Lighthouses of Norway: Haugesund Area (Northern Rogaland)

Norway is one of the world's most maritime nations. The country 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 Karmøy and Haugesund area in northern Rogaland County on the southwest coast of Norway.

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). 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 B 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 southern Norway, see the Fyrene (sør) page.
Online List of Lights - Norway
Photos by various photographers posted by Alexander Trabas; for this area many of the photos were taken by Ronald Wöhrn, Michael Boucher, or Sigurd Vermundsen.
Lighthouse Pages from Anke and Jens - Norway
Excellent photos of more than 60 Norwegian lighthouses.
Lighthouses in Stavenger Area
Photos available from Wikimedia.
36th Lighthouse Expedition
Photos and accounts from a 2000 U.S. Lighthouse Society tour, by David, Donald, and Diana Carter.
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.

Sørhaugøy Fyr
Sørhaugøy Fyr, Haugesund, September 2011
photo copyright Michael Boucher; used by permission

Karmøy: Karmsund Lighthouses
Note: Karmøy is a large island northwest of Stavanger and also a municipality that includes the island and a portion of the mainland. The west coast of the island faces directly on the Atlantic Ocean, while the east side is separated from the mainland and the islands of Bokn by the Karmsund, the southernmost link in Norway's inside passage. The island is accessible by ferries from Stavanger and by a bridge on highway 47 at Salhus near the northern end.
Kopervik (Kobbernaglen)
Date unknown (station established 1863). Active; focal plane 8 m (26 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting twice every 8 s. 8 m (26 ft) round solid stone tower with lantern and gallery. Lantern painted white with a red roof; the supporting tower is painted with black and white vertical stripes. A closeup photo is available, Trabas has Boucher's photo, Jurij Timofejev has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a rocky reef in the entrance to the harbor of Kopervik. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS NOR-140; NF-1205; Admiralty B3430; NGA 2620.
Dua
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 5 m (17 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting once every 6 s. 6 m (20 ft) concrete post with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white, lantern roof red. Trabas has Boucher's photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a skerry off the east side of the Karmsund northeast of Kopervik. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NF-1208; Admiralty B3434; NGA 2624.
Høgevarde (Høyevarde) (2)
1859 (station established 1700). Inactive since 1902. 14 m (46 ft) cylindrical tower attached to the seaward end of a 1-1/2 story keeper's house. Lantern removed. A boathouse and other station buildings also survive. Buildings painted white. Michael Spiller's photo is at right, another good photo is available, Sigmund Aas has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. The station has been privately owned for many years. Presently it is a guest house owned by Hydro Aluminum; the company has a small photo (at the bottom of the page). Located on a promontory at Avaldsnes on the east side of Karmøy (and the west side of the Karmsund, which separates Karmøy from the mainland). Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: Hydro Aluminum. ARLHS NOR-127.
Høgevarde (3)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 6.5 m (21 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting three times every 10 s. 4 m (13 ft) lantern mounted on an octagonal concrete base. Lantern painted white with a red roof, base painted black. Trabas has Boucher's photo, and Google has a satellite view. This light is about 1.6 km (1 mi) north of the historic lighthouse. Located on a skerry in the middle of the Karmsund off Våge. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NF-1209; Admiralty B3436; NGA 2628.
Snikspynten (2)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 6.5 m (21 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting twice every 8 s. 5 m (17 ft) round cylindrical fiberglass tower with lantern and gallery. The lighthouse is white, lantern roof red. Trabas has Boucher's photo, and Google has a fuzzy satellite view. This lighthouse replaced a simple post light. Located on a skerry in the middle of the Karmsund off Våge. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NF-1212; Admiralty B3438; NGA 2636.
Høgevarde Fyr
Høgevarde Fyr, Karmøy, June 2008
Wikimedia Creative Commons photo by Michael Spiller
Bukkøya
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting once every 6 s. 6.5 m (21 ft) hexagonal tower with lantern and gallery. The lighthouse is painted white, lantern roof red. Trabas has Boucher's photo, a view from across the sound is available, and Google has a fuzzy satellite view. NGA misspells the name "Bukoy." Located on the east end of Bukkøya, and island that nearly blocks the Karmsund across from Vormedal. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NF-1213; Admiralty B3440; NGA 2640.
Salhus
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 7.5 m (25 ft); red or green light, depending on direction, occulting once every 6 s. 4 m (13 ft) lantern mounted on an octagonal concrete base. Lantern painted white with a red roof, base painted black. Trabas has Boucher's photo, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located under western end of the Karmsund Bridge. Site open, tower closed. NF-1214; Admiralty B3442; NGA 2644.

Karmøy: South and West Coast (Oceanside) Lighthouses
* Skudenes (3)
Date unknown (station established 1799). Active; focal plane 22 m (72 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting three times every 10 s. Lantern and gallery mounted on a short stone base. Gallery painted white, lantern roof red. A distant view is available, but Google has only a fuzzy satellite view. A collection of keeper's houses and other building survive from the earlier lighthouse, which was deactivated in 1924 when the Geitungen lighthouse was inaugurated. These buildings are privately owned. Located on a promontory on the southeastern point of Karmøy and on the east side of the harbor of Skudeneshavn. Site status unknown, although it should be possible to view the buildings from nearby. There should also be a good view from ferries arriving in Skudeneshavn from Mekjarvik near Stavanger. ARLHS NOR-212; NF-1254; Admiralty B3502; NGA 2700.
[Vikeholmen (Vikaholmen) (2)]
1875 (station established 1849). Inactive since 1908. Two 1-1/2 story keeper's houses, painted white. Presumably the lantern was formerly mounted on the higher and more seaward of the houses; the active light is is front of that house. M.I. Kojan has a 2009 photo, and a summer 2007 photo of the station is available, but Google has only a very fuzzy satellite view. Originally the station had a small light tended as needed by local fishermen. The house was a private residence for many years, but recently it has been purchased by the Sailors Association and it is now available for overnight rental. Located on a small island about 800 m (1/2 mi) south of the harbor of Skudenshavn. Accessible only by boat. Site open, buildings open to paying guests only. There's a good view from ferries arriving from Mekjarvik near Stavanger. Site manager: Skudenes Sjømannsforening. ARLHS NOR-275.
Vikeholmen (Vikaholmen) (3)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 8 m (28 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting once every 6 s. Lantern and gallery mounted on a short stone base. Gallery painted white, lantern roof red. Located immediately in front of the historic lighthouse. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS NOR-347; NF-1255; Admiralty B3503; NGA 2704.
Geitungen
1924. Active; focal plane 41 m (135 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting once every 6 s. 11 m (36 ft) octagonal cylindrical masonry tower, attached to a U-shaped 1-story keeper's house. Lighthouse painted white; lantern roof is red. A photo is at right, a closeup is available, Trabas has a photo by Klaus Kern taken from the rear of the lighthouse, and Google has a very distant satellite view. This lighthouse was built in response to complaints that the Kvitsøy lighthouse was too far east to provide an effective landfall light for Stavanger. The lighthouse was automated in 1994; since then it has been renovated and is available for overnight accommodations. Located on an island off the southern tip of Karmøy; the island is about 1 km (0.6 mi) offshore and 3 km (2 mi) southwest of the Skudeneshavn harbor entrance. Accessible only by boat; landing facilities and transportation for guests are available. Site open, lighthouse open only to paying guests or by special arrangement. Site manager: Haugesund Turistforening. ARLHS NOR-016; NF-1265; Admiralty B3514; NGA 2728.
* Syrevågen
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, 1 s on, 1 s off. 8 m (26 ft) lantern and gallery on four cast iron straightpiles. Lantern painted white with a red roof; piles painted gray. No photo available, and Google has only a very distant satellite view. Located at the end of the mole at Syrevågen, about 2 km (1.2 mi) west of Skudeneshavn. Site open, tower closed. NF-1266; Admiralty B3516; NGA 2732.
Jarsteinen
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 28 m (92 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, 2 s on, 2 s off. 6 m (20 ft) square skeletal tower, covered with wood siding, with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white, lantern roof red. A distant photo and a second distant view are available, but Google has only a very distant satellite view of this location. Located at the north end of an island off the southwestern tip of Karmøy. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. NF-1268; Admiralty B3520; NGA 2740.
Geitungen Fyr
Geitungen Fyr, Karmøy; Haugesund Turistforening photo
* Ferkingstadneset
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 20 m (66 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting twice every 8 s. 9 m (30 ft) round cylindrical steel tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white, lantern roof red. A fine 2008 photo is available, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Near the lighthouse is a conical rubblestone monument to Norwegian sailors. Located on a promontory about 1 km (0.6 mi) southwest of Ferkingstad harbor. Site open, tower closed. NF-1275; Admiralty B3523; NGA 2756.
* Åkrehamn
Date unknown (station established 1895). Active; focal plane 8 m (26 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting once every 6 s. 7 m (23 ft) octagonal lantern and gallery mounted on a round rubblestone base. The lantern is white with a red roof. A photo by Ingve Moss Liknes is at right, Daniel Øyan has a photo, another photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the waterfront of Åkrehamn. Site open, tower closed. NF-1278; Admiralty B3525; NGA 2784.
* Marøy
1890. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 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, mounted on a stone pad. No photo available, and Google has only an indistinct satellite view. Located on the south tip of Marøy, an island about 1.5 km (1 mi) north of Åkrehamn, on the west coast of Karmøy. Site open, tower closed. NF-1290; Admiralty B3532; NGA 2796.
* Hekseterholmen (1)
1925. Inactive since 1999. 4 m (13 ft) octagonal lantern, painted white with a red roof, mounted on a stone pad. Willy Haraldsen has a photo. Formerly located on a promontory on the west side of the entrance to Skudeneshavn in southern Karmøy, this lantern is now displayed at the Karmøy Fiskerimuseum in Vedavågen. Site open, tower closed. NF-1267.
Veavåg
1895. Active; focal plane 7 m (23 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, mounted on a concrete pad. No photo available, but Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located on the north side of the entrance to the narrow fjord leading to Vedavågen, about 5 km (3 mi) northwest of the town. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. NF-1291; Admiralty B3534; NGA 2800.
Åkrehamn Fyr
Åkrehamn Fyr, Karmøy, January 2009
Flickr Creative Commons photo by Ingve Moss Liknes
* Kalstø (Kallstø)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 22 m (72 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting three times every 10 s. Approx. 8 m (26 ft) square pyramidal tower with lantern and gallery. Tower painted white; lantern roof is red. Thor Hakonsen has a distant view, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the west side of Karmøy about 5 km (3 mi) southwest of Visnes. Site status unknown. ARLHS NOR-447; NF-1292; Admiralty B3536; NGA 2804.
* Middagnes (Feøy)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); white, red or green light, occulting once every 6 s. 4 m (13 ft) octagonal lantern. Lantern painted white with a yellow roof. A view taken from the lighthouse is available, and Google has a satellite view. Feøy is an island about 5 km (3 mi) northwest of Visnes, Karmøy. The island has a population of about 60 and is accessible by passenger ferry from Haugesund. Located on the southwestern point of the island, marking a narrow channel that separates Feøy from Sorøya. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS NOR-077; NF-1313; Admiralty B3546; NGA 2848.

Utsira Lighthouses
Note: Utsira is an island about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) long and 1.2 km (3/4 mi) wide, located in the North Sea 18 km (11 mi) west southwest of Haugesund. Accessible by passenger ferries from Haugesund, the island is famous among birders as one of the best birding sites in northern Europe.
* Utsira (south tower)
1844. Inactive since 1890. Approx. 9 m (30 ft) round stone tower, unpainted; lantern removed. Trabas has a distant view, and Eirik Newth has a portfolio of photos (including the one at right). This is the only example in Norway of twin lighthouses; two were built so that the two continuous lights could be distinguished from the single continuous light at Kvistøy. The second tower became redundant when effective flashing equipment came into use. Located about 100 m (330 ft) south of the north tower (next entry). ARLHS NOR-344.
* Utsira (north tower)
1844. Active; focal plane 78 m (256 ft); three white flashes every 60 s. 13 m (43 ft) round stone tower with lantern and gallery, painted red with white trim. 1st order Fresnel lens in use. Eirik Newth's photo is at right, Robin Strand has a closeup photo, and Google has a very distant satellite view. According to the Lighthouse Association, this is a staffed station with several 1-story keeper's houses. The lighthouses are located at the east end of the island. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS NOR-262; NF-1295; Admiralty B3540; NGA 2812.
* Nordvikvågen (Nordevågen) Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 7 m (23 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting once every 6 s. 5 m (17 ft) concrete post with a round lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white; lantern roof is red. A photo and a distant view are available, but Google has only a fuzzy satellite view. Located at the end of the breakwater for the Nordvikvågen harbor on Utsira's north coast. Accessible by walking the breakwater. NF-1296; Admiralty B3541; NGA 2816.
Utsira Fyr
Sunrise at Utsira Fyr, Utsira, October 2005
Flickr Creative Commons photo by Eirik Newth
Beiningskalven
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); flash every 3 s, white or red depending on direction. 4 m (13 ft) octagonal lantern with gallery mounted directly on a concrete base. Lantern and gallery painted white, lantern roof red, concrete base black. Bjørn Arne Hveding has posted a good photo, and Trabas has a very distant view, but the light is not conspicuous in Google's satellite view. Located atop Beiningskalven, an islet off the east coast of Beiningen, an inhabited island about 600 m (3/8 mi) south of Utsira's main waterfront on the south coast of the island. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. NF-1299; Admiralty B3544; NGA 2824.
Vindballen
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, 2 s on , 2 s off. 10 m (33 ft) concrete post with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white, lantern roof red. The Swedish Lighthouse Association's journal Blänket has a black and white photo (halfway down the page), Trabas has a very distant view, and Google has a very distant satellite view. Located on a rocky islet off the south coast of Utsira. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS NOR-277; NF-1298; Admiralty B3541.4; NGA 2820.

Haugesund Lighthouses
Kråkene
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting once every 6 s. 9 m (30 ft) lantern on a platform supported by four piles. Lantern painted white with a red roof, piles painted black. Trabas has Boucher's photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a skerry off the northern tip of Karmøy, marking the entrance to Haugesund harbor. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. NF-1317; Admiralty B3558; NGA 2868.
Vestre Kalmsund (Steinskjæret)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 8 m (26 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting twice every 8 s. 9 m (30 ft) lantern on a platform supported by four piles. Lantern painted white with a red roof, piles painted black. Trabas has Boucher's photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a skerry on the west side of the northern entrance to the Karmsund and to Haugesund harbor. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. NF-1243; Admiralty B3486; NGA 2680.
Sørhaugøy (Tonjer) (1)
1846. Inactive since 1952. Approx. 8 m (26 ft) square cylindrical stone tower with lantern and gallery, attached to the seaward end of a 1-story keeper's house. Building painted white, lantern roof painted black. Trabas has Boucher's photo of the station (also seen at the top of this page), Vermundsen has a good 2007 photo, Flemming Claussen has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. The lighthouse is vacant but has been restored by the Culture Ministry. Located on a small island in the north entrance to the Karmsund, about 400 m (1/4 mi) offshore northwest of Haugesund. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS NOR-243.
Sørhaugøy (Tonjer) (2)
1952. Active; focal plane 20 m (66 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting three times every 10 s. Approx. 4 m (13 ft) fiberglass lantern and gallery mounted a short square pyramidal skeletal tower. Gallery painted white, lantern roof red. Trabas has Boucher's photo of the station (also seen at the top of this page). Located immediately in front of the historic lighthouse. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS NOR-340; NF-1245; Admiralty B3488; NGA 2692.
Kvalen
Date unknown (station established 1880). Active; focal plane 8 m (26 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, occulting once every 6 s. Octagonal lantern and gallery mounted on four cast iron straightpiles. Lantern painted white with a red roof. Trabas has Boucher's photo, Eirik Hustvedt has posted an excellent closeup photo, also a second photo, Thomas Ekrene has a late evening photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a headland at the north side of the entrance to the Karmsund about 1.5 km (1 mi) northwest of Haugesund harbor. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS NOR-406; NF-1246; Admiralty B3490; NGA 2696.
Røværsholmen
1892. Active; focal plane 22 m (72 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, 2 s on , 2 s off. 16 m (52 ft) massive round stone tower with lantern and gallery, painted red. A 2-story keeper's house, the lower story stone and the upper story wood, is either attached to or closely adjoins the lighthouse. The Culture Ministry's photo is at right, and Google has a distant satellite view. The lighthouse is built as a waveswept tower, since winter storms often wash over the islet on which it is built. Located on a small skerry about 800 m (1/2 mi) northwest of the larger island of Røvær and about 12 km (7.5 mi) west northwest of Haugesund. Accessible only by boat in heavy seas; there is a distant view from Røvær, which is accessible by passenger ferry from Haugesund. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS NOR-197; NF-1329; Admiralty B3570; NGA 2888.

Røværsholmen Fyr, Haugesund
Norwegian Culture Ministry photo

Vindafjord Lighthouse
Utbjoa
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 6 m (20 ft); quick-flashing green light. 6 m (20 ft) lantern mounted on a stone cairn. Lantern painted white with a red roof. Geir-Ole Søreng has a photo, and Google has a very fuzzy satellite view. Located at the northernmost point of Rogaland, in the mouth of the Bjoafjord opposite the island of Stord in Hordaland. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NF-1403; Admiralty B3645; NGA 3028.

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

Adjoining pages: North: Bergen Area | South: Stavanger Area

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Posted May 15, 2006. Checked and revised April 17, 2012. Lighthouses: 32. Site copyright 2012 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.