Utvær is Norway’s westernmost island and is located in Solund municipality. The island is home to Utvær lighthouse, which has been in operation since 1900. As of 2026, there is no permanent population on Utvær, but the island is used as a holiday destination during the summer. In winter, Utvær is mainly inhabited by gulls, in sharp contrast to earlier times when the island had a fishing village, a school and a shop.
A mysterious cultural monument
This locality contains a stone with seven grooves with a V-shaped cross-section. A loose stone lies nearby, measuring 40 × 30 cm, and it contains five similar grooves. The function of this cultural monument is still unknown. It has been suggested that the grooves may have been made by Vikings sharpening their swords before setting out on raids, but this explanation is considered unlikely.
