Anapa Lighthouse

Anapa Lighthouse (Anapsky mayak) is an active lighthouse on the high Black Sea shore in Anapa, Krasnodar Krai, Russia. It stands on the Upper Embankment (Verkhnyaya Naberezhnaya), in the highest part of the town, and is one of the symbols of the resort. Its black-and-white striped tower can be seen from the sea and from the town beaches.

History

The first lighthouse in Anapa appeared in 1898: a temporary wooden hut set on trestles. It served for almost 11 years. In 1909 a four-sided wooden tower was built on the site of an ancient burial mound; its light could be seen 13 nautical miles away, and it began guiding ships in the autumn of that year.

During the Second World War Anapa was occupied. In 1943 the retreating German troops blew up the lighthouse. According to accounts of the fighting, the enemy was pushed back towards the mined lighthouse, and the wooden tower burned down.

Reconstruction began in 1955. On the old site rose the octagonal brick tower with alternating black and white stripes that stands today.

The lighthouse today

The tower itself is about 21 metres tall, while the light is 43 metres above sea level. The flashing red light is visible for about 19 nautical miles, or some 30 kilometres. The lighthouse is fully automatic, with light and sound signals, radio navigation equipment and a backup diesel generator. The light comes on in the evening and switches off automatically at dawn.

What to see

The lighthouse is a guarded facility and visitors are not allowed inside, so it is seen from the outside. The grounds around it are landscaped, with viewing platforms above the cliff, a café overlooking the sea, a children's playground and a small replica of the lighthouse. The steep slope gives a view of the sea and the coastline, and photographers come here to shoot the tower with the waves and the distant mountains. Below the cliff there are paths down to the beach.

A local belief has it that couples who declare their love at the foot of the lighthouse will stay together for a long time.

Getting there

The lighthouse is at the end of the Upper Embankment, next to Krepostnaya Street. From the Central Beach it is a 20 to 25 minute walk along the embankment. Town buses and minibuses run to the Krepostnaya and Ulitsa Protapova stops, about 10 minutes on foot from the lighthouse. Drivers can park around Protapova Street.

The warm season is the best time for a walk to the lighthouse, and its light is best watched after sunset.