Eduard Dementiev

(autotranslated, could have mistakes)

Disclaimer - the year the work started is not known exactly.

Robinsons settled in the Gulf of Finland

Parasol

And one more text about lighthouse keepers (someone is finishing reading “Moominpappa and the Sea”)

The lighthouse keeper told MK in St. Petersburg how he became a voluntary hermit

Lighthouses have always attracted lovers of sea romance. A ray of light in the darkness of the night, a savior of sailors, showing the way to a safe harbor... But romance is one thing, and the truth of life is completely different. Eduard Dementyev knows firsthand about the intricacies and hardships of this profession - he has been working on lighthouses in the Gulf of Finland for almost 15 years.

Closed area

Lighthouse Steersudden is located near Primorsk. “Styrsudden” is translated from Swedish as “indicating” - the cape juts out into the Gulf of Finland on its northern shore at the entrance to the Björksund Strait. Many shallows and strong currents make this place dangerous for sailors, so a lighthouse was needed here. Under Peter I, a fire was simply lit on the cape in bad weather; at the beginning of the 19th century, an unlit tower was installed, and in 1873 a real lighthouse began operating. In 1918 it came into the possession of the Finns, was completely destroyed during the war, and rebuilt in 1954.

These days, the red and white beauty is 27 meters in height and attracts the attention of many motorists passing by on the Primorskoye Highway. Its spotlight is visible at night for 21 miles. But the beautiful gates of the lighthouse are always closed, and the main staircase leading to it is overgrown with grass. Lovers of sea romance can even climb over the fence in order to climb onto the lighthouse - but then they are met by Eduard Dementyev, the head of the lighthouse. For those who are particularly violent or drunk (and there are some!), he takes a guard dog with him.

“Previously, tourists were allowed into the lighthouse; we even have a small museum of lighthouse equipment,” says Eduard Dementyev. “But two years ago, the Ministry of Defense, which manages the lighthouses of the Gulf of Finland, declared them a closed territory. We ourselves are not happy with such rules, but there is nothing to be done - for violation we can be deprived of our bonuses.

But lighthouses by nature are hospitable people.

“Although people in our profession are called “voluntary hermits,” hospitality is in everyone’s blood,” explain Edward and his wife Tatyana. — The lack of communication is taking its toll. So we’ll feed the visiting guest, give him something to drink and put him to bed!

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Author: Lyubov Rumyantseva

Photo: Maxim Slavetsky

Source http://pda.diary.ru/~laaa/p204256530.htm?from=0