Tarkhankut Lighthouse
The Tarkhankut Lighthouse (
History
The construction of the Tarkhankut lighthouse and its twin tower on the
During the first year of construction, the builders concentrated on the basic structure at the expense of various facilities and decorations. At the end of 1816, the lighthouse looked like a conic 36-metre-high stone tower with a wooden 3.3-metre-high decagonal lantern. The lighthouse became operational in 1817 after its lighting system had been repaired. Three houses were built next to the tower to accommodate the lighthouse personnel and for storage needs. However, cold and humid winters of the Tarkhanut Peninsula, however, made these houses nearly unsuitable for living.
In 1862, the lighting system was upgraded, and the spread of light reached 12.4 miles. In 1873, the construction resumed along with cleaning efforts of the surrounding areas. The building was finished and painted white. In 1876, an additional telegraph spot was built near the tower. On 1 January 1883, a compressed air fog siren was installed, but the process of preparing it for use in fog was usually taking a long time. To address that problem, a bell was set up near the lighthouse in 1899 to be rung while the siren was being prepared.
In 1910, the lighthouse's fuel was changed to kerosene, requiring extra caution and maintenance on the part of the lighthouse keepers. Besides, the installation of the telegraph and meteorological station made it necessary to have communication with by-passing ships.
In 1934, an
Current condition
Currently the lighthouse is still functioning, despite being in a run-down condition. The area around the building is open for tourists to visit, and tourists are allowed to follow the lighthouse keeper's daily routine. A spiral stairway leads to an observation platform, from which a visitor can see the Black Sea and its steep shores.
See also
References
- ^ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Russia: Crimea (Krym)". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
External links
- History of Tarkhankut Lighthouse (in Russian)
- Tarkhankut Lighthouse (in Russian)
- Tarkhankut Lighthouse (in Ukrainian)
- Photogallery of the lighthouse and surrounding areas (in Ukrainian)