Name and Location

The Doobsky Lighthouse, also known as "Kabardinka Beacon", is an active coastal aid to navigation located in Kabardinka, Gelendzhik Municipality, Krasnodar Krai, Russia. Its official address is Ulitsa Mira 4, with coordinates 44°37′39″ N, 37°54′38″ E.

Construction and History

The lighthouse was constructed during the Soviet period, but the exact year of its construction is undocumented. Its purpose is to mark the rocky coastline and guide small local vessels into nearby Gelendzhik Bay. Although no published records of keepers exist, operation likely became automated in the late 20th century.

Architecture and Materials

The lighthouse has a slender cylindrical tower made from a metal (steel) framework clad in sheet panels. The exterior finish is white with a red horizontal band, typical for Black Sea navigational beacons. The structural height of the tower is approximately 12-15 meters above its base, while the focal plane is estimated to be around 20-25 meters above mean sea level.

Light and Navigation

The characteristic of the lighthouse's light is not publicly documented, but it has been reported by mariners as a white flash every 6-10 seconds. The range of the light is estimated to be 8-10 nautical miles, typical for local Black Sea lighthouses. The lighthouse is fully automated, powered by on-site solar panels and a battery bank.

Accessibility and Visiting

The site can be reached on foot via a coastal trail from Kabardinka's Ulitsa Mira, but the tower itself is closed to visitors. To access the site, walk southward along the shore from the village center (approximately 1 kilometer), then uphill on a well-trodden path.

Notable Views and Landscape

The lighthouse overlooks a pebbly beach, low cliffs, and the expanse of the Black Sea. From its location, visitors can enjoy a panorama to the west, featuring the entrance to Gelendzhik Bay and distant Caucasus foothills, as well as an unbroken sea horizon to the east.

Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is maintained as an operational aid to navigation by maritime authorities. While some technical details, such as its light characteristic, remain undocumented, estimates are based on common characteristics of Soviet-era coastal beacons on the Black Sea.