Æðarsteins Lighthouse

Æðarsteinsviti was built in 1922, during a period when many lighthouses were constructed along the East Iceland coast to improve maritime safety. The lighthouse stands near Djúpivogur and forms part of an important network of coastal beacons that once guided ships along this rugged shoreline.

The lighthouse was designed by engineers Thorvalds Krabbe and Guðmundur J. Hlíðdal. Other lighthouses of the same design can be found at Svalvogaviti and Karlsstaðatangaviti, reflecting a standardized and practical approach to lighthouse construction in the early 20th century.

Æðarsteinsviti is a reinforced concrete structure, approximately 5.5 meters tall, topped with a Norwegian-style lantern. Originally, the light was powered by an oil lamp, later upgraded to gas in 1928. In 1987, the lighthouse was electrified, marking a significant step in the modernization of Iceland’s lighthouse system.

For many years, the lighthouse was painted white with two horizontal red stripes, making it highly visible from the sea. In the 1960s, it was repainted yellow, giving Æðarsteinsviti the distinctive appearance it has today. The lighthouse keeper is Stefán Aðalsteinsson.

Photo: Anton Stefánsson