Lighthouses of Sweden: Blekinge (Karlskrona Area)

This page covers lighthouses of the county of Blekinge (Blekinge Län) in southeastern Sweden. This is one of Sweden's smallest counties, but it includes the important port of Karlskrona, the home port of the Swedish Navy and Coast Guard. Karlshamn and Ronneby are smaller ports in the county. The coastline of the county faces mostly south on Hanö Bay, a sheltered embayment of the Baltic Sea.

The Swedish word for a lighthouse is fyr. The front light of a range is the nedrefyr (lower light) and the rear light is the övrefyr (upper light). Aids to navigation in Sweden are maintained by the Swedish Maritime Administration (Sjöfartsverket). Many of the major lighthouses have resident attendents, and guided tours can often be arranged. The Swedish Lighthouse Society (Svenska Fyrsällskapet) works for the preservation of the lighthouses.

ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. SV numbers are from the Sjöfarsverket light list (Fyrlista) as reported by the Swedish Lighthouse Society. Admiralty numbers are from volume C of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA List numbers are from Publication 116.

General Sources
Swedish Lighthouse Society (Svenska Fyrsällskapet, SFA)
The Society has a large web site, and some of the information is available in English as well as Swedish. An interactive map links to pdf pages (in Swedish) for the major lighthouses, and there is a list of photos available. There's also a page of photos of east coast lighthouses taken by Esbjörn Hillberg.
Lighthouses in Sweden
Aerial photos posted by Marinas.com.
Online List of Lights - Sweden
Photos posted by Alexander Trabas.
Lighthouse Pages from Anke and Jens - Sweden
Photos and brief accounts (in English) by two German lighthouse fans.
Henning Jensen's Lighthouse Pages
Photos and comments for about 20 lighthouses, posted by an employee of the Maritime Administration who helps maintain the lighthouses.
Fyrar
Photos taken from the sea, posted by Bosse Arnholm.
Fyr Vi Har Passeret (Lighthouses We've Passed)
Photos of Baltic lighthouses taken by two Danish sailors, Jette and Ole.
Schwedische Leuchttürme auf historischen Postkarten
Historic postcard views posted by Klaus Huelse.

Stumholmen Fyr
Stumholmens Fyr, Karlskrona, March 2009
Creative Commons photo by Samuel Mann
Karlskrona Lighthouses
Note: Founded as a naval base in 1680, Karlskrona is built on a number of islands, of which Trossö is the largest. The city is known for its Baroque architecture and numerous historical sites.
Utlängan
1931 (station established 1882). Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting twice every 12 s. 13 m (43 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. The upper half of the lighthouse is painted black, lower half white. 1-story keeper's house, painted white with a green roof. A 2008 closeup is available, SFA has a photo by C. Lagerwall, and Google has a satellite view. The light guides coastal traffic through the passage between Utklippan and the island of Utlängan. The original lighthouse was an 8 m (26 ft) octagonal tower. Located on the southern tip of the island of Utlängan. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SWE-406; SV-6027; Admiralty C7440; NGA 7708.
Flötjen
1957. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); flash every 3 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 10 m (33 ft) tower, probably with lantern and gallery, painted white. No photo available, but Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) northwest of Utlängen Fyr. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SWE-139; Admiralty C7438.8; NGA 7648.
Utklippan (3)
1870 (Nils Gustaf von Heidenstam) (station established 1789). Active; two flashes every 6 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 30 m (98 ft) round cast iron skeletal tower with lantern, gallery, and central cylinder, rising from one corner of a stone fortress. Lighthouse painted red; lantern dome is gray metallic; fortress painted white. 4th order Fresnel lens in use. Piet and Anneke Admirall's photo is at right, Wikipedia has a photo by Jesper Kimblad, Bengt Körling has a good 2008 photo, another good photo is available, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. The first light here was a basket light, first shown in 1789. The fortress was built in 1840 and provided with a light, which was replaced by the present lighthouse in 1870. The traditional main light (white flash every 15 s) was deactivated in August 2008, leaving only the former passing light in service. Located on a small island in the Baltic about 16 km (10 mi) southeast of Karlskrona. The island is now a nature reserve. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SWE-073; SV-6015; Admiralty C7442; NGA 7696.
Godnatt (3)
1977 (station established 1879). Active; focal plane 20 m (66 ft); flash every 3 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 20 m (66 ft) octagonal stone fort with a pyramidal metal roof; the light is perched at the vertex of the pyramid. The building is unpainted stone; the roof is dark blue. SFA has a photo by E. Hillberg, Joakim Johansson has a photo, a 2008 photo is available, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. The fort was completed in 1860 but technology had already made it obsolete, so it was never in use. The original light was removed in 1960 and replaced by a light shown through a window of the fortress. Located in the roadstead about 1.2 km (3/4 mi) southeast of Karlskrona. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. SV-6108; Admiralty C7449; NGA 7572.
Utklippan Fyr
Utklippans Fyr, May 2008
Creative Commons photo by Piet and Anneke Admiraal
* Karlskrona (Övre)
1918. Active; focal plane 37.5 m (123 ft); red light, 1.5 s on, 1.5 s off. 15 m (49 ft) round masonry tower with lantern and gallery, mounted on a round stone base. Lighthouse painted white; the conical lantern roof is black, and the stone base is unpainted. Trabas has a photo by Karl-Heinz Wellm, a 2009 photo is available, SFA has a closeup photo by E. Hillberg, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. Although it is accessible, this lighthouse does not seem to be as well known as the Stumholmen lighthouses. For more than 90 years it was the rear light of the Strumholmen range, but the range was dropped from the charts in 2011. Located on a hilltop on the mainland, above the Saltsjöbadsvägen, 1.3 km (0.8 mi) north of the front lighthouse. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SWE-213; SV-6099.01; Admiralty C7460.1; NGA 7560.
* Laboratorieholm
Date unknown (station established 1892). Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, 2 s on, 2 s off. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with a lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse painted white. Sara Nilsson has a closeup photo, Trabas has a closeup photo, a third photo is available, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the northeastern tip of the island of Stumholmen, on the grounds of the Swedish Navy Museum (Marinmuseum). Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SWE-228; Admiralty C7462; NGA 7588.
* Stumholmen (Karlskrona Nedre)
1918. Active; focal plane 22 m (72 ft); red light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 24 m (79 ft) round tapered masonry tower with lantern and gallery, mounted on a round stone base. Lighthouse painted white; the conical lantern roof is black, and the stone base is unpainted. Samuel Mann's photo appears at the top of this page, Trabas has a photo, Daoyong Liu has another fine photo, Wikimedia has a 2010 photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. The range guides vessels on their final approach to the harbor of Karlskrona. Located at the end of the Bastionsgaten on the island of Stumholmen, just off the east side of Trossö, near the National Naval Museum. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SWE-380; SV-6099; Admiralty C7460; NGA 7556.
Asla
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 6 m (20 ft); three flashes every 9 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 7 m (23 ft) wood shed mounted on a stone pier. Building painted white. Trabas has a distant photo, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located on a skerry off the southwest coast of Hasslö, about 6 km (3.5 mi) southeast of Kuggeboda. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty C7453.4; NGA 7536.
Laboratorieholm Light
Laboratorieholms Fyr, July 2007
Creative Commons photoby Piet and Anneke Admiraal

Ronneby Lighthouses
Rönneskär
1954. Active; focal plane 9 m (30 ft); very quick (strobe-like) flashing light, white, red or green depending on direction. 8 m (26 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery; the light is displayed through a window at the top of the tower. Lighthouse painted white. Trabas has a photo, SFA has a photo by C. Lagerwall, an aerial photo is available, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located on a skerry about 800 m (1/2 mi) southeast of the waterfront of Kuggeboda. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS SWE-328; SV-6227; Admiralty C7453.3; NGA 7520.
Saxemara Övre
Date unknown (station established 1904). Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); quick-flashing white light. 11 m (36 ft) square wood tower; the light is shown through a window. The side facing the range is painted red with two horizontal red bands; the other sides are painted all red. Trabas has a good photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located on an islet on the east side of Saxemara harbor. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty C7492.1; NGA 7476.
Saxemara Nedre
Date unknown (station established 1904). Active; focal plane 4 m (13 ft); white light, 2 s on, 2 s off. 1-story wood shed; the light is shown through a window. Building painted red. Trabas has a photo, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located on Busseskär, a small island off the entrance to the harbor of Saxemara, about 4 km (2.5 mi) southwest of the Ronneby Hamn waterfront. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty C7492; NGA 7472.
Gåsfeten (2)
Date unknown (station established 1904). Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); two long flashes every 15 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 10 m (33 ft) 2-stage tower: a round cylindrical cast iron tower with octagonal lantern and gallery is mounted on a round cylindrical concrete tower. Arnholm has a photo, SFA has a historic photo taken in 1931, and Google has a satellite view. This was the first lighthouse in the world to be fueled by acetylene. Comparing current photos with the historic photo, it's clear that the upper stage of the light has been replaced. Located on Gåsfeten, an islet about 6 km (3.5 mi) southwest of the Ronneby Hamn waterfront. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SWE-146; SV-6242; Admiralty C7490; NGA 7468.
Saltärna
1933. Active; focal plane 7 m (23 ft); three flashes every 9 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 4 m (13 ft) octagonal lantern, painted white, mounted on a round concrete pier. Trabas has a photo, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. This light marks the beginning of the approach to Ronneby. Located on the eastern tip of the island of Saltärna. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty C7510; NGA 7464.
Vitaskär (2)
1941 (station established 1898). Active; focal plane 7 m (23 ft); quick-flashing light, white, red or green depending on direction. 4 m (13 ft) octagonal lantern, painted white, mounted on a concrete pad. Trabas has a photo, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located on a skerry about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) southeast of Garnanäs. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty C7512; NGA 7420.

Karlshamn Lighthouse
Tärnö (2)
1910 (station established 1887). Active; focal plane 31 m (102 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, 8 s on, 2 s off. 6 m (20 ft) octagonal wood tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. A 2010 photo is available, a closeup photo is available (2/3 of the way down the page), SFA has a page (in pdf format), and Google has a satellite view. Tärnö is a small island about 3 km (2 mi) south of Matvik and 7 km (4 mi) southeast of Karlshamn. Accessible only by boat. Located on heights near the southern point of the island. The area surrounding the light is a nature reserve. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SWE-389; SV-6288; Admiralty C7514; NGA 7412.

Sölvesborg and Hanö Lighthouses
* Listershuvud (2)
1934 (station established 1922). Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); flash every 4 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 4 m (13 ft) octagonal lantern, painted white, mounted on a concrete pad. Trabas has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. The area surrounding the light is a nature reserve. Located on the easternmost tip of the Listerlandet peninsula near Hörvik and opposite Hanö. Accessible by a short hike from Hörvik. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty C7534; NGA 7352.
* Hanö (2)
1906 (station established 1869). Active; focal plane 70 m (230 ft); three white flashes every 12 s. 16 m (52 ft) round cylindrical brick tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-1/2 story brick keeper's house. Tower painted white; lantern dome is greenish metallic; house is unpainted red brick. The original rotating 3rd order Fresnel lens remains in use. A photo is at right, SFA has a photo by C. Eriksson-Tärnudd, the Carters have a photo, Trabas has a photo by Karl-Heinz Wellm, Arnholm has a view from the sea, Marinas.com has aerial photos, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. The original lighthouse was described as a white tower on a keeper's house. Hanö is an inhabited island about 4 km (2.5 mi) off the southeastern tip of the Listerlandet peninsula. There is regular ferry service to the island from Nogersund. The lighthouse is located at the highest point of the island, a walk of about 1.2 km (3/4 mi) from the ferry terminal. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SWE-027; SV-6356; Admiralty C7538; NGA 7316.
* Hällevik (2?)
Date unknown (station established 1892). Active; focal plane 8 m (26 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, 4 s on, 4 s off. 7 m (23 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery. The tower is unpainted white concrete. The lantern is clearly modern, and it's not clear if the tower is original. A 1-story building adjoining the tower is presumably a keeper's cottage. Anders Bergden has a 2008 photo, Trabas has a closeup photo by Karl-Heinz Wellm, and Google has a satellite view. Hällevik is a village about 8 km (5 mi) east of Sölvesborg. Located on the east side of the town. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SWE-171; Admiralty C7548; NGA 7296.
* Sillnäsudde
1966. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); two flashes every 6 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 12 m (39 ft) round cylindrical steel tower with gallery; the light is displayed through a curved window at the top of the tower. Upper half of the lighthouse painted white, lower half red. Trabas has a closeup photo by Karl-Heinz Wellm, Tomas Brodin has a 2003 photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located on an islet at the tip of a promontory on the southwestern side of the Listerlandet peninsula, about 7 km (4 mi) southeast of Sölvesborg; the island is connected to the mainland by a causeway. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SWE-339; Admiralty C7551.6; NGA 7292.

Hanö Fyr, July 2008
anonymous Creative Commons photo

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

Adjoining pages: North: Kalmar | South: Scania

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Posted June 4, 2007. Checked and revised September 23, 2011. Lighthouses: 19. Site copyright 2011 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.