Lighthouses of Sweden: Västernorrland

This page covers lighthouses of the Swedish county of Västernorrland, a large county located in the north of the country. The coastline of this area faces east on the Gulf of Bothnia, with Finland on the other side of the gulf, roughly 175-250 km (110-150 mi) away. This southern portion of the gulf is known in Sweden as the Bothnian Sea (Bottenhavet).

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.
Svenska Fyrar på Norrlandskusten av Esbjörn Hillberg
Photos by Hillberg posted on the SFA web site.
Online Lists of Lights - Sweden
Photos by various photographers posted by Alex Trabas.
Lighthouses in Sweden
Photos available from Wikimedia.
Lighthouses in Sweden
Photos posted by Marinas.com.
Schwedische Leuchttürme auf historischen Postkarten
Historic postcard views posted by Klaus Huelse.

Skagsudde Fyr
Skagsudde Fyr, Örnsköldsvik, September 2009
Wikimedia public domain photo by Petey21
Örnsköldsvik Lighthouses
Husum (2?)
Date unknown (station established 1890). Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, 2 s on, 2 s off. 7 m (23 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white with a red horizontal band below the gallery. Trabas has a photo, but the light is not seen in Google's satellite view. SFA has a photo by J. Söderberg, but it shows what must be an earlier tower. Located on the islet of Aggö just off a promontory on the south side of the entrance to the harbor of Husum. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SWE-201; SV-1099; Admiralty C5946; NGA 10980.
Skags Flasor
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 6 m (20 ft); three flashes every 9 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 5 m (17 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white with a red horizontal band below the gallery. SFA has a good photo by Allan Lundström, and Trabas has a distant photo, but the light is not seen in Google's satellite view. Located on a small island about 5 km (3 mi) east northeast of the Skagsudde lighthouse (next entry). Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. SV-1122; Admiralty C5951; NGA 10936.
* Skag (Skags Udde, Skagsudde) (2)
1957 (station established 1871). Active; focal plane 39 m (128 ft); four white flashes every 12 s. 26 m (85 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, its top crowded with communications gear, attached to a 2-story crew building. Lighthouse painted white with one narrow red horizontal band. A photo is at the top of this page, another excellent photo is available, Hillberg has several photos (halfway down the page), SFA has a good photo by B. Östling, and Daniel Hellström has a distant view, and Google has a fuzzy satellite view. The original lighthouse, a classic design by the engineer Nils Gustaf von Heidenstam, has been relocated near Piteå in Norrbottens Län in northern Bothnia. Huelse has a historic postcard view of the original light station, and a scale model stands in front of the newer lighthouse. The station appears appears to be a staffed coast guard or maritime control station. Located at the end of a promontory of the mainland about 25 km (15 mi) east southeast of Örnsköldsvik. Accessible by road. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SWE-343; SV-1128; Admiralty C5952; NGA 10928.
Råskärsön
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 24 m (79 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, 6 s on, 2 s off. Approx. 6 m (20 ft) tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. Trabas has a very distant view, but the light is not seen in Google's satellite view. Located at the east end of the island of Råskärsön, marking the entrance to Örnsköldsvik. Site status unknown. Admiralty C5960; NGA 10960.
Skommerskaten
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 7 m (23 ft); flash every 3 s, white, red or green depending on direction. Lighthouse painted white with one narrow red horizontal band. Fabrizio Bernardi's photo is at right, Trabas has a good photo, a blurry photo is available, and Google has a very distant satellite view. Located on a promontory about 7 km (4.5 mi) west northwest of Skagsudde. Site status unknown. Admiralty C5962; NGA 10964.
Trysundaön (Trysunda)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); one long flash every 8 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 7.5 m (25 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Tower painted green, lantern white. SFA has a photo by J. Söderberg, and another photo is available; Google has a very distant satellite view. Trysunda is a small resort island with a well protected harbor. Located at the southwestern end of a chain of small islands about 10 km (6 mi) south of Örnsköldsvik. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. SV-1171; Admiralty C5973; NGA 10920.
Rone Flase
1909. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); flash every 3 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 12.5 m (41 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white with a red horizontal band below the gallery. SFA has a photo by J. Söderberg, and Google has a distant satellite view. Located on a small island in the channel between the islands of Norra Ulvö and Ronö, about 5 km (3 mi) north of Ulvöhamn. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SWE-326; SV-1172; Admiralty C5974; NGA 10916.
Husum Lighthouse
Skommerskaten Fyr, Örnsköldsvik, July 2007
Flickr Creative Commons photo by Fabrizio Bernardi

Kramfors Lighthouses
Ytternäsan
1909. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, 2 s on, 2 s off. 8 m (26 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white with a black horizontal band below the gallery. Trabas has a photo, a closeup is available, SFA has a photo by J. Söderberg, and Google has a distant satellite view. Located on a promontory of the mainland about 4 km (2.5 mi) east of Norrfällsviken. Site status unknown. ARLHS SWE-079; SV-1307; Admiralty C5978; NGA 10892.
Gnäggen
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); one very quick (strobe-like) flash every 6 s. 4 m (13 ft) round lantern on a concrete pedestal. Lantern painted white. Trabas has a distant view, but Google has only a very fuzzy satellite view. Located on a rocky islet about 4 km (2.5 mi) east of Ytternäsan. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty C5979; NGA 10896.
Älgsjö
Date unknown. Inactive since 2008. 4 m (13 ft) octagonal lantern mounted on a ledge in a rocky cliff. Lantern painted red. SFA has a photo by J. Söderberg, but Google has only a very distant satellite view. Located on a promontory about 2 km (1.2 mi) northwest of Högbonden. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. SV-1315; Admiralty C5979.6; NGA 10891.
** Högbonden
1909. Active; focal plane 75 m (246 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, occulting once every 10 s. 14 m (46 ft) round cylindrical tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 2-story wood keeper's house. 2nd order Fresnel lens in use; this is one of the most powerful lights of the Gulf of Bothnia. Lighthouse painted white; the upper story of the house is painted red and the lower story white. Anders Lundberg's photo is at right, Hillberg has two photos (a little over halfway down the page), SFA has Lundberg's more distant photo, Wikimedia has a photo, a view from the sea is available, Marinas.com has great aerial photos, Huelse has a historic postcard view in which the entire house is painted red, and Google has a satellite view. The house is available for overnight accommodations from May 1 through mid October. Located on an island just off the coast, about 30 km (19 mi) northeast of Härnösand. Site open, keeper's house open to guests and possibly other visitors, tower status unknown. ARLHS SWE-194; SV-1317; Admiralty C5980; NGA 10890.

Härnösand Lighthouses
Åbordsö
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); two flashes every 6 s, green or white depending on direction. 12 m (39 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Lantern and upper half of the tower painted red, lower half of the tower painted white. Trabas has a good photo, and SFA has a photo by J. Söderberg, but Google has only a fuzzy satellite view. Located near the west end of the island of Åbordsö, marking the entrance to the harbor of Veda. Accessible only by boat, but there's a view of this light from the Höga Kusten Bridge on the E4 expressway.. Site open, tower closed. SV-1382; Admiralty C5992; NGA 10840.


Högbonden Fyr, Kramfors, September 2001
Panoramio photo copyright Anders Lundberg
used by permission
Vålö
1900. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); flash every 3 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 12 m (39 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Lantern and upper half of the tower painted red, lower half of the tower painted white. SFA has a photo by Tommy Asplund, Trabas has a very distant view, and Google has a distant satellite view. Located on an island in the sound west of Hemsön, about 4 km (2.5 mi) southeast of Veda. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SWE-414; SV-1372; Admiralty C5990; NGA 10836.
** Lungö (2)
1927 (station established 1861). Reactivated (inactive 1987-2001, now privately maintained); focal plane 29 m (95 ft); white light occulting once every 6 s. 15 m (49 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery, mounted on a stone base. Lighthouse painted white with one black horizontal band; stone base unpainted. 1-1/2 story wood keeper's house and other station buildings preserved. Trabas has a photo, Hillberg has several photos (a little over halfway down the page), SFA has an article with several additional photos, and Google has a satellite view. In 1996 the station was sold to two families from Härnösand, who restored and reactivated it. Located at the eastern end of the island of Lungön, where it marked the north side of the entrance to Härnösand. Site open, tower open to guided tours by arrangement with the owners. Owner/site manager: private. ARLHS SWE-270; SV-1339; Admiralty C5988.5; NGA 10834.
Strömskaten (Strömskatan)
Date unknown (station established 1900). Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); two flashes every 12 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, mounted on a square concrete base. Lighthouse painted red; the square base and lantern roof are painted white. Trabas has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the western end of the island of Lungön. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty C5988; NGA 10832.
* Härnösands Hamn
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 8 m (26 ft); quick-flashing light, white, red or green depending on direction. 6.5 m (21 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with octagonal lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse painted red. Trabas has a closeup photo, SFA has a photo by J. Söderberg, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a point of land at the entrance to the inner harbor of Härnösand. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SWE-184; SV-1356; Admiralty C6008; NGA 10828.
Härnöklubb
1927. Active; focal plane 31 m (102 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, 2 s on, 2 s off, 6 s on, 6 s off. 6.5 m (21 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with octagonal lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse painted white. No closeuop photo available, but Trabas has a distant view and Google has a satellite view. Located on a promontory on the eastern end of the island of Härnön, about 5 km (3 mi) east southeast of Härnösand. Site status unknown. ARLHS SWE-182; Admiralty C6012; NGA 10820.
* Storholmen
1906. Active; focal plane 9 m (30 ft); two flashes every 6 s, white or red depending on direction. 4 m (13 ft) octagonal cast iron lantern mounted on a concrete pad. Lantern painted white. SFA has a photo by J. Söderberg, Trabas has a view from the sea, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the southern tip of the island of Härnön, marking the start of the southern approach to Härnösand. Site open, tower closed. SV-1484; Admiralty C6014; NGA 10812.
Vänta Litetsgrund
1972. Active; focal plane 19 m (62 ft); white flash every 3 s. 19 m (62 ft) round concrete tower. Upper half of lighthouse painted red, lower half black. SFA has a photo by J. Söderberg, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. Located on a shoal in the Gulf of Bothnia about 20 km (12.5 mi) southeast of Härnösand. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. SV-1479; Admiralty C6015; NGA 10810.
Skarpudden
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); one long flash every 12 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 4 m (13 ft) round cast iron lantern mounted on a concrete pad. Lantern painted white. SFA has a photo by J. Söderberg, and Google has a satellite view. In 2007 the light was reported to be scheduled for deactivation, but it remains on the active list. Located on a promontory about 11 km (7 mi) southwest of Härnösand. Site status unknown. SV-1491; Admiralty C6016; NGA 10808.

Timrå Lighthouses
Åstön (Kammarskär)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); flash every 7.5 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 4 m (13 ft) octagonal cast iron lantern mounted on a concrete pad. Lantern painted white. Trabas has a photo, Ronny Svensson has a closeup, and Google has a fuzzy satellite view. Located on the northeast side of the island of Åstön, about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) north of the town of Åstön. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty C6020.5; NGA 10805.
Åstholmsudde (2)
Date unknown (station established 1893). Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, 4 s on, 4 s off. 4 m (13 ft) octagonal lantern, mounted on a concrete pad. Lantern painted white. A photo and a winter 2009 photo are available, SFA has a closeup by J. Söderberg, and Google has a very distant satellite view. Nearby is an old rubblestone daybeacon, painted with black and white horizontal bands. Located on the southern tip of Åstön. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SWE-088; SV-1502; Admiralty C6020; NGA 10804.

Sundsvall Lighthouses
Rödögubben
1965. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, occulting twice every 8 s. 12 m (39 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Upper half of lighthouse painted red, lower half white. Trabas has a view from the sea, SFA has a photo by J. Söderberg, a distant view is available, and Google has a fuzzy satellite view. Located on an islet off the southeastern tip of the island of Rödön, about 13 km (8 mi) east of Sundsvall. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SWE-325; SV-1504; Admiralty C6021; NGA 10792.
Gubben
1965. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); flash every 3 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Upper half of lighthouse painted red, lower half white. SFA has a photo by J. Söderberg, Trabas has a distant view, and the tower is barely seen in Google's fuzzy satellite view. In 2007 the light was reported to be scheduled for deactivation, but it remains on the active list. Located on a small island about 13 km (8 mi) east southeast of Sundsvall. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SWE-160; SV-1506; Admiralty C6022; NGA 10800.
* Tjuvholmen
Date unknown (station established 1900). Active; focal plane 4 m (13 ft); quick-flashing light, white, red or green depending on direction. 4 m (13 ft) round cast iron lantern mounted on a concrete pad. Lantern painted white. SFA has a photo by J. Söderberg, Trabas has a distant view, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located on the south side of the entrance to the inner harbor of Sundsvall. Site open, tower closed. SV-1580; Admiralty C6037.4; NGA 10768.
Draghällan (2)
Date unknown (station established 1878). Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, 1 s on, 1 s off, 3 s on, 5 s off. 13m (43 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white, lantern red. A photo is at right, Trabas has a photo, SFA has a photo by Tommy Öberg in which the entire lighthouse is white, Hillberg has a photo (about 2/3 the way down the page), another photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. A former 2-1/2 story keeper's house was demolished after the light was atomated in 1965; Sundsvalls Kommune has a historic photo of the light station shortly before demolition. The tower stands amid the foundation ruins of the original lighthouse. Located on a small island in the center of the entrance to Sundsvall, about 6 km (3.5 mi) southeast of the city. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SWE-117; SV-1564; Admiralty C6036; NGA 10760.
Draghällan Fyr
Draghällan Fyr, Sundsvall, December 2008
Panoramio photo copyright Joakim and Sandra Söderberg; used by permission
* Brämön (2)
1948 (station established 1859). Active; focal plane 31 m (102 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, 11.3 s on, 2.7 s off, 3.3 s on, 2.7 s off. 16 m (52 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. The original 2nd order Fresnel lens, transferred from the former lighthouse, remains in use. Lighthouse painted with black and white horizontal bands. A photo is at right, another excellent photo is available, Hillberg has several photos (a little over halfway down the page), and SFA also has a photo by J. Söderberg, but Google has only a fuzzy satellite view of the area. Huelse has a postcard view of the original stone lighthouse. The original lantern and lens were transferred from the old lighthouse to the present one. Located on the easternmost tip of Brämön. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SWE-006; SV-1536; Admiralty C6030; NGA 10752.
Brämö Kalv
1946. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); four flashes every 12 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 9 m (30 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse painted white. SFA has a photo by J. Söderberg, and Google has a satellite view. In 2007 the light was reported to be scheduled for deactivation, but this does not seem to have happened. Located on Brämö Kalv, a small island off the southwestern tip of the larger island of Brämön. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SWE-104; SV-1540; Admiralty C6041; NGA 10740.
Brämön Fyr
Brämön Fyr, Sundsvall, 2008
Panoramio photo copyright Joakim and Sandra Söderberg; used by permission

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

Adjoining pages: North: Northern Bothnia | South: Southern Bothnia

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Posted August 13, 2007. Checked and revised June 19, 2012. Lighthouses: 28. Site copyright 2012 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.