the range line. 12 m (39 ft) lantern and gallery mounted on piles. Lantern painted white with a red roof. In Anke and Jens's photo of the Grip lighthouse, this tower can be seen to the left of the Grip tower. The range guides northbound vessels departing Kristiansund. Located about 500 m (0.3 mi) south of the Grip Fyr. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS NOR-398; NF-3899.1; Admiralty L1126; NGA 6884.
Grip (Flåtharskollen Range Rear)
1888. Active; focal plane 47 m (154 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting twice every 8 s. 44 m (144 ft) two-stage tower: approx. 28 m (92 ft) round cast iron tower with lantern and gallery, mounted atop a 16 m (52 ft) round granite base incorporating keeper's quarters. Cast iron tower painted red, stone base white. Peter John Acklam's photo is at right, Per Kvalvik has a good closeup, Anke and Jens have a distant view, and Huelse has a historic postcard image, but Google has only a distant satellite view of the area. Until it was automated in 1977, this must have been one of the most difficult Norwegian stations for keepers. Located on a bare skerry, swept by the waves in every storm, about 6.5 km (4 mi) north of Kristiansund. Accessible only by boat in dangerous seas. Site and tower closed. ARLHS NOR-100; NF-4000; Admiralty L1126.1; NGA 6888.
Grip Fyr
Grip Fyr, July 2006
Wikipedia Creative Commons photo by Peter John Acklam

Tingvoll Lighthouse
Meløya
1914. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting twice every 8 s. 3 m (10 ft) octagonal lantern, painted white with a red roof. A photo by Per Kvalvik is available (second photo on the page), and Google has a very distant satellite view of the island. Located atop a small island in the Tingvollfjord about 9 km (5.5 mi) southeast of Rausand. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NF-3834; Admiralty L1066; NGA 6756.

Sunndal Lighthouse
Flåøy
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 6 m (20 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting three times every 10 s. 6 m (20 ft) square skeletal tower, covered with wood siding, with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white; lantern roof painted red. A photo is available, but Google has only a very distant satellite view. Located on a skerry just off the north side of the upper Tingvollfjord, about 8 km (5 mi) northwest of the head of the fjord at Sunndal. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NF-3836; Admiralty L1068; NGA 6760.

Aure Lighthouses
Stangdragsøy
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 4 m (14 ft); red or green light, depending on direction, occulting three times every 12 s. 4 m (13 ft) octagonal lantern mounted on a concrete base. Lantern painted white with a red roof. No photo available, and Google has only a distant satellite view of the area. Located on an island off the north coast of Tustna, 3 km (2 mi) north of Tømmervåg. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NF-4016; Admiralty L1138; NGA 6912.
Sæterfløa
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 5 m (17 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting twice every 8 s. 6 m (20 ft) lantern and gallery mounted on tripod piles. Lantern painted white with a red roof, piles painted black. No photo available, and Google has only a distant satellite view of the area. Located near the southern end of the Sæterflua, the narrow channel separating the islands of Tustna and Stabben. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NF-4027; Admiralty L1145; NGA 7000.
Ertvågøy (Gråskjærat)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 5 m (17 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting twice every 8 s. 6 m (20 ft) lantern and gallery mounted on tripod piles. Lantern painted white with a red roof, piles painted black. No photo available; Google has a very distant satellite view of the location. Located on a skerry off the northwestern corner of the island of Ertvågøy. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NF-4032; Admiralty L1150; NGA 7004.
Sveholmen
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 7 m (23 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting twice every 8 s. 7 m (23 ft) square skeletal tower, covered with wood siding, with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white; lantern roof painted red. A photo by Anita Lillebø is available (3/4 of the way down the page), and Google has a very distant satellite view of the location. Located on a skerry about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) northwest of Aure. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NF-3886; Admiralty L1106; NGA 6840.
Espenes
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 5 m (17 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting once every 6 s. 3 m (10 ft) octagonal lantern mounted on a concrete base. Lantern painted white with a red roof. No photo available, but Google has a distant satellite view of the location. Located on a sharp point of land projecting into the Dromnessund about 12 km (7.5 mi) northeast of Aure. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NF-3894; Admiralty L1114; NGA 6872.

Smøla Lighthouses
Skalmen (2)
1962 (station established 1907). Active; focal plane 24 m (79 ft); white flash every 30 s; also a red light, 2 s on, 2 s off, at 21 m (69 ft). 16 m (52 ft) tower with lantern and gallery attached to a 1-1/2 story wood keeper's house. Marinas.com has aerial photos. Located on a skerry about 5 km (3 mi) northwest of Dyrnesvågen, off the northwestern tip of Smøla. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower status unknown. ARLHS NOR-203; NF-4330; Admiralty L1348; NGA 7428.
** Haugjegla (Hauggjegla) (2)
1922 (station established 1919). Active; focal plane 26 m (85 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting twice every 8 s. 28 m (92 ft) round cylindrical cast iron tower with lantern and gallery, incorporating keeper's quarters, mounted on a round concrete base. Tower painted red with one white horizontal band; the concrete base is white. Kjell Jøran Hansen's photo is at right, Rahul Anantharaman has a good photo, and Google has a very distant satellite view. Automated in 1988, the lighthouse is now open for day tours and available for overnight accommodations. Located on a waveswept skerry about 1 km (0.6 mi) north of Veiholmen on the north side of Smøla. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower open to guided tours. Site manager: Hopen Aktivitetsgård. ARLHS NOR-109; NF-4350; Admiralty L1362; NGA 7488.
Innveien
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 6 m (20 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting once every 6 s. 6 m (20 ft) lantern and gallery mounted on four straight piles. Lantern painted white with a red roof; piles painted black. Hanne Wollan has a fine photo, but Google has only a distant satellite view of this area. Located on Sondre Leiskjær, a skerry about 2 km (1.25 mi) east of Veiholmen. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NF-4352; Admiralty L1364; NGA 7512.
Haugjegla Fyr
Haugjegla Fyr, July 2008
Creative Commons photo by Kjell Jøran Hansen
Remmingskær
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 9 m (30 ft); two flashes every 5 s, white, red or green, depending on direction. 7 m (23 ft) lantern and gallery mounted on four straight piles. No photo available; Google has a very distant satellite view of the location. Lantern painted white with a red roof, piles painted black. Located on a skerry in open water about 5 km (3 mi) east of the eastern point of Smøla. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NF-4390; Admiralty L1374; NGA 7616.
Pintelen
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 5 m (17 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, 3 s on, 3 s off. Lantern and gallery mounted directly atop a rounded skerry. Lantern painted white with a red roof. No photo available; Google has a very distant satellite view of the location. Located just off the eastern point of Smøla. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NF-4395; Admiralty L1374.4; NGA 7620.
Tyrhaug (Kyrhaug)
1833. Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting twice but NGA does not list the period. 14 m (46 ft) square cylindrical tower attached to a keeper's house. Lighthouse painted white; lantern painted red. A photo is at right, Geir Ole Søreng has a photo, Bash has a photo, and Google has a very distant satellite view of the island. Located on Ringholmen, a small island off the east end of Edøy, which is an island off the southeast coast of Smøla. Accessible only by boat, but there should be a good view from Edøy. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS NOR-257; NF-4034; Admiralty L1152; NGA 7020.

Tyrhaug Fyr, March 2008
anonymous Wikipedia Creative Commons photo

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

Adjoining pages: North: Trondheim Area | South: Ålesund Area

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Posted June 19, 2006. Checked and revised June 6, 2011. Lighthouses: 40. Site copyright 2011 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.