Who would be brave enough to invest a night within this extreme lighthouse? Undoubtedly among the world's most extreme lighthouses is the Thrídrangar (or Thridrangar) lighthouse. It perches on a single from the world's most impossible-to-reach pillars jutting up in the ocean floor. Has anyone ever seen this type of solitary beacon of light?
The Thridrangar lighthouse was built in 1939 and its only use of and in the lighthouse is by helicopter (it's easy to understand why). While it may seem like an ideal hermit's, monk's, or hater-of-mankind's retreat, it is actually uninhabitable.
The Thridrangar Lighthouse – The World's Most Dramatic?
But although it may be uninhabitable, periodically it will need to be maintained. In July 2022, six workmen were flown by helicopter to carry out maintenance focus on the lighthouse. They filmed a relevant video of their approach which encapsulates the sheer remoteness of the building. Throughout their stay, they were graced with bird's eye views of killer whales in the waters below.
- Access: By Helicopter Only
- Name: Thridrangar Means “Three Rock Pillars” in English
- Location: Close to the Vestmannaeyjar (or Westman) islands In Southwest Iceland
- Coordinates: 63 29.3258 N,20 30.7935 W
- Height: 120 Feet
- Mainland: Around 4.5 Miles from the Coast from the Icelandic Mainland
From a distance, the lighthouse looks something like a colorful speck has settled atop the biggest from the pillars arising like fingers out of the ocean. But look a little closer and something will see that the spet is in fact a tiny red-roofed lighthouse – and perhaps the loneliest in the world at this.
It can be found around 4.5 miles from the coast of mainland Iceland and merely from the coast of the Vestmannaeyjar or Westman Islands. It is set atop a basalt stack some 120 feet over the raging sea.
The Incredible Tale Of methods It had been Built
The lonely lighthouse was built just before the outbreak of World War II when Iceland was still being a part of Denmark. Just imagine how difficult it had been to construct this lighthouse! Today the only method off and on the pillar is via helicopter – however in 1939 there have been no helicopters (early helicopters were first developed during the war).
- Built: Construction Started In 1938 Before World War Two
- Workers: Needed to Scale The Cliffs With no Helicopter
Construction began in 1938 and the builder had the onerous task of scaling the cliffs to reach the pillar's pinnacle. And they needed to construct the groundwork manually. They faced numerous challenges including slick rocks, rain, and bitter winds.
At the same time frame, the deathly cold and famously tempestuous North Atlantic thrashed below. Rumor has it that local climbers from Westmannaeyar were hired to do the job. One story goes so far as to claim the climbers needed to climb along with each other because there was nowhere to obtain a grip!
If one would prefer to visit, unfortunately, this isn't exactly a developed tourist destination. What about making the maintenance team for the next time the far-flung beacon needs some love and attention?
Alternatively, if a person would like to actually visit a lighthouse under the sea, it is now possible to dive and see the reunions from the famed Lighthouse of Alexandria – one from the Seven Wonders from the Ancient World.
Journey To The Center of the Earth In Iceland
If one is searching for something fantastic that one can really do in Iceland, consider climb into the center of a volcano?
Iceland is actually a big volcanic hotspot (kinda like Hawaii) and is a paradise for those looking to see and explore the field of volcanos.
Today, Thrihnukagigur is the only volcano on the planet where tourists can in fact take an elevator and safely descend right into a magma chamber.
Thrihnukagigur is really a normal volcano with this a part of Iceland. Its last eruption was almost 2,000 years back. Normally after an eruption, the volcano's magma chamber remains full of lava, which in turn cools into solid rock. If this doesn't happen, normally the volcano would collapse in on itself. But neither of those things became of this volcano.
- Depth: 213 Meter or 699 Feet
- Last Eruption: 2,000 Years Ago
- Chamber Size: 3,270 Square Meters or 35,200 Square Feet
Tours of the volcano are operated by Inside the Volcano who provide the trip a person can have. It requires around 6 minutes to be slowly lowered down into the volcano. The tour is really a tour into another world. They have all the necessary gear and equipment
- Tour Duration: 5-6 Hours (With Around 35-40 Minutes Actually Inside the Volcano) – Alternatively it Take around 4 Hours If People Drive Themselves
- Pricing: Adults: ISK 44,000 ($341) | Children: ISK 22,000 ($170) (Aged 8 to 12 Years Old)
- Descent: 120 Meters or 400 Feet
