Lighthouses of Norway: Sunnfjord (Florø Area)

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.

Norway is divided into 11 counties (fylker) and the counties are divided into townships (kommuner). This page lists lighthouses of the Sunnfjord district in the former county of Sogn og Fjordane. Located north of Bergen and south of Trondheim, Sogn og Fjordane has no large population centers. It is a county of steep mountains and deep fjords, with some of the most spectacular scenery Norway has to offer. Sunnfjord surrounds two major fjords, the Dalsfjord and the Førdefjord. Florø, with a population of about 8500, is the largest coastal town in the region.

On 1 January 2020 Hordaland County and most of Sogn og Fjordane County were merged to form the new Vestland County.

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, but in 2018 NGA dropped most lights of the Norwegian fjords.

General Sources
Online List of Lights - Norway
Photos by various photographers posted by Alexander Trabas. Many of the photos for this area are by Michael Boucher or Arno Siering.
Norwegian Lighthouse Association
News and photos from the Association.
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 in Norwegen
Photos posted by Andreas Köhler.
Lighthouses in Vestland
Photos by various photographers available from Wikimedia.
World of Lighthouses - Norway
Photos by various photographers available from Lightphotos.net.
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.
Norsk Fyrliste
The official Norwegian light list.
Navionics Charts
Navigation chart for the area.

Geita Fyr
Geita Light, Askvoll, March 2011
Flickr Creative Commons photo by Michael Clarke

Fjaler Lighthouses
Dalsøya
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 8.5 m (28 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, 3 s on, 3 s off. 6 m (20 ft) square tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white, lantern roof red. Google has a very distant street view across the fjord and Bing has an indistinct satellite view. Located on the north side of Dalsøya and the south side of the Dalsfjord, about 3 km (2 mi) west of Dale i Sunnfjord, the administrative center of Fjaler Kommune. Accessible only by boat; there should be a good view from ferries between Dale and Eiknes. Site status unknown. NF-244400; Admiralty L0236; ex-NGA 4924.
Halsnes
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 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. Stig Sunde has a distant street view across the fjord and Bing has an indistinct satellite view. Located on a promontory on the south side of the upper Dalsfjord, about 10 km (6 mi) east of Dale. Site status unknown. NF-244500; Admiralty L0238; ex-NGA 4928.

Askvoll Lighthouses .
Geita
1897. Active; focal plane 43 m (141 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, 2 s on, 2 s off. Iron lantern with a tall "dunce-cap" roof, attached by a covered passageway to a 1-1/2 story wood keeper's house. Michael Clarke's photo is at the top of this page, Trabas has Siering's photo, a 2021 closeup photo is available, Anke and Jens have a distant view, Patrick Healy has a 2009 view, and Bing has a satellite view. Automated in 1982, the lighthouse has been transferred to the Nordisk Kunstnarsenter (Nordic Artists Center) in Dale. The building is available for vacation rental during the summer and is leased to artists at other times. Located on an island in the Aspefjord about 8 km (5 mi) west of Korssund. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Site manager: Nordisk Kunstnarsenter Dale. . ARLHS NOR-093; NF-239600; Admiralty L0220; NGA 4836.
* [Austnes]
1917. Active; focal plane 8 m (26 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, 1 s on, 1 s off. 3 m (10 ft) octagonal lantern, painted white with a red roof, mounted on a concrete pad. Bash has a photo, Trabas has a photo by Ronald Wöhrn, and Bing has a satellite view. Located at the eastern tip of Værlandet, an island about 20 km (13 mi) west southwest of Askvoll. The island is accessible by passenger ferry from Askvoll, and the light is accessible by a hiking trail. Site open, tower closed. NF-240000; Admiralty L0214; ex-NGA 4848.
Sandøy
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 26 m (85 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting three times every 10 s. 6 m (20 ft) square skeletal tower, covered with white siding, with octagonal lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white; lantern roof is red. A closeup photo and a wider view are available and Google has a distant satellite view. Located on a small island about 4 km (2.5 mi) west of Værlandet. Accessible only by boat, although there is a small settlement on the island. Site open, tower closed. NF-242000; Admiralty L0202; NGA 4896.
Raudøy (Rauøy) (3?)
2011 (station established 1891). Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); white, red or green light, 2 s on, 2 s off. 8 m (26 ft) round cylindrical white fiberglass tower with lantern and gallery. Lantern roof is red. A photo is available and Google has an indistinct satellite view. The original lighthouse was deactivated and sold in 1932; it's not known when it was demolished. Foundation ruins of the station are visible. Located on a small island off the south coast of Atløy on the approach to Askvoll. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NF-243000; Admiralty L0228; ex-NGA 4904.
Tussen
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, 2 s on, 2 s off. 13 m (43 ft) concrete post with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white; lantern roof is red. Trabas has Arno Siering's photo (also seen at right) and Bing has a satellite view. Located on a skerry about 3 km (2 mi) northwest of the island of Atløy. Accessible only by boat in heavy seas. Site and tower closed. NF-245500; Admiralty L0268; NGA ex-4944.
Hindøysund
Date unknown (station established 1900). Active; focal plane 7 m (23 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, 3 s on, 3 s off. 11 m (36 ft) lantern mounted on a platform supported by piles. Lantern painted white with a red roof. No photo available but Bing has a satellite view. Located on the west side of a narrow passage off the northwest coast of Atløy. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NF-245700; Admiralty L0264; ex-NGA 4948.
Tussen Light
Tussen Light, Askvoll, July 2012
photo copyright Arno Siering; used by permission
Raudøy Vestpynt
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 11.5 m (38 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, 1 s on, 1 s off. 13 m (43 ft) square tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white, lantern roof red. No photo available but Bing has a fuzzy satellite view. Not to be confused with the historic Raudøy light station (see above), this light stands on the west end of another Raudøy, off the north coast of Atløy. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NF-246200; Admiralty L0256; ex-NGA 4956.
Stavenes
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 7.5 m (25 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting once every 6 s. 4 m (14 ft) lantern mounted on a concrete base. Lantern painted white with a red roof. Google has a distant street view and a satellite view. Located on the tip of a promontory on the south side of the approach to the Førdefjord. Site status unknown. NF-246400; Admiralty L0252; ex-NGA 4968.
Flokenes (Flokeneset)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 9 m (29 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, 2 s on, 2 s off. 6 m (20 ft) square skeletal tower, covered with white siding, with octagonal lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white; lantern roof is red. A photo by Claudia Burs is at right and Bing has a satellite view. Located on an islet just off Flokenes, the cape on the south side of the entrance to the Førdefjord. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NF-248500; Admiralty L0278; ex-NGA 5052.

Førde Lighthouse
Ulltangneset (Ulltangnes)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 4.5 m (15 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, 3 s on, 3 s off. 4 m (13 ft) lantern mounted on a stone base. Lantern painted white with a red roof. Trabas has Andreas Köhler's photo and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Located on the south side of the Førdefjord at the tip of a promontory marking a sharp bend in the fjord, about 5 km (3 mi) northwest of Førde. Site status unknown. NF-249200; Admiralty L0288; ex-NGA 5068.

Flokenes Light, Askvoll, June 2010
ex-Panoramio photo copyright Claudia Burs; used by permission

Kinn (Flora) Lighthouses
On 1 January 2020 the Flora Township was joined with Vågsøy to form the Kinn Township. The new township is discontinuous; lighthouses of Vågsøy are described on the Nordfjord page.

Stavangsund
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 6.5 m (21 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, 3 s on, 3 s off. 10 m (33 ft) lantern mounted on a platform supported by piles. Lantern painted white with a red roof. No photo available but Bing has an indistinct satellite view. Located on a skerry in the entrance to the Olsund, which separates Stavøya from the mainland. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NF-248000; Admiralty L0290; ex-NGA 5004.
Helgøy
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 6 m (20 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting twice every 8 s. 5 m (17 ft) concrete post with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse is white, lantern roof red. No photo available but Bing has a satellite view. Located on Helgøy, marking the narrow entrance to the Eikefjord, about 15 km (9 mi) east of Florø. Site status unknown. NF-265000; Admiralty L0327; ex-NGA 5136.
Trefotskjær
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 9.5 m (31 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting twice every 8 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) lantern and gallery supported by tripod piles. Lantern painted white with a red roof, piles painted black. Trabas has Ronald Wöhrn's photo and Google has a satellite view. Located on a skerry on north side of the Stavfjord, about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) southeast of Askrova. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NF-247000; Admiralty L0272; NGA 4996.
Sandøy
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting three times every 10 s. 6 m (20 ft) square skeletal tower, covered with white siding, with octagonal lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white; lantern roof is red. No photo available but Bing has a satellite view. Located on Sandøy, a small island on the south side of the larger island of Kinn, about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) east southeast of the Ytterøyane lighthouse. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NF-251900; Admiralty L0304; NGA 5080.
Askrova (Askroven)
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) lantern and gallery on four straight piles. Lantern painted white with a red roof. Bash has a photo, Trabas has a closeup also by Bash, Roar Bævre has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a reef off the eastern tip of the island of Askrova, about 10 km (6 mi) south of Florø. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NF-247200; Admiralty L0274; ex-NGA 5000.
Kvannskjeret (Kvanskjær)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13.5 m (44 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, 2 s on, 2 s off. 7 m (23 ft) octagonal lantern mounted on a platform supported by piles. Lighthouse painted white; lantern roof is red. No photo available but Google has a satellite view. Located on a small island off the west coast of Askrova. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NF-247400; Admiralty L0271; NGA 4976.
Ytterøyane
1881. Active; focal plane 56 m (184 ft); three white flashes every 60 s. 31 m (101 ft) round cast iron tower with lantern and gallery, mounted on a 2-story octagonal masonry base. The original 1st order Fresnel lens is in use. The cast iron tower is painted red with one white horizontal band; the base is painted white. 2-1/2 story masonry keeper's house and other light station buildings preserved. A Kystverket photo is at right, Trabas has Siering's distant view, Wikimedia has several historic photos, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. The Kystverket has been unable to find an organization to take over responsibility for this station, mostly because the island is remote and is a restricted bird sanctuary. The name Ytterøyane means "Outer Islands." Located on an isolated island in the Norwegian Sea about 20 km (13 mi) west of Florø. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. . ARLHS NOR-283; NF-251500; Admiralty L0298; NGA 5072.
Ternehaug
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 22 m (72 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, 3 s on, 3 s off. 6 m (20 ft) square skeletal tower, covered with white siding, with octagonal lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white; lantern roof is red. No photo available but Google has a satellite view. Located on a skerry about 1 km (0.6 mi) northeast of Ytterøyane. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NF-251700; Admiralty L0300; NGA 5076.
Ytterøyane Fyr
Ytterøyane Light, Flora, 2005
Kystverket photo
* Kinnesund
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 8 m (26 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting twice every 8 s. 5.5 m (18 ft) square tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white, lantern roof red. Prasath Sivalingam has a distant view and Bing has a satellite view. Located on a promontory on the east side of Kinn. Accessible from a nearby road. Site open, tower closed. NF-252100; Admiralty L0306; ex-NGA 5088.
Æsøysundet
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 9 m (54 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting once every 6 s. 6 m (33 ft) lantern mounted on a square platform supported by piles. Lantern painted white with a red roof, piles painted black. Google has a satellite view and a distant street view. Located on a skerry off the southwestern tip of Skorpa and on the north side of the Skorpefjord, the passage leading to Florø. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NF-252800; Admiralty L0308; NGA 5100.
Teisthalsen
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 9 m (30 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, 2 s on 2 s off. 8.5 m (28 ft) concrete post with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse is white, lantern roof red. No photo available but Bing has a satellite view. Located at the northwestern tip of Nordre Teisthalsen, an island off the northwest side of Skorpa. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NF-260000; Admiralty L0335; ex-NGA 5224.
Vassøy
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 6.5 m (21 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, 1 s on 1 s off. 6 m (20 ft) square tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white, lantern roof red. No photo available but Google has a distant satellite view. Located on a skerry off the southern tip of Vassøy, an island north of Skorpa. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NF-257600; Admiralty L0340; ex-NGA 5236.
Ånøyskjær
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 7 m (23 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting twice every 8 s. 4.5 m (15 ft) square tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white, lantern roof red. Trabas has Boucher's photo and Bing has a satellite view. Located on a skerry off the southern coast of Indre Ånnøy and on the north side of the Skorpefjord, a short distance west of the Stabben lighthouse. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NF-253300; Admiralty L0317; ex-NGA 5112.
Stabben
1867 (renovated and upgraded in 1905). Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting three times every 10 s. 16 m (52 ft) square cylindrical masonry tower with lantern and gallery, rising from the seaward end of a 2-1/2 story masonry keeper's house. The 4th order Fresnel lens installed in 1905 remains in use. Lighthouse painted white, lantern and gallery red. Seawalls resembling the prow of a ship divert waves from this lighthouse, as can be seen in Svein-Magne Tunli's photo at right and Jan Standal's photo. Martha de Jong-Lantink has a 2013 photo, Trabas has Ronald Wöhrn's photo, Bash has a photo, Wikimedia has several photos, and Google has a satellite view. Wikimedia has a 2006 photo showing a small lantern on pilings next to the lighthouse; this must have been a temporary light because the lantern is not seen in more recent photos. Automated in 1975, the lighthouse was formerly leased as a vacation residence. Located in the Norddalsfjord about 3 km (2 mi) west of the Florø waterfront. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Site manager: Sogn og Fjordane Fylkeskommune. . ARLHS NOR-221; NF-256600; Admiralty L0318; NGA 5164.

Stabben Light, Florø, June 2020
Google Maps photo by Svein-Magne Tunli
Grasskjær
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 5 m (17 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting twice every 8 s. 6 m (20 ft) lantern and gallery on four straight piles. Lantern painted white with a red roof. Bash has a photo (also seen at right), Trabas has a closeup version of the same photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a skerry about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) northwest of Florø. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NF-257000; Admiralty L0320; ex-NGA 5172.
#Florø
Date unknown. Relocated. This was a 10 m (33 ft) lantern and gallery on tripod piles. Lantern painted white with a red roof. Bash has a 2010 photo and Herman Jelstad has a 2017 photo but the light has disappeared in Bing's satellite view. The light was relocated to the east, but no description of the new light is available and Google has only a fuzzy satellite view of the location. Located in the Rotaflu, a channel on the north side of Florø, marking the town's modern harbor. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ex-Admiralty L0323; ex-NGA 5176. Active light: NF-257200; Admiralty L0323.1.
Drågjaskjærflu
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 5.5 m (18 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting three times every 10 s. 10 m (33 ft) lantern and gallery mounted on tripod piles. Lighthouse is white, lantern roof red. Trabas has Arno Siering's photo and Google has a satellite view. Located on a shoal north of Nordre Nærøya, marking the inside passage northward from Florø. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NF-258900; Admiralty L0332; ex-NGA 5216.
 

Grasskjær Light, Flora, October 2010
Flickr Creative Commons photo by Charles W. Bash
Ysteviknes
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 19 m (62 ft); flash every 5 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 9 m (30 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower, upper portion enclosed by white siding, with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white, lantern roof red. Arve Allertson has a distant photo and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located on the southwest side of Batalden, an island southwest of Hovden. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NF-261500; Admiralty L0346; NGA 5252.
Dombeskjær (Dombeskjærene)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, 1 s on, 1 s off. 11.5 m (38 ft) lantern mounted on a platform supported by piles. Lantern is white with a red roof. No photo available but Google has a distant satellite view. Located on a reef off the southwest coast of Hovden. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NF-265900; Admiralty L0349; NGA 5260.
* Kvanhovden (Kvannhovden)
1895. Active; focal plane 40 m (131 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting once every 6 s. 10 m (33 ft) wood tower with lantern and gallery attached to the seaward end of a 1-1/2 story wood keeper's house. Lighthouse painted white, lantern red. An assistant keeper's house, built in 1949, was sold and moved to Florø in 1969. Birger Bakkebø has the fine closeup photo at right, Per Arvid Åsen has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Overnight accommodations in the lighthouse are available. Located at the northwestern point of the island of Hovden, about 15 km (9 mi) northwest of Florø. Site open, tower closed. Site manager: Kinn Kystlag (Kvanhovden Fyr ). ARLHS NOR-143; NF-266000; Admiralty L0350; NGA 5268.

Kvanhovden Light, Flora, July 2016
Google Maos photo by Birger Bakkebø

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

Adjoining pages: North: Nordfjord | South: Sognefjord Area

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Posted June 19, 2006. Checked and revised May 18, 2023. Lighthouses: 31. Site copyright 2023 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.