Vorontsov Lighthouse

Coordinates: 46°29′48″N 30°45′37″E / 46.49667°N 30.76028°E

Old Vorontsov Lighthouse
New Vorontsov Lighthouse (2011)

The Vorontsov Lighthouse (Ukrainian: Воронцовський маяк, Russian: Воронцовский маяк) is a famous red-and-white, 27.2 metre landmark in the Black Sea port of Odessa, Ukraine. It is named after Prince Mikhail Semyonovich Vorontsov, one of the governor-generals of the Odessa region.[1]

Construction

The lighthouse was built with iron tubing and lead gaskets. It has a one-million-watt signal light that can be seen up to twelve nautical miles (22 km) away. It transmits the Morse Code signal of three dashes, the letter O, for Odessa. It also sounds a foghorn during severe storms or fog.[1][2]

The lighthouse is connected with the port's shoreline by a long stone causeway and jetty, which protect the port from the southern high seas. The port is protected on the east by huge concrete breakwaters or ramparts, built on rocks, that rise above the water.

History

The current lighthouse is the third to stand on the same spot. The first was built in 1862 and was made of wood.[2]

The lighthouse was blown up during World War II by the Soviets and rebuilt after the war.

Notes

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vorontsov lighthouse.
  1. 1.0 1.1 Kononova, G. (1984). Odessa: A Guide. Moscow: Raduga Publishers. p. 167-168
  2. 2.0 2.1 Karakina, Yelena; Tatyana Samoilova; Anna Ishchenko (2004). Touring Odessa. BDRUK. ISBN 966-8137-01-9. p. 33

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