Garðskagaviti II (The New Lighthouse)
This is the second lighthouse located at Garðskagatá (translated Garden Point) on Garðskagi (translated Garden Peninsula) which lies on the northwest tip of the larger Reykjanes Peninsula, in south Iceland. Built to replace the lighthouse built in 1897, the new lighthouse stands at 28 meters (91.86 feet) and currently holds the record as the tallest in Iceland. Designed by Axel Sveinsson, an engineer, the lighthouse sits up on the rise above the beach safe from surf flooding and beach erosion which were issues at the old lighthouse. In 1944, US servicemen, who were rescued from a sinking Coast Guard ship, built the lighthouse and presented as a gift to the Icelandic people for saving their lives. The luminaries of the old lighthouse were transferred to the new lighthouse, but soon electric light replaced the oil light. The electricity came first from a wind farm, but later from a power plant. With the electric lights came increased luminance. In 1961, the lighthouse was equipped with Swedish lighting. At Garðskagi, the lighthouse keepers house, built in 1933 to a design by architect Einar Erlendsson, still stands. It was the permanent residence of the light keeper until 1979.
Both lighthouses,the old and the new, still stand on the Point. Some refer to the two lighthouses as the “Twin Brothers”. Byggðasafn Garðskaga or The Municipal Museum in Garður operates a museum complex which includes the lighthouses and the outbuildings on the lighthouse keeper estate. The boats and structures in the photo are part of the museum. I really enjoyed my short visit to Garðskagatá.
References:
www.visitreykjanes.is/is/reykjanes/place/the-lighthouse-o...
www.iceland360vr.com/panorama/gardskagaviti/
naturetime.wordpress.com/2014/08/06/iceland-best-climb-up...
Garðskagaviti II (The New Lighthouse)
This is the second lighthouse located at Garðskagatá (translated Garden Point) on Garðskagi (translated Garden Peninsula) which lies on the northwest tip of the larger Reykjanes Peninsula, in south Iceland. Built to replace the lighthouse built in 1897, the new lighthouse stands at 28 meters (91.86 feet) and currently holds the record as the tallest in Iceland. Designed by Axel Sveinsson, an engineer, the lighthouse sits up on the rise above the beach safe from surf flooding and beach erosion which were issues at the old lighthouse. In 1944, US servicemen, who were rescued from a sinking Coast Guard ship, built the lighthouse and presented as a gift to the Icelandic people for saving their lives. The luminaries of the old lighthouse were transferred to the new lighthouse, but soon electric light replaced the oil light. The electricity came first from a wind farm, but later from a power plant. With the electric lights came increased luminance. In 1961, the lighthouse was equipped with Swedish lighting. At Garðskagi, the lighthouse keepers house, built in 1933 to a design by architect Einar Erlendsson, still stands. It was the permanent residence of the light keeper until 1979.
Both lighthouses,the old and the new, still stand on the Point. Some refer to the two lighthouses as the “Twin Brothers”. Byggðasafn Garðskaga or The Municipal Museum in Garður operates a museum complex which includes the lighthouses and the outbuildings on the lighthouse keeper estate. The boats and structures in the photo are part of the museum. I really enjoyed my short visit to Garðskagatá.
References:
www.visitreykjanes.is/is/reykjanes/place/the-lighthouse-o...
www.iceland360vr.com/panorama/gardskagaviti/
naturetime.wordpress.com/2014/08/06/iceland-best-climb-up...