Сухумский маяк
XXJC+HP7, Sokhumi
Name and Location
Sukhum Lighthouse is an active coastal beacon located in Sokhumi, Abkhazia/Georgia, on the eastern shore of the Black Sea. Its official address is XXJC+HP7, Sokhumi.
Construction and History
The Sukhum Lighthouse was erected by maritime authorities during the Russian-Imperial period. It continues to serve navigation in and out of the port of Sokhumi, marking the approaches to Sukhum Bay. The lighthouse's local nickname is "Krasny Mayak", derived from the nearby Krasnomayakskaya Street.
Architecture and Materials
The Sukhum Lighthouse is a freestanding masonry tower with a height of 37 meters above its base. It is constructed using solid brick or stone, typical of period lighthouses on the Black Sea coast. The exterior is painted white with a contrasting lantern gallery.
Light and Navigation
The lighthouse is currently operational, but the light characteristic and range are not publicly available. It is presumed to be automated, without resident keepers. Nautical chart references include Russian charts of the Black Sea coast and Georgian national charts.
Accessibility and Visiting
The Sukhum Lighthouse is accessible from central Sokhumi along Krasnomayakskaya Street, approximately 3 kilometers northeast of the city center. Visitors can reach it by taxi or on foot, but the tower itself is not open to climb. There are no on-site visitor facilities.
Notable Views and Landscape
The lighthouse is situated on a low bluff overlooking Sukhum Bay, offering panoramic views of the harbor, adjacent municipal beach, and distant Caucasus foothills. Nearby attractions include the Sukhum Botanical Garden (approximately 2 kilometers southwest) and Old Town Sokhumi (approximately 3 kilometers).
Anecdotes and Folklore
Local fishermen recall wartime blackouts when the light was extinguished to avoid enemy detection during World War II.
Technical and Operational Details
The lighthouse's technical details are not publicly available, including its focal plane height and range. It is managed by the de facto administrator of Abkhazia, with no official information on automated systems or radar usage.
Further Information
(No additional information provided)
Details
| Name | Сухумский маяк |
|---|---|
| City | Sokhumi |
| Country | Georgia (abkhazia De Facto Administration) |
| Coordinates | 42.9813885, 40.9718015 |
| Events | wartime blackouts during WWII on the Black Sea |
| Historic significance | Associated with 19th-century expansion of Black Sea navigation facilities |
| Stories | Local fishermen tell of wartime blackouts when the light was extinguished to avoid enemy detection |
| Architectural style | freestanding masonry lighthouse (tower:type=lighting) |
| Construction material | "solid brick or stone" |
| Tower height | 37 |
| Renovations | occasional cleanup and repainting under municipal tourism initiatives |
| Access description | by taxi or on foot from central Sokhumi along Krasnomayakskaya Street, approximately 3 km northeast of the city center |
| Accessible | true |
| Landscape type | rocky coast |
| View description | harbor, adjacent municipal beach, and distant Caucasus foothills |
| Guided tours | false |
| Facilities | no on-site visitor center or museum |
| Nearby attractions | ["Sukhum Botanical Garden (≈2 km southwest), Old Town Sokhumi (≈3 km)"] |
| AIS Radar | false |
| Automated | true |