Description of the attraction
The gate lighthouse, located in the center of the city of Gelendzhik, on Lermontovsky Boulevard next to the sanatorium. Lomonosov, is the oldest operating lighthouse on the Black Sea coast. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that the lighthouse, which is more than 100 years old, still maintains its performance.
The Gelendzhik leading lighthouse was built by the French architect François de Tonde. The master equipped his creation with the best optics at that time, and despite the fact that it was made back in 1875, this optics still works. The lighthouse was officially opened on August 19, 1897, as evidenced by a metal plaque with an inscription nailed at the entrance.
The gate lighthouse is made in the Art Nouveau style and is decorated with stained-glass windows. It is a white rectangular stone tower, 13 m high. On the roof of the tower there is a sign of the cardinal points, which resembles a cross from afar.
Throughout its history of existence, this lighthouse has never failed. In 1957, the structure was overhauled, during which the old kerosene lamp of the lighthouse was replaced with an electric one. After this repair, the hand of the master never touched this amazing structure again.
The principle of operation of the leading beacon is quite simple: inside it there is a metal box with special built-in plates - blinds that either close or open, thus blocking and opening red or green lights. During the approach and passage of the Tonky Cape, the ship is greeted by the green beam of the lighthouse, when the ship comes closer to the shore, it is greeted by the red light of the leading lighthouse. During the day, the light of the lighthouse is visible at a distance of more than 19 km, and at night the visibility reaches about 16 km.
In addition, the leading lighthouse is a real "hero", he survived several wars, namely the First World War, the Civil War and the Great Patriotic War, and also participated in the last one.
Gelendzhik leading lighthouse is one of the most important city attractions.
