ZIMNEGORSKY LIGHTHOUSE

(autotranslated, could have mistakes)

When looking at the map of the White Sea (see figure on p. 20), it is easy to notice that it resembles a curved cross, the core of which is formed by the northern part of the sea, the so-called Funnel, the Throat of the White Sea and the Onega Bay. The crossbar of the “cross” is made up of the Kandalaksha Bay, the central part of the sea is the Basin and Dvina Bay.

The northeastern coast of the Dvina Bay and the southeastern coast of the White Sea Throat to the mouth of the Mezen Bay has long been called the Winter Coast. The Pomors called it that because of the winter animal hunting that they did in this region.

The southwestern part of the Winter Coast is covered with hills and is called the Winter Mountains. The coast here comes close to the sea and is covered almost throughout its entire length with dense forest, which in some places comes close to the coastline.

Cape Zimnegorsky, on which the lighthouse is installed, is the northeastern entrance cape of the Dvina Bay. It is blunt, its cliffs are steep, almost vertical, and in places overhanging. The cape is well recognized and, apparently, therefore, began to be fenced off with navigation equipment only in the second half of the 19th century.

The question of installing a light beacon here was first raised by sailors in the 1830s.

In 1832 M.

F. Reinecke completed a detailed survey and description of the shores of the White Sea. The navigators received a map and the first sea navigation guide [12], which allowed them to more confidently choose routes and avoid dangers. During these same years, the industrial boom in the region contributed to the development of shipbuilding and trade. In the 1830-1840s, the Arkhangelsk port was one of the most first-class ports in Russia in terms of trade turnover [15]. This prompted the Admiralty Council to make a decision on July 12, 1840 to build nine lighthouses in the White Sea, including at Cape Zimnegorsky.

Image removed from public review package. Local review only · not public no-info · image29.jpeg

Zimnegorsky Lighthouse

In the area of ​​this cape, ships heading to the Barents Sea checked their position for the last time before setting course for the island of Sosnowiec. The cape is also a turning point for ships following

to camps and anchorages on the Winter Coast and the Kanin Peninsula.

When determining the order of construction of lighthouses, Zimnegorsky was seventh in the decision of the Admiralty Council. This meant that we would have to wait a long time for money to build the lighthouse, and by order of the commander of the Arkhangelsk port, Vice Admiral A.I. Traverse, temporary daytime leading signs were built on the cape. The foresight of the experienced sailor turned out to be justified - the construction of the lighthouse began only in 1877. Work was carried out all year round, including in winter. The construction was carried out by the Arkhangelsk merchant V. Ya. Serebryakov.

To prepare the site on the northern slope of the cape, “where the terrain is higher than others and most protrudes into the White Sea,” it was necessary to cut down part of the dense forest. A ladder was built along the slope of the ravine to lift cargo to a height of about 100 m, and a bank was prepared for mooring vehicles.

All wooden structures of the lighthouse, including the tower, were cut down in Arkhangelsk and

delivered to the cape disassembled. The iron lantern was assembled in a private forge, and a 2nd class diopter light-optical apparatus was ordered in Paris.

In August 1878, the commission that accepted the lighthouse from the builders noted in the act: "The lighthouse is wooden, octagonal, with a metal lantern. The tower is yellow, 61 feet high from the base, and 349 feet from sea level, the lantern is lead-colored. Built correctly, firmly. The operation of the lighting apparatus, illuminated by kerosene, was found to be correct and opened on August 1, 1878. For the caretaker and servants built a house, a bathhouse, a pantry, a well, and a gate for raising the draft...” [16].

The lighthouse illuminated the space from 164 to 32.5°. The lighthouse was serviced by 5 people, but only two remained for the winter. One can imagine how difficult it was for them during the cold, blizzard polar nights. There was not a soul nearby - the nearest village of Zimnyaya Zolotitsa was 30 km away. One person cannot reach it, but two people cannot leave and leave the lighthouse unattended. So they spent the winter until spring, cut off from people, from everything that is commonly called civilization.

In subsequent years, the number of service personnel was increased, families appeared, and telephone communications were established with the nearest population.

th point, and through it with Arkhangelsk.

In 1940, the lighthouse was built on, as the growing forest in the area began to cover it. In 1947, a new tower was built in the form of a tetrahedral truncated pyramid. For better visibility, it was painted with white and black vertical stripes. The type of lantern structure remained the same.

The last reconstruction was carried out in 1959, the tower again acquired the appearance of an octagonal truncated pyramid.

Currently, the beacon operates in automatic mode and shines in a sector from 191.2 to 6.8° with a white flashing light with a visibility range of 17 miles. For a long time, his boss was one of the oldest lighthousemen on the White Sea, Albin Evgenievich Orekhov*

• - in the source book it is written as “Alban Evgenievich Orekhov”, the error was corrected based on information from close relatives.