World's Most Isolated Lighthouse: Thridrangar Lighthouse

Thridrangar Lighthouse, perched atop a small, high rocky spur in the North Atlantic Ocean, about 17 kilometres from the coast of the Westman Islands in southwest Iceland, is the world's most isolated lighthouse. There are two more smaller rocky outcrops nearby, hence its Icelandic name, Þrídrangar (English transliteration: Thridarangar), meaning "three rock pillars".

Standing tall at a height of 36 metres on the summit of a steep and treacherous rock formation, the lighthouse is not easily reachable. The icy ocean waves crashing against the cliff make it very difficult to access the lighthouse by boat. The steep climb to the top of the rock also makes it a daunting task. For maintenance and refuelling, it is therefore accessed by helicopter, for which a helipad has also been built at the top.

Its construction, which started in 1939, was an arduous task. In the words of Árni G. Þórarinsson, Project Director, who was responsible for construction of the lighthouse, "...... 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." (Source: iceland monitor).

Image from Google Maps is by qrobertq1

Image from Google Maps is by Mustafa Bilal

Image from Google Maps is by murat celik

Image from Google Maps is by mcdermc

Location in Google Maps. (The rock on which the lighthouse is located is so small that it is not visible in the satellite imagery.)

Source of information: Wikipedia / iceland monitor