norwegian-lighthouses-stamp-2012

Kavringen Lighthouse was built in 1892 and is located on Søndre Kavringdyne, a group of skerries in the western seaward approach to the Port of Oslo. There had previously been two lighthouses in the Oslo harbour basin, Heggholmen and Dyna, situated in the old main sea lane. Towards the end of the 19th century, however, larger vessels began to prefer the western lane between Kavringen and Hovedøya, round Vippetangen and into Bjørvika. After DS Norge ran aground on the Kavringen skerries in 1890, there was a cry for better lighting in the western approach. The Kavringen lighthouse was completed and operational only two years later. Until 1956, when both lighthouses were automated and the job of lighthouse keeper became redundant, the lighthouse keeper on Dyna was also responsible for Kavringen. On 15 May (St. Hallvard’s Day), as part of Oslo’s millennium celebrations in 2000, a time capsule made of titanium was bolted to the inside of the lighthouse. The time capsule is designed like the lighthouse’s lantern housing and it contains letters and greetings from the citizens of Oslo to people of the future. The capsule cannot be opened until the year 3000.

Medfjordbåen is a sunken rock in the middle of the Oslo Fjord, off Slangentangen in the county of Vestfold. Here the lighthouse was built and went into operation in 1876. Medfjordbåen Lighthouse is a familiar rounding mark in the annual Færder Regatta, on the way to Åsgårdstrand and Horten.

Technical Details

Issue Date: 15.06.2012
Designer: Benjamin Stenmarck, Neue Design Studio
Printer: Joh. Enschedé Security