Lighthouses of Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan, a large country of central Asia, was one of the constituent republics of the Soviet Union until 1991. At its western end, Kazakhstan borders the northeastern quadrant of the landlocked Caspian Sea, the world's largest lake. There are known to be several lighthouses on the lake, but since they are not listed by international light lists not much is known about them. Further information, especially photos, would be welcome.

The principal Kazakh ports are Atyrau (formerly Guryev), at the mouth of the Zhayyq (Ural) River and the north end of the Caspian, and Aqtau (formerly Shevchenko) on the Mangyshlak Peninsula opposite Makhachkala, Russia.

Special thanks to Michel Forand and Klaus Huelse for sharing their research on lighthouses of the Caspian Sea.
Tyub-Karagan Light
Tyub-Karagan Light
undated photo from SovietMuseum.ru
Lighthouses
Kulaly Aral (Ostrov Kulaly)
Date unknown. Active (?); characteristics unknown. Kulaly is a long, curving sandbar of an island located about 13 km (8 mi) northwest of the Tyub-Karagan Peninsula. A Google satellite view shows the only structures on the island. The light tower appears to be at the northwestern corner of the largest building. There is also a weather station at this location. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown.
Tyub-Karagan (Mys Tyub-Karagan, Bautino)
Date unknown. Active (?); characteristics unknown. Approx. 18 m (59 ft) octagonal masonry tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. A photo appears above, and the light station can be seen in a Google satellite view. This lighthouse is near the westernmost point of Kazakhstan, on the Tyub-Karagan Peninsula projecting into the northeastern Caspian Sea. Located about 4 km (2.5 mi) south of the northwest point of the peninsula and about 10 km (6 mi) north of Fort Shevchenko. Site status unknown, probably open; tower closed.
Urduk (Mys Urduk)
Date unknown. The Times Atlas shows a light at this location, and a Google satellite view shows a possible light station. More information is needed on this site. Located about 1 km (0.6 mi) from the beach at the southwest point of the Tyub-Karagan Peninsula, about 20 km (13 mi) south of Fort Shevchenko.
* Aqtau (Aktau, Shevchenko)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane at least 50 m (164 ft); characteristics unknown. Approx. 12 m (39 ft) octagonal masonry tower with lantern and gallery, centered atop a 12-story apartment building. Light tower painted white with one black horizontal band. Pedro Loza's photo appears at right, Anastassiya Lukyanova has a closeup of the light tower, Philipp Jahn has a photo, the Russian-language Wikipedia has a good view from the sea, Bram Scheutjens has a photo, and the building appears on a Google satellite view. Aqtau (formerly called Shevchenko) is Kazakhstan's principal port on the Caspian Sea and the site of former Soviet nuclear and chemical plants. Ferries carry rail traffic across the Caspian between Aqtau and Makhachkala on the Russian coast. This is the landfall light for the port. Located in Aqtau on a promontory about 5 km (3 mi) northwest of the ferry port. Site open, tower closed.
Mys Peschanyy
Date unknown. Active; characteristics unknown. Approx. 30 m (98 ft) octagonal cylindrical tower with lantern and gallery. The station includes several buildings and a communications tower. Bolat Mukhambetov has a photo, and Google has a good satellite view. The lighthouse marks Mys (Cape) Peschanyy, a very prominent cape about 40 km (25 mi) south of Aqtau. Located about 1.2 km (3/4 mi) east of the beach and about 4 km (2.5 mi) north of the point of the cape. Site status unknown.

Aqtau Light
Aqtau Light, October 2007
photo copyright Pedro Loza; used by permission

Yeraliyev
Date unknown. Active (?); characteristics unknown. Square cylindrical skeletal tower carrying a large slatted daymark. No photo available, but Google has a good satellite view. Located atop a steep bluff on a headland about 8 km (5 mi) south of Yeraliyev. Site status unknown.
Mys Rakushechnyy (?)
Date unknown. The Times Atlas marks a light on this point, but no photos are available and Google's satellite view is not close enough to reveal anything. Located on a prminent cape about 65 km (40 mi) southeast of Yeraliyev. Site status unknown.
Mys Tokmak (?)
Date unknown. The Times Atlas marks a light on this point, but no photos are available and Google's satellite view is not close enough to reveal anything. Located on a prminent cape about 50 km (30 mi) west of Fetisovo. Site status unknown.

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

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Posted March 12, 2007. Checked and revised May 20, 2009. Lighthouses: 6 plus 2 possible. Site copyright 2009 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.