Lighthouses of Norway: Nord-Trøndelag

This page lists lighthouses of Nord-Trøndelag county, which is just north of Trondheim in northwestern Norway. Most of the county is inland, but there is a short coastline on the Norwegian Sea.

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 beacon 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 volume 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 Nord-Trøndelag page.
Fyr-til-Fyr-i-Fosen
Photos and notes about lighthouses in Fosen, the coastal region of Trøndelag, posted on a Culture Ministry wiki site.
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.
Lighthouses in Nord-Trøndelag
Photos available from Wikimedia.
Norwegische Leuchttürme auf historischen Postkarten
Historic postcard images posted by Klaus Huelse.
Liste over Norske Fyr
From Norwegian Wikipedia, a handy list of Norwegian light stations with their dates of establishment.

Sklinna Lighthouse
Sklinna Fyr, Leka
Norwegian Culture Ministry photo

Upper Trondheimsfjord and Beitstadfjord Lighthouses

Stjørdal Lighthouses
* Stjørdal Havn
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 7.5 m (25 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, occulting twice every 8 s. 6 m (20 ft) square skeletal tower, covered with siding, with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white, lantern roof red. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Stjørdal is the location of the Trondheim airport. Located on the end of the quay at Stjørdal. Accessible by walking (or driving) the pier. Site open, tower closed. NF-4200; Admiralty L1268; NGA 7256.
Saltøy
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, occulting twice every 8 s. 7 m (23 ft) concrete post light with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white; lantern roof is red. Helene Kristiansen has a fine photo, a closeup is available, and the shadow of the light is visible in a Google satellite view. Located at the western tip of an island in the Åsenfjord, a branch of the Trondheimsfjord about 25 km (15 mi) east of Trondheim. Site open, tower closed. NF-4202; Admiralty L1271; NGA 7260.

Frosta Lighthouse
Tautra
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, occulting once every 6 s. 4 m (13 ft) octagonal cast iron lantern mounted on a concrete pad. Lantern painted white, roof red. A closeup photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Tautra is an island in the entrance to the upper Trondheimsfjord, about 15 km (9 m) northeast of Trondheim. Site of a 13th century monastery, Tautra is accessible by bridge. Located on a promontory on the north side of the island. Site status unknown. NF-4203; Admiralty L1274; NGA 7268.

Levanger Lighthouse
Sandsøra
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 6 m (20 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, occulting three times every 10 s. 5.5 m (19 ft) square skeletal tower, covered with siding, with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white, lantern roof red. Torbjørn Tybolt has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the southeastern point of the island of Ytterøya. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. NF-4210; Admiralty L1280; NGA 7280.

Inderøy Lighthouses
Høsholmene
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13.5 m (44 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, roof red. A closeup photo is available, but Google has only a distant satellite view of the location. Located at the tip of a rocky peninsula on the east side of the upper Trondheimsfjord, about 4 km (2.5 mi) south of Straumen. Site open, tower closed. NF-4220; Admiralty L1294; NGA 7300.
Stornesøra
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 5.5 m (19 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, occulting three times every 10 s. 6.5 m (21 ft) square skeletal tower, covered with siding, with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white, lantern roof red. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located at the northern point of Inderøy, on a promontory on the Beitstadfjord. Site status unknown. NF-4234; Admiralty L1308; NGA 7324.

Steinkjer Lighthouse
* Eggebogtangen (Bogatangen)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 6 m (20 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, occulting once every 6 s. 7.5 m (25 ft) square skeletal tower, covered with siding, with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white, lantern roof red. Erik Stenvik has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the tip of a promontory opposite the waterfront of Steinkjer. Site open, tower closed. NF-4240; Admiralty L1312; NGA 7340.

Coastal Lighthouses

Flatanger Lighthouses
Villa
1839. Inactive since 1890. 15 m (49 ft) hexagonal cylindrical granite tower with watch room and gallery. The tower is unpainted stone. The Culture Ministry has a page for the lighthouse including the photo at right, Lars Forseth has a photo, Rune Klykken has a closeup, and another photo is available, but Google has only a fuzzy satellite view of the island. This lighthouse was designed to burn coal, and did so until it was converted to oil in 1859. Located on an island off Flatanger. Accessible only by boat. Site open, and it is probably possible to climb the tower as well. ARLHS NOR-276.
Villa Fyr
Villa Fyr, Flatanger
Norwegian Culture Ministry photo by Helen Hoff Lund
Ellingsråsa (Ellingråsa)
1888. Active; focal plane 22 m (72 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, 4 s on, 2 s off. 10 m (33 ft) 1-1/2 story wood keeper's house with lantern. The house is painted white. The Culture Ministry's photo is at right, and another article has a photo showing part of the building. The Lighthouse Association has a page for the lighthouse, and Google has a distant satellite view of the area. The station was purchased by Flatanger Kommune in 2005. Located on the north coast of Byørøy, marking the passage between that island and Ellingen, about 5 km (3 mi) northwest of Lauvsnes. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS NOR-071; NF-5091; Admiralty L1750; NGA 8672.
Vordsund (2)
Date unknown (station established 1898). Active; focal plane about 14 m (46 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, occulting once every 6 s. 4 m (13 ft) lantern, painted white with a red roof. Petter Hamnes has a photo, and Google has a distant satellite view of the area. Near the lighthouse is an old stone beacon, painted white on one side and black with a white horizontal band on the other. This might be the 1898 light, but more likely it is an even older daybeacon. Located on a small island just off a promontory near Utvorda. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NF-5099; Admiralty L1758; NGA 8688.

Namsos Lighthouse
Flotra
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16.5 m (54 ft); flash every 5 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 6 m (20 ft) skeletal tower with lantern and gallery. Lantern painted white with a red roof. Petter Hamnes has a distant photo, and Google has a very distant satellite view of the island. Located on a small island about 6.5 km (4 mi) northeast of Utvorda. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NF-5105; Admiralty L1764; NGA 8692.
Ellingråsa Fyr
Ellingråsa Fyr, Flatanger
Norwegian Culture Ministry photo

Nærøy Lighthouse
Kjeøy (Kjeøya)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 8.5 m (28 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, occulting twice every 8 s. 6 m (20 ft) square skeletal tower with lantern and gallery, covered with siding. Lighthouse painted white; lantern roof is red. Erik Stenvik has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the western tip of Kjeøy, an island near the east end of the Foldafjord, about 4 km (2.5 mi) southeast of Geisnes. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NF-5165; Admiralty L1790; NGA 8760.
Øvre Gjerdinga (Range Rear)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 28.5 m (94 ft); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 7 m (23 ft) square skeletal tower with lantern and gallery, covered with siding. Lighthouse painted white; lantern roof is red. No photo available, but Google has a distant satellite view. Located on heights near the western end of the island of Gjerdinga. Site status unknown. NF-5536; Admiralty L1920.1; NGA 9068.

Vikna Lighthouses
Gjæslingan (Gjeslingan)
1877. Active; focal plane 24 m (79 ft); white flash every 10 s; also, continuous red and green lights are shown at 19 m (62 ft) to guide ships around nearby rocks. 24 m (79 ft) round cylindrical cast iron tower with lantern and gallery, incorporating keeper's quarters, mounted on a round stone base. Entire lighthouse painted red. A 4-story white concrete building was built behind the lighthouse in 1938; the building included a boat house, machine shop, and living quarters. Much of the interior of the concrete building has been destroyed by storm waves since the lighthouse was automated in 1987. A photo is at right, another photo is available, also a closeup (about 1/5 the way down the page), Sander Nijdam has a twilight view from the sea, and Google has a very distant satellite view. Wikipedia's article has a historic photo. Located on a small skerry in the wide mouth of the Follafjord about 15 km (9 mi) north of Lauvsnes. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS NOR-018; NF-5300; Admiralty L1846; NGA 8876.
Sør-Gjæslingan (Sondre Skarveskjær)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 7 m (23 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, occulting once every 6 s. 6 m (20 ft) square tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white, lantern roof red. Tom Hanslien has a photo, and Google has a very distant satellite view of the skerry. Located about 4 km (2.5 mi) northwest of the Gjæslingan lighthouse. Site open, tower closed. NF-5310; Admiralty L1852; NGA 8880.
Grinna
1904. Active; focal plane 23 m (75 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, occulting once every 6 s. 19 m (62 ft) round cast iron tower with lantern and gallery, mounted on a round stone base. Entire lighthouse painted red. A small keeper's house, also mounted on a tall stone base, stands next to the tower. The Lighthouse Association has a page for the light, Geir Ole Søreng has a view southward from the sea also showing the Gjæslingan lighthouse in the distance, and Google has a very distant satellite view. Located on a small skerry about 6 km (3.7 mi) east northeast of the Gjeslingan lighthouse in the mouth of the Follafjord. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS NOR-099; NF-5295; Admiralty L1842; NGA 8872.
Heimvær (Heimværet)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 6 m (20 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, occulting twice every 8 s. 6 m (20 ft) square pyramidal tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white, lantern roof red. The lighthouse can be seen in a view of the harbor, and Google has a very distant satellite view of the area. Located at the harbor entrance of Heimvær, on a small island about 16 km (10 mi) southwest of Rørvik. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NF-5315; Admiralty L1854; NGA 8884.
Gjeslingan Fyr
Gjæslingan Fyr, Vikna, August 2006
Flickr photo copyright maybritth; permission requested
Kvitingen
1909. Active; focal plane 8 m (26 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, occulting three times every 12 s. 5 m (17 ft) lantern and gallery mounted on four straight piles. Lantern painted white with a red roof, piles painted black. No photo available, but Google has a very distant satellite view of the skerry. Located on a small island about 1.6 km (1 mi) west of Heimvær. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NF-5320; Admiralty L1858; NGA 8898.
Nordøyan
1890. Active; focal plane 36 m (118 ft); continuous white light with a more intense flash every 40 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical cast iron tower with lantern and gallery, mounted on a round stone base. The back of the lantern is attached to the 2-1/2 story wood keeper's house. Light tower and lantern painted red, house painted white. The original 1st order Fresnel lens remains in use. A photo is at right, and Google has a distant satellite view. Located on a small island at the southwestern end of the Nordøyan (North Islands) about 10 km (6 mi) southwest of the principal island of Vikna. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS NOR-033; NF-5335; Admiralty L1868; NGA 8908.
Bendøyskæret
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 6 m (20 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, occulting twice every 8 s. 9 m (30 ft) concrete post light with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white; lantern roof is red. No photo available. Located on a skerry in the Nordøyan (North Islands) about 5.5 km (3.5 mi) northeast of the Nordøyan lighthouse. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NF-5355; Admiralty L1884; NGA 8924.
Nærøysund (ex-Prestøy) (1)
1841 (relocated here in 1904). Inactive since 1984. 13 m (43 ft) lantern atop a 2-story wood keeper's house. House painted or stained light brown; lantern painted red. A closeup 2007 photo and a view from the fjord are available, and Google has a distant satellite view of the area. The lighthouse was originally built at Prestøy and was relocated to Nærøysund in 1904. The house has a modern appearance, so probably it has been altered from the original. Located on the north side of the Nærøysund, which separates the island of Vikna from the mainland, about 2 km (1.2 mi) southwest of Rørvik. Site status unknown. ARLHS NOR-175.
Nordøyan Fyr
Nordøyan Fyr, Vikna
Norwegian Culture Ministry photo
Nærøysund (2)
1984. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, occulting once every 6 s. 14 m (46 ft) concrete post light with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white; lantern roof is red. Hilfred Mikalsen has a photo. Located at the shoreline near the historic lighthouse. Site open, tower closed. NF-5515; Admiralty L1904; NGA 9016.

Leka Lighthouses
Sklinna
1910. Active; focal plane 45 m (148 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, occulting once every 6 s. 14 m (46 ft) round cast iron tower with lantern and gallery, painted red. The original 2nd order Fresnel lens remains in use. 1-1/2 story wood keeper's house, engine house, and other light station buildings also preserved. A photo is at the top of this page, Tom Kvalo has a closeup, and Google has a very distant satellite view. Sklinna is a former fishing village, abandoned in the 1890s; the area is now a protected nature reserve. Located at the highest point of the isolated island of Heimøya, easternmost island of the Sklinna archipleago, about 15 km (9 mi) north of Vikna. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS NOR-207; NF-5600; Admiralty L1936; NGA 9128.
Leknesvika (Bryggeneset)
1911. Active; focal plane about 9 m (30 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, occulting once every 6 s. 9 m (30 ft) round stone tower with lantern and gallery. The tower is unpainted; lantern painted white with a red roof. A photo is available, and Google has a distant satellite view of the area. Located on a rock off the northwest coast of the island of Leka. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NF-5660; Admiralty L1974; NGA 9208.

Information available on lost lighthouses:

  • Prestøy (1841-1904), Vikna. Replaced by the Nærøysund lighthouse; only foundation ruins remain.

Notable faux lighthouses:

Adjoining pages: South: Sør-Trøndelag | North: Bodø Area

Return to the Lighthouse Directory index | Ratings key

Posted August 3, 2006. Checked and revised July 9, 2012. Lighthouses: 24. Site copyright 2012 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.