TERSKO-ORLOVSKY LIGHTHOUSE

(autotranslated, could have mistakes)

On the White Sea there are two capes named after Orlov: on the Letny coast of the Dvina Bay and the Tersky coast of the Kola Peninsula (see figure on p. 25). There are lighthouses on both capes.

At first, the lighthouse built on the Tersky Coast was simply called Orlovsky, but when in 1900 the lighthouse appeared on the Orlov Cape of the Letny Coast, the words “Tersky” and “Letniy” appeared in the names to distinguish them.

The Terek coast, stretching from Cape Svyatoy Nos to the mouth of the Ponoy River, is relatively winding and is characterized by many capes, among which Cape Orlov is the most noticeable. It is located at the entrance to the White Sea and therefore is an important landmark for sailors.

In this part of the White Sea lies a vast area of ​​shoals and banks, collectively known as Northern cats, and therefore the issue of fencing off navigational hazards here has always been relevant. However, apart from crosses and Gurias, until the beginning of the 19th century there were no specially built navigational landmarks here.

In 1806, the Admiralty Board planned to erect a lighthouse on Cape Orlov, but this plan was not implemented - the Patriotic War against Napoleon began and the state needed funds for other purposes.

In 1817, captain-lieutenant

Ant Dzyurkovsky, who carried out hydrographic work in the Throat of the White Sea on the sloop "Ural", noted that "nowhere, probably, can one find such unfavorable conditions for navigation as in the Throat of the White Sea. There are many shoals on which ships break, there are strong currents and very often thick fogs. In spring and summer they completely fill the entire northern part of the Gorlo. They are always brought from the Arctic Ocean with northeastern winds and a dense mass they descend to the Summer Coast, penetrating even into the Onega Bay.”

For the safety of navigation in the Throat of the White Sea, Dzyurkovsky recommended installing several lighthouses or identification towers on the Tersky Coast, including at Cape Orlov.

In 1821, the brig “Ketty” under the command of Lieutenant-Commander Zhemchuzhnikov delivered a wooden prismatic tower to the cape from Arkhangelsk, and in the same year it was installed in the place he had chosen. It was one of the first specially built identification towers on the White Sea.

In 1824, D. A. Demidov, a participant in the first Russian Antarctic expedition of F. F. Bellingshausen and M. P. Lazarev on the sloops “Vostok” and “Mirny”, led an expedition to study the Northern cats and banks located near the fairway. Lieutenant M.F. Reinecke took part in these works.

Research has shown that in addition to the banks previously discovered in the area of ​​​​Cape Orlov, there are many more shallow waters that need to be carefully measured and fenced off. This work was carried out by Reinecke in 1827 on the brig “Lapominka”. During the voyage, currents, tides and weather were also studied. As a result of the research, more detailed and accurate maps of this area appeared and recommendations were developed for fencing the most dangerous in terms of navigation.

location

In 1842, on one of the hills of Cape Orlov, 180 m from the shore, a stone round tower 19 m high with an iron lantern structure and a catoptric lighting apparatus with 15 lamps and 15 reflectors was built. The lighthouse shone with a constant white light in a sector from 340 to 120°, illuminating a space of 13 miles. A wooden truss was built 70 m northeast of the tower, on which they built a bell tower and hung a 35-pound bell in it for fog signals. In 1882, the bell tongue was connected through blocks to the lantern structure, which made it possible for the lighthouse watchman to ring without descending from the tower.

The lighthouse began operating on September 1, 1842. It was served by a caretaker and five servants, for whom a stone house was built. The remaining service buildings (storeroom, bathhouse) were wooden.

The location where the lighthouse was installed was deserted; the nearest village of Ponoy was located about 20 km from the lighthouse. There was communication with Arkhangelsk only in the summer and only on passing ships. In winter, the city could only be reached “around the Kandalaksha and Onega bays.” One can imagine how difficult this path was, especially in the harsh winter in the absence of roads on the Russian Se

faith.

During the construction of the lighthouse, the metal lantern was installed not on the main stone walls, as was required by the project, but on wooden beams, since the lantern structure purchased in France turned out to be smaller in diameter than ordered. Twenty years later, this made itself felt: the beams rotted, and the lantern structure began to threaten to fall.

On July 9, 1872, during the repair of the lighthouse, the schooner Samoyed approached the cape with building materials. While transporting cargo to the shore, the rowing boat capsized. 17 sailors, 3 craftsmen, an officer and a naval engineer were killed. In 1875, in memory of the victims, using funds collected through voluntary subscription among the employees of the Arkhangelsk port, a wooden chapel was built on the cape near the lighthouse.

In 1877, the upper part of the tower was rebuilt, the diameter of the lantern structure was increased and it was installed directly on the walls of the tower. The problem of stable operation of the lighting apparatus has been temporarily resolved.

In 1892, the catoptric lighting apparatus was replaced by a dioptric one. To install it, the upper part of the tower had to be rebuilt again.

Image removed from public review package. Local review only · not public no-info · image51.jpeg

During the First World War and the subsequent military intervention, ships approached the cape only occasionally; there were no regular steamship services at that time. These are difficult days for the lighthouses. There was no food, they ate only corned beef, which is why all the employees suffered from scurvy; firewood for heating was not delivered—rare driftwood was collected. You couldn't even hunt. On

In response to a request for a shotgun, the White Sea Lighthouse Directorate responded: “There are no shotguns and it is impossible to purchase.”

It became completely difficult when in 1918, military personnel of conscription age were drafted into the army. It was possible to restore normal operation of the lighthouse only in the 1920s.

In August 1941, after the start of the Great Patriotic War, the White Sea Military Flotilla was created with its main base in Arkhangelsk.

It provided Arctic and inland sea transportation, as well as external transport to Arkhangelsk. The flotilla defended the Throat of the White Sea, as well as the Novaya Zemlya straits, ports and stations of the Northern Sea Route. The lighthouse played an important role in the navigation and hydrographic support of the flotilla's actions.

After the Great Patriotic War, the lighthouse was overhauled

. In 1965, a new lighthouse and technical building was built, and in 1980, the KRM-100 radio beacon was installed. Currently, the lighthouse's electric light-optical apparatus shines a white flashing light in the 340°-180° sector, illuminating a space of 23 miles.

For 45 years, the lighthouse was served by three generations of Kukoverov lighthouse workers: in 1877-1899, Kuzma Mikhailovich was the keeper; in 1899-1920 - his son Alexander, and later - his grandson Nikolai.

In 1964-1995, the Shishelov dynasty of lighthouse workers worked at the lighthouse. And now dedicated specialists serve at the lighthouse, ensuring the uninterrupted operation of this important means of navigation equipment in the Throat of the White Sea.