Lighthouses are strongly associated with the sea. This is usually the case — a structure visible from afar is located on the shore and shows sea travelers the way to the shore. But there are exceptions. In the Astrakhan region, near the village of Vyshka, a lighthouse stands… in the middle of a steppe as flat as a table. It is separated from the nearest shore of the Caspian Sea by as much as 30 km. How did it end up in such an unusual place and who built it?
Strategically important “Tower”
The lighthouse, which causes many questions, is called Petrovsky. It was built in the 18th century, and at that time it was used for its intended purpose. The navigation facility served as a landmark for ships, as it stood not just by the sea, but on the island of Chetyrehbugorny. This piece of land was located near the seaport. Large ships were moored here, which, due to their draft, could not enter the Volga.
But over time, the sea receded and the island first became a shore, and then completely turned into a piece of land 30 km from the surf line. The lighthouse was built in 1722 by decree of Tsar Peter I. The monarch made a stop here during the famous Persian campaign with his squadron. After returning to The tsar ordered St. Petersburg to arrange a port at the entrance to the Volga, and to install a lighthouse on the Four-Mountain Island.
But the Petrovsky lighthouse, which we can see today, is only a descendant of the first one. Initially, the structure was wooden and not so high. Due to the high humidity, the wood quickly deteriorated and the lighthouse had to be repaired frequently. In 1856, during another storm, it collapsed, and for a long time there was no landmark on the island. In 1876, they decided to build a brick tower in its place, immune to the elements.
The new lighthouse is also called Petrovsky, although on ancient maps it is simply marked “Tower”. At the top there is an observation deck, which is accessed by a cast-iron spiral staircase. Now everyone can come up here — there is a great view of the surrounding area from above. The lighthouse in the steppe is loved by tourists, extreme athletes and especially bloggers.
Why did the lighthouse end up in the steppe
The water level in the lighthouse area began to fall in the early 20th century. Large vessels could no longer approach the shore, but Petrovsky Lighthouse worked for small fishing boats. In the 30s, the water completely left these places and the “Tower” remained standing in the middle of the Astrakhan steppe. The useless lighthouse was not abandoned. The locals, for whom it was the only attraction, did not allow its destruction.
In the 80s of the last century, Petrovsky Lighthouse was included among the monuments of local importance. In the 90s, it came in handy again — a radio station worked in the building, though not for long. Now the lighthouse is abandoned again and it is visited only by tourists to take selfies against the background of the vast expanses.
There are many beautiful and unusual lighthouses in the world. We have compiled their rating, which includes 10 of the most interesting structures from different parts of the world.
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