Grótta () is a tied island at the extreme end of Seltjarnarnes in the Capital Region of Iceland. During high tide the tombolo is completely submerged, turning Grótta into an island. The island is accessible by foot during

low tide Tides are the rise and fall of sea levels caused by the combined effects of the gravitational forces exerted by the Moon (and to a much lesser extent, the Sun) and are also caused by the Earth and Moon orbiting one another. Tide tables can ...

, giving people a window of about six hours to visit the island. Grótta and the region close by is a popular outdoor recreational area. Grótta became a nature reserve in 1974 and it is forbidden to visit it during nesting season, from 1 May to 15 July. There are about 450 couples of arctic terns in Grótta. A

lighthouse A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of physical structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses and to serve as a beacon for navigational aid, for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways. Lighthouses mar ...

was originally built in 1897, a new one was built in 1947. The local

search and rescue Search and rescue (SAR) is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger. The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, typically determined by the type of terrain the search ...

association is named after long term lighthouse keeper Albert Þorvarðarson (1910–1973). The main house has been deserted since 1970. The municipality acquired the buildings in 1994 and they are now used as occasional facilities for groups on school trips.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Grotta Landforms of Iceland Tied islands Protected areas of Iceland Lighthouses in Iceland