Nidingen, Naturreservat

Nidingen is one of Halland's finest bird islands. After the Peace of Brömsebro, in 1645, Nidingen came under Swedish administration and thus became Sweden's first lighthouse. Due to sensitive bird life, access to most of the island is prohibited from April 1 to July 15. In summer, there are boat trips to Nidingen

On Nidingen there is a rich bird life. The island is home to large populations of Kentish tern, sanderling and little auk. In addition, Sweden's only colony of three-toed gulls is found here. There has been a bird station on the island for over 30 years. The Gothenburg Ornithological Society runs the activities, which revolve around ringing, research and other bird studies. In 2016, almost 9,000 birds of 110 different species were ringed. Read more about the bird station on the association's website.

During the summer there are also seal colonies on the island. The island's flora consists mainly of seashore plants such as sea beet, sea kale, sea buckthorn, sea horsetail and sea wormwood.

Treacherous reefs

The island is about one kilometer long and three hundred meters wide, and is probably an end moraine that has been eroded. End moraines form in front of and at the edge of the glacier as the ice sheet pushes loose material in front of it as it grows. This partly explains the shifting and treacherous reefs nearby. Although there has been a lighthouse on the island throughout its Swedish history, over 600 maritime accidents have occurred in the waters around the island. This is reflected in the island's graves. These include the 'priest's grave' on the eastern end and the 'Dutchman's grave' in one of the lighthouse's potato fields.

First lighthouse already in the 17th century

The Danes built the first lighthouse as early as 1624, which consisted of two wood-fired 'tilting lighthouses'. In 1834, two hexagonal lighthouses were built, which are now listed buildings. At the same time, a larger residential building was built for the lighthouse keepers and their families. The number of residents on Nidingen has periodically been large. In 1916 there were three families on the island and no less than 23 children. In addition to their work, they had various side jobs to supplement their diet. They grew berries and vegetables, fished and hunted seals and seabirds. Seals brought cash for their blubber and skins.

No one lives on the island today

After the Second World War in 1946, a major modernization of the lighthouse site was carried out, including the construction of a new lighthouse tower. In 1973, the actual lighthouse task disappeared from the staff when the lighthouses were automated. When the lighthouses became automatic, the tasks consisted mainly of regular reports to SMHI and the Navy. In 1996, these were also automated and today there are no permanent residents on the island.