TEMRYUK LIGHTHOUSE

(autotranslated, could have mistakes)

Installed on the high bank of the southeastern part of the Sea of ​​Azov at the mouth of the Kuban River near the city of Temryuk.

In 1570, on the site of the modern city, the Kabardian military leader Temryuk Izarov built a fortress to protect against the attacks of the Crimean Tatars. With the annexation of the region to Russia in 1774, the Black Sea Cossacks founded the village of Temryuk on the site of the fortress, which in 1860 received the status of a city and port.

Mainly grain grain was exported through the port, which was delivered to the city from the neighboring Kuban villages. Because of the shallow waters, large ships could not approach the piers, so bread in bags was loaded at the piers onto small ships, which delivered it to the roadstead to the sides of foreign ships.

Image removed from public review package. Local review only · not public no-info · image245.jpeg

Lighthouse Temryuk

It is documented that the first non-illuminated navigation sign was built on the approach to Temryuk in 1860. It was installed on the western cape of the mouth of the Temryuk estuary. It consisted of a 10.5 m high mast with four supports; At the top of the mast six horizontal slats were fixed, forming a transparent square with an upward angle.

In 1873, just north of the mast, another sign was built with two vertical slats at the top. The resulting alignment indicated the entrance to the Temryuk Estuary for ships with a draft of no more than 2 m.

By the end of the 19th century, a significant amount of sediment left by the Kuban River began to lead to shallowing of the coastal part of the sea. The shallowing proceeded so quickly that it threatened to cut off the city from the sea. Therefore, in 1902, a project for a sea canal was developed, isolated from the river by a continuous dam and brought into the sea beyond the distribution of river sediments. After the completion of the canal, shipping in the Temryuk area increased significantly, and in 1912 it was decided to install a cool light beacon in this part of the Azov Sea.

Construction began in 1913 and, despite a significant reduction in funding due to the outbreak of the First World War, it was completed

and in 1916. Under the leadership of ensign Perekrestov, a cylindrical iron tower 7.3 m high was built with a lantern structure, in which a 3rd category diopter light-optical apparatus was installed, shining with a white group flashing light for 20.5 miles.

In the first months of the Great Patriotic War, detachments of ships of the Azov military flotilla were based in Temryuk. The lighthouse provided access for our forces to carry out command assignments, as well as the movement of ships and transports that evacuated troops and equipment from the North Caucasus Front. Here, in December 1941, the troops of the 51st Army boarded ships and vessels for landing on the coast of the Kerch Peninsula.

On August 24, 1942, the Nazis broke into the port. During the fighting, the lighthouse was destroyed. Temryuk was liberated by Soviet troops on September 27, 1943.

In 1947, a temporary wooden tower with a fire was installed on the site of the ruins, and in 1957 a stone octagonal prismatic tower with a lantern structure was built. The height of the tower from the base is 14 m, painted white, the base is yellow. The height of the fire from sea level is 69 m.

In 1970, a new light was installed at the lighthouse

optical device EMN-500 with electric flashing device MEP-75, which shines with white and red flashing lights with a visibility range of up to 20 and 13 miles, respectively. During the winter, the fire is turned off.

On October 28, 1969, the lighthouse withstood a severe blow from the elements. At dusk, a five-meter wave of water hit the southeastern coast of the Azov Sea - a consequence of a deep cyclone that came from afar. Here is a description of an eyewitness to what happened - the lighthouse keeper: "At dusk from the Temryuk lighthouse, I saw a mountain of water approaching from the sea in the northwest. I had a poorly tied boat, and in order to secure it, I went down from the elevated shore where the lighthouse stands to the sea. But it was too late. A running shaft tore the chain out of my hands and spun the boat like a propeller. A few days later, the wreckage of the boat was found on the shore. I rushed to the shore. cliff and, clinging to the bushes, managed to climb onto the cliff before the water wave covered it. The sea boiled until the evening, then the next day a calm reigned, which lasted for two months” [113].

In the city of Temryuk, even a few months after the flood, traces of destruction were visible everywhere. Material losses were enormous. Coasters, with

standing at the pier of the Temryuk port were thrown far from the port waters. The same fate befell fishing seiners. The Temryuk fish factory was destroyed, many buildings were damaged. People were rescued by helicopters, boats and all available means. Obviously there were victims, but they were not written about.

The lighthouse withstood this blow of the elements and continued to show the way to the sailors.

Among the specialists who serviced the lighthouse, the dynasty of lighthouse makers, the Polovs, deserves special attention. Its head, Ivan Dmitrievich, worked at the lighthouse from 1946 to 1980 (since 1964 as chief). During the war, as the commander of a manipulator point, he participated in ensuring the landing of the Azov flotilla on the coast of Crimea, captured by the enemy. He was awarded the Order of the Red Star and medals for bravery. After the war, Petty Officer 1st Article Polovoy came to the lighthouse and devoted the rest of his life to it.

He and his wife Valentina Pavlovna raised three children at the lighthouse, one of them, Anatoly, succeeded his father as head of the lighthouse. After retiring, Ivan Dmitrievich could not part with the lighthouse and appeared on the tower every morning.

The former head of the Hydrographic Service of the Black Sea Fleet, Rear Admiral L. I. Mitin, says: “Decorated how-

then Ivan Dmitrievich the entrance to the lighthouse town was a stele with a branded lighthouse board and an anchor, but out of ignorance he did not put it up, but placed it at the lighthouse gate. I went out one day and there were flowers on the stele, and a day later there were flowers again. Polova was surprised: “What’s the matter?” And he accidentally discovered a little secret. The lighthouse is located on a large road; excursion buses go along it. I stopped alone, attracted by the beautiful view of the lighthouse, and the guide said a few words about the lighthouse and its chief, a veteran who shed his blood for the freedom of his homeland and gave decades of his life for the safety of navigation. He was buried at a combat post...”

This is how the fame and memory of a wonderful man outstripped reality.

And now wonderful people work at the lighthouse, worthy successors to the glorious traditions of Russian lighthouse workers.