Lighthouses of Abkhazia

Abkhazia is an autonomous republic on the northeastern coast of the Black Sea. The country has a complicated history and an uncertain status. The Abkhaz people resisted incorporation into the Russian Empire, which did not subdue the region until the 1840s. Under the Soviet Union, Abkhazia was recognized as an autonomous republic, initially under direct control from Moscow. In 1931, Stalin attached Abkhazia to the Soviet Republic of Georgia, but again as an autonomous republic. After Georgia regained its independence in 1991, Abkhazia revolted against Georgian rule. A bitter struggle in 1992-93 led to Abkhazia becoming a de facto independent state, guarded by Russian peacekeeping troops. The independence of Abkhazia from Georgia is not recognized internationally.

The lighthouses of Abkhazia have been neglected during this turmoil, and it is not clear if any of them are active. The capital, Sukhumi, is also the country's major port.

ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. Admiralty numbers are from volume E of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA List numbers are from Publication 113.

General Sources
Europäische Leuchttürme auf historischen Postkarten
Historic postcard views posted by Klaus Huelse.

Pitsunda Light
Pitsunda Light, June 2004
Creative Commons photo copyright Vyacheslav Stepanyuchenko
Lighthouses
* Gyachripsh (Leselidze)
Date unknown. Probably inactive; focal plane 29 m (95 ft); red light, 1.5 s on, 3 s off. 24 m (79 ft) "lantern on white chimney with ladder and platform," according to NGA. No photo available. Gyachripsh is a resort town just east of the Russian border. The town was renamed Leselidze in 1944 in honor of a Soviet general; it resumed its historic name in 1992. Site status unknown, probably open. Admiralty E5700; NGA 19168.
* Pitsunda (2)
1902 (station established 1891). Probably inactive; focal plane 36 m (118 ft); two white flashes every 10.2 s. 31 m (101 ft) square pyramidal cast iron skeletal tower with lantern, gallery, and central cylinder. Entire lighthouse painted white. Pitsunda, in western Abkhazia, has become a very popular beach resort, and Vyacheslav Stepanyuchenko's photo above shows how the lighthouse is now dwarfed by two high-rise hotels. A closeup is available, Eugene Pertsev has a photo, another photo taken from the 15th floor of one of the hotels shows heavy rust on the lantern, and Huelse has a historic postcard view. Located on the point of Mys (Cape) Pitsunda. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS GEO-002; Admiralty E5718; NGA 19192.
* Souksu (Bambora)
Date unknown. Probably inactive; focal plane 38 m (125 ft); white flash every 3 s. Light mounted atop a 35 m (115 ft) building. No photo available. This light marks Mys (Cape) Souksu, about 3 km (2 mi) west of Gudauta. This is also a beach resort area. Site status unknown, probably open. Admiralty E5721; NGA 19200.
* Psyrtskha (Novy Afon)
Date unknown. Probably inactive; focal plane 33 m (108 ft); white light, 4 s on, 2 s off. Light mounted atop a 22 m (72 ft) building. No photo available. Novy Afon (New Athos) is a historic Orthodox monastery, now a branch of the Abkhazian state museum. Located in Psyrtskha, about 22 km (14 mi) west of Sukhumi. Site status unknown, probably open. Admiralty E5724.5; NGA 19206.
Eshera
Date unknown. Probably inactive; focal plane 33 m (108 ft); white light, 2 s on, 4 s off. Light mounted atop a 27 m (89 ft) building. No photo available. Eshera is the site of a principal base for the Russian peacekeeping troops in Abkhazia. Located about 8 km (5 mi) west of Sukhumi. Site status unknown. Admiralty E5725; NGA 19209.
* Sukhumi (Mys Sukhumskiy)
1864. Reactivated (inactive 2000-?); focal plane 37 m (121 ft); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off, 3 s on, 6 s off. 34 m (111 ft) round cast iron tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. A photo is at right, another photo and a good closeup are available, there's a distant view of the lighthouse on the cape, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. This lighthouse was prefeabricated in France by the firm of Ernest Couin. The Russian article says the lighthouse has resumed operation, apparently with a small light mounted in front of the historic lantern. Located on the point of Mys (Cape) Sukhumi, about 4 km (2.4 mi) southwest of the center of the city. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS GEO-003; Admiralty E5726; NGA 19212.
Mys Kodori
Date unknown. Probably inactive; focal plane 23 m (75 ft); red flash every 5 s. Square skeletal tower carrying a rectangular daymark. Daymark painted white with a black vertical stripe. No photo avalable. Located on a headland near Gulripsh, about 20 km (13 mi) southeast of Sukhumi. Site status unknown. Admiralty E5734; NGA 19228.
Sukhumi Light
Sukhumi Light
public domain photo from the Russian wiki dictionary Academic.ru

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

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Posted May 2, 2008. Checked and revised June 2, 2009. Lighthouses: 7. Site copyright 2009 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.