The Kingdom of Norway (Norge in Norwegian) 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. The mainland coast is estimated to be 2650 km (1650 mi) long and when all the islands and minor indentations are counted the total coastline approaches an astonishing 60,000 km (37,500 mi), long enough the go around the world one and a half times. 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 northernmost coast of Norway, including the eastern half of the former (and future) county of Finnmark. This entire region is well north of the Arctic Circle. Nonetheless it is fairly well populated, with several ports, the largest being Vardø on the Stavangerfjord not far from the Russian border. The region also includes part of the Nordkapp (North Cape) region, the "top of Europe," marked by Slettnes Fyr (shown below) and two other great lighthouses. In 2020 Troms and Finnmark Counties were merged to form Troms og Finnmark County. This merger was not popular and it proved unworkable due to the large area of the merged county. In June 2022 parliament decided to reverse the merger effective 1 January 2024. In Norwegian a lighthouse is a fyrtårn (fire tower) or simply a fyr; a fyrlykt is a beacon and a lyktehus is a lantern. Øy is an island, holmen is an islet, skjær is a skerry (a tiny island or rocky reef), sund is a strait (often between an island and the mainland), bukt is a bay, nes is a headland, and havn is a harbor. Aids to navigation in Norway are maintained by the Kystverket (Coast Directorate), an agency of the Ministry of Transport and Communications. 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.
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![]() Kjøllefjord Light, Lebesby, June 2008 ex-Panoramio photo copyright Arno Siering; used by permission |
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![]() Bergholmen Light, Deatnu-Tana, July 2016 photo copyright Capt. Peter Mosselberger; used by permission |
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![]() Makkaur Light, Båtsfjord, June 2015 Wikimedia Creative Commons photo by Danckert Monrad-Krohn for the Norwegian Culture Ministry |
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![]() Store Vadsøya Light, Vadsø, July 2016 photo copyright Capt. Peter Mosselberger; used by permission |
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![]() Vestre Jacobselv Light, Vestre Jacobselv, July 2016 photo copyright Capt. Peter Mosselberger; used by permission |
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![]() Bøkfjord Light, Sør-Varangerfjord, September 2011 photo copyright Michael Boucher; used by permission |
Information available on lost lighthouses:
Notable faux lighthouses:
Adjoining pages: East: Pachenga Area | West: Western Finnmark (Hammerfest Area)
Return to the Lighthouse Directory index | Ratings key
Posted August 3, 2006. Checked and revised January 2, 2025. Lighthouses: 38. Site copyright 2025 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.