There’s a lighthouse in Iceland that sits on the highest of three rocks six miles off the Icelandic coastline, built in 1939 on top of an extremely steep and dangerous rocky cliff.
The construction of the Thridrangar Lighthouse in Iceland, completed in 1939, was an extraordinary feat due to its precarious location atop a towering sea stack. Here are some key aspects of how it was accomplished:
1. **Location and Access**: The lighthouse is situated on the highest of the three Thri Drangar stacks, 34 meters (112 feet) above sea level. Reaching the site was the first significant challenge. Climbers had to scale the rock to establish initial access points.
2. **Use of Climbing Experts**: Expert climbers were employed to ascend the steep and rugged rock face. This initial climbing team would have set up ropes and other climbing aids to facilitate the ascent for workers and materials.
3. **Transporting Materials**: Given the isolation and inaccessibility of the site, materials were likely transported by boat to the vicinity and then hauled up the rock face. In some cases, helicopters might have been used, but this technology was less advanced in 1939. Thus, a significant amount of manual labor and ingenuity was required to lift materials to the top.
4. **Construction Techniques**: On-site construction would have involved securing a stable platform or base for the lighthouse. Workers would have anchored building materials into the rock to create a foundation that could withstand the harsh maritime conditions. Concrete and stone were commonly used for durability against the elements.
5. **Weather Conditions**: Workers had to contend with the North Atlantic’s often severe weather, which would have impacted the construction timeline and required careful planning around weather windows.
6. **Safety Measures**: Ensuring the safety of the workers was paramount, given the dangerous conditions. Proper harnessing, safety lines, and secure anchor points were essential throughout the project.
The result of this complex and dangerous effort is the Thridrangar Lighthouse, a testament to human determination and engineering prowess. Its construction is still regarded as a remarkable achievement in lighthouse engineering and coastal construction.
