Þrídrangaviti is a remarkable lighthouse located on a remote rock in the North Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Heimaey, the largest island in the Westman Islands archipelago, which is part of Iceland. This lighthouse is situated on the southwesternmost point of the archipelago and serves as a crucial navigational aid for ships in the area.
The Þrídrangaviti lighthouse is particularly unique because of its precarious location on top of a narrow, steep-sided rock pillar. The rock is only a few metres wide, making it a challenging spot for construction. The lighthouse was built in 1939 and stands at a height of approximately 23 meters (75 feet). The construction of the lighthouse was a remarkable feat of engineering, involving the use of scaffolding and ropes to transport materials and workers onto the rock pillar.
Due to its challenging location and harsh weather conditions, the lighthouse at Þrídrangaviti is not easily accessible. The rock pillar on which it stands is often battered by strong winds and waves. The lighthouse itself has a distinctive red and white colour scheme, making it visible against the surrounding natural elements.
The only access to it is by helicopter.
Before the helipad was built, the coast guard had to sail to the cliff and scale it. It was built under the direction of Árni Þórarinsson, who recruited experienced mountaineers to scale the sea stack. Their climbing tools did not allow them to bite into the rock near the top, According to Þórarinsson:
“The first thing we had to do was create a road up to the cliff. We got together of experienced mountaineers, all from the Westman Islands. Then we brought drills, hammers, chains and clamps to secure the chains. Once they got near the top there was no way to get any grip on the rock so one of them got down on his knees, the second stood on his back, and then the third climbed on top of the other two and was able to reach the nib of the cliff above. I cannot even tell you how I was feeling whilst witnessing this incredibly dangerous procedure.”
When the work began in 1938, builders scaled the cliffs to reach the pillar’s pinnacle, laying out the groundwork by hand. They faced slick rocks, rain, and fervent winds knowing that one slip could send them plunging into the frigid North Atlantic Ocean that thrashed and splashed below.
Þrídrangaviti (Thridrangaviti or Thridrangar) actually means "three rock pillars" and refers to the three deserted rocks: Klofadrangur, Thufudrangur, and Storidrangur, the latter being the one where the lighthouse is located. The rock on which the building stands is 120 metres high, the lighthouse's height is 7.4 metres, and its lamp is 34 metres above sea level.
Justin Bieber shared this picture of the lighthouse on social media. Photographer Árni Sæberg took the photo, and it soon became well-known thanks to the Canadian pop star.
Now, thanks to advances in aviation, maintenance workers can take a helicopter to the far-flung beacon. Yet even still, visiting the Þrídrangaviti lighthouse is a daunting endeavour.
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