Lighthouses of Russia: Murmansk Region

The northwestern corner of Russia lies on the Barents Sea, an arm of the Arctic Ocean. The broad, eastward-pointing Kola Peninsula (Kolskiy Poluostrov) separates the Barents Sea from the nearly-enclosed White Sea, which extends southward more than 500 km (300 mi). At the base of the peninsula, the fjord of Kola Bay cuts 57 km (35 mi) south from the ocean. During World War I, when Germany blocked the Baltic approaches to Russia, the Tsarist government built a railroad to the far northwestern corner of the country and founded the port of Murmansk on Kola Bay. Under the Soviet government, the Murmansk area became a major naval base and port of entry.

It may come as a surprise to lighthouse fans to learn that there are many lighthouses along these Arctic waterways, including more than a few nineteenth century towers built under the tsars. These lighthouses are surely among the most poorly known in the world. Under the Soviets, almost none of them were accessible to Westerners, and even today many areas in the Russian North are restricted. But cruise ships are beginning to visit these waters, so conditions for visiting the lighthouses may be improving.

This page lists the lighthouses of Murmansk Oblast, which includes all of the Kola Peninsula and the neighboring territory adjoining Norway and Finland. Special thanks to Klaus Huelse and Michel Forand for locating many of the photo links on this page. However, we still need photos of many sites. If you have any photos of lighthouses in this area, or spot any such photos on the Internet, please let me know.

ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. Admiralty numbers are from volume L of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA numbers are from Publication 115.

General Sources
Europäische Leuchttürme auf historischen Postkarten

Historic postcard images posted by Klaus Huelse.

Lighthouse photos

This Ukrainian site is a rich source of photos for Russian and Ukrainian lighthouses.

Reconstruction of Beacons in Russia

This page of before-and-after photos was posted by EDM, a Russian engineering company that has completed reconstruction and restoration of many historic lighthouses in the Russian North.

Tsyp-Navolokskiy Light, 2008
anonymous Creative Commons photo

Western Barents Sea Lighthouses
Kola Bay West Side Lighthouses Mys Lodeynoye: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 49 m (161 ft); green flash every 4 s. 6 m (20 ft) octagonal cylindrical stone tower with gallery, painted with black and white horizontal bands. EDM restored the light in 2005 and has a closeup photo, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located on a promontory on the west side of Kola Bay about 5 km (3 mi) south of the Set-Navolok lighthouse. Site status unknown. ARLHS ERU-104(?); Admiralty L6224; NGA 15000.
Bol'shaya Voronukha: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); flash every 4 s, white or red depending on direction. 10 m (33 ft) square cylindrical skeletal tower. The lighthouse is entirely covered by a round vertically slatted daymark, painted red with a white horizontal band. EDM restored the light in 2004 and has a closeup photo, Roman Dashkevitch has a view from the bay, and Google has a good satellite view. Located on a small island on the west side of Kola Bay about 5 km (3 mi) north of Polyarnyy. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS ERU-014; Admiralty L6229; NGA 15042.
Ostrov Sedlovatyy: Date unknown (station established 1903). Active; focal plane 27 m (89 ft); green flash every 7 s. 12 m (39 ft) square cylindrical wood tower attached to a 1-story wood equipment shelter. The building is covered with pale yellow siding. EDM restored this lighthouse in 2006 and has a closeup photo. Roman Dashkevitch has a more distant view, and Google has a satellite view of the station. Before the restoration, the lighthouse was about to collapse, as seen in EDM's "before" photo. Located on an island on the west side of the channel through Kola Bay about 3 km (2 mi) north of Polyarnyy. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS ERU-118; Admiralty L6248; NGA 15044.
Aragubskiy (Palagubskiy) Range Rear: Date unknown. Active; focal plane unknown; red flash every 3 s. 8 m (26 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower with gallery. Lighthouse painted white; the entire front of the lighthouse carries a yellow daymark with a white vertical stripe. EDM restored the light in 2007 and has a closeup photo; Google has a satellite view. This range guides vessels through a narrow passage into Ara Bay, the harbor of Polyarnyy, one of Russia's nuclear submarine ports. Located at the south end of Ara Bay. Site and tower closed. Admiralty L6254.1; NGA 15068.
Shurina (Ostrov Shurinov): Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); red light occulting once every 3 s. 6 m (20 ft) octagonal cylindrical brick tower, now covered with cement. Tower painted with yellow and white vertical stripes. EDM restored the lighthouse in 2005; the company has a photo showing the deteriorated brick before restoration and another photo showing the present appearance. Google has a satellite view. Located on an island on the west side of Kola Bay off Goryachiye Ruch'i. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty L6303; NGA 15128.
Mys Filinskiy Ranges Common Rear: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 25 m (82 ft); continuous white light. 20 m (66 ft) square skeletal tower. Probably at least two sides of the tower are covered with slatted daymarks. No photo available, but Google has an indistinct satellite view. This lighthouse is the rear light for both northbound and southbound ranges in the Severomorsk area. Located on heights about 5 km (3 mi) southwest of Retinskoye. Site status unknown. Admiralty L6303; NGA 15128.ARLHS ERU-092(?); Admiralty L6319.4; NGA 15196.
Belokamenka (Mys Belokamennaya): Date unknown. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); white flash every 3 s. 8 m (26 ft) square skeletal tower. The upper half of the tower is surrounded by a round daymark colored red with a white horizontal band. EDM restored the light in 2004 and has a closeup photo. Google has a satellite view. Located on a prominent cape near the village of Belomenka. Site probably open, tower closed. ARLHS ERU-082(?); Admiralty L6332; NGA 15212.
Kiyevarakskiy Range Front: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 21 m (69 ft); continuous red light. 17 m (56 ft) square cylindrical skeletal tower. The tower is probably covered with a slatted daymark. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. The range guides vessels on a long south-to-north reach passing Mishukovo. Located close to the highway along the fjord about 5 km (3 mi) northeast of Mishukovo. Site status unknown. Admiralty L6342; NGA 15224.
Kiyevarakskiy Range Middle: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 98 m (322 ft); continuous red light. 16 m (52 ft) square cylindrical skeletal tower. The tower is probably covered with a slatted daymark. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located in a forest 220 m (725 ft) north of the front light. Site status unknown. Admiralty L6342.01; NGA 15226.
Kiyevarakskiy Range Rear: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 21 m (69 ft); continuous red light. 17 m (56 ft) square cylindrical skeletal tower. The tower is probably covered with a slatted daymark. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located in a forest 500 m (0.3 mi) north of the front light. Site status unknown. Admiralty L6342.1; NGA 15228.
* Mys Mishukov (Misukovo): Date unknown. Active; focal plane 20 m (66 ft); flash every 5 s, red or green depending on direction. 18 m (59 ft) octagonal cylindrical tower with lantern and gallery, rising from the elbow of a V-shaped 2-story building. Tower painted white, lantern red. Fog horn (four blasts every 34 s). A photo is available, and Google has a good satellite view. Located on a sharp cape projecting into the west side of Kola Bay at Mishukovo, about 3 km (2 mi) north of Murmansk. This lighthouse is accessible by city streets in an urban area, but we do not know if visits to the area are restricted. Site apparently open, tower closed. ARLHS ERU-118; Admiralty L6346; NGA 15232.
[Anna Korga]: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); red flash every 3 s. 10 m (33 ft) round concrete tower topped by a mast, mounted on a wood (?) pier. Denis Lazarev has a photo. Located on a shoal on the west side of the estuary north of the Murmansk waterfront. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS ERU-011; Admiralty L6349; NGA 15238.
Kola Bay East Side Lighthouses
Mokhnatkin (Mohnatkin): Date unknown. Active; focal plane 22 m (72 ft); green light, 1.5 s on, 3 s off. 4 m (13 ft) 1-story octagonal stone tower, painted red with a white horizontal band. EDM restored this light and has a closeup photo; Google has a satellite view. Located on a promontory on the east side of Kola Bay about 10 km (6 mi) northeast of Murmansk. Site status unknown. ARLHS ERU-107; Admiralty L6336; NGA 15216.
Mys Krestovskiy (Cape Cross): Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); white flash every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) square cylindrical skeletal tower. The lighthouse is completely covered with a round, vertically slatted daymark and a conical topmark. the daymark is painted red and the topmark white. EDM restored the light in 2005 and has a closeup photo. Located on a promontory on the east side of Kola Bay about 10 km (6 mi) northeast of Severomorsk. Site status unknown. ARLHS ERU-315; Admiralty L6304; NGA 15144.
Mys Chirkovyy (Kolskiy Zaliv) Range Front: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 57 m (187 ft); continuous red light. 18 m (59 ft) square cylindrical skeletal tower. The front of the tower is covered by a slatted daymark painted red with a black vertical stripe, and at the top is a triangular slatted topmark, pointing up and painted black. No photo available. These range lights guide vessels through the first long reach southward in Kola Bay. Located on a hilly peninsula about 13 km (8 mi) northeast of Severomorsk. Site status unknown. Admiralty L6230; NGA 15132.
Mys Chirkovyy (Kolskiy Zaliv) Range Middle: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 102 m (335 ft); continuous red light. 18 m (59 ft) square cylindrical skeletal tower. The front of the tower is covered by a slatted daymark painted red with a black vertical stripe, and at the top is a diamond-shaped slatted topmark, painted black. EDM restored these lights in 2005 and has a closeup photo. Located on a hilly peninsula about 13 km (8 mi) northeast of Severomorsk. Site status unknown. Admiralty L6230.1; NGA 15136.
Mys Chirkovyy (Kolskiy Zaliv) Range Rear: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 141 m (463 ft); continuous red light. 18 m (59 ft) square cylindrical skeletal tower. The front of the tower is covered by a slatted daymark painted red with a black vertical stripe, and at the top is a triangular slatted topmark, pointing down and painted black. The tower can be seen in the distance in EDM's photo of the middle light. Located on a hilly peninsula about 13 km (8 mi) northeast of Severomorsk. Site status unknown. Admiralty L6230.2; NGA 15140.
Okolnyy Range Front: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 32 m (105 ft); continuous red light. 14 m (46 ft) square skeletal tower. The front of the tower is covered by a slatted daymark painted white with a red vertical stripe. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. This range guides northbound vessels on a long reach past Severomorsk. Located on a hillside facing west southwest, about 3 km (2 mi) northeast of the Severomorsk waterfront. Site status unknown. ARLHS ERU-110(?); Admiralty L6316; NGA 15172.
Ostrov Salnyy: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 36 m (118 ft); two flashes every 13.5 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 6 m (20 ft) vase-shaped octagonal metal tower mounted on a square platform. EDM restored this unusual light in 2007 and has a closeup photo. Google has a satellite view. Salnyy is a peanut-shaped island off the east coast of Kola Bay north of Severomorsk. Located on heights at the southwestern end of the island. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS ERU-080(?); Admiralty L6306; NGA 15148.
Tyuvagubskiy ("Tyuragabskiy") Osevay Range Front: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 42 m (138 ft); continuous red light. 14 m (46 ft) square skeletal tower. The front of the tower is covered by a slatted daymark painted white with a red vertical stripe. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. This range guides northbound vessels on a long reach south of Polyarnyy. The place name is misspelled Tyuragabskiy by NGA and ARLHS. Located on a promontory on the south side of the entrance to Tyuva Bay. Site status unknown. ARLHS ERU-127; Admiralty L6297; NGA 15092.
Mys Letinskiy: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 89 m (279 ft); white flash every 6 s. 18 m (59 ft) square skeletal tower. The the tower is covered by a slatted daymark painted white with a red vertical stripe on each face. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located on a prominent cape of the east side of the entrance to Kola Bay. Site status unknown. ARLHS ERU-103; Admiralty L6226; NGA 15004.
Kola Peninsula North Side Lighthouses Kildinskiy Zapadnny (West Kildinsky) (2): 2006 (station establishement date unknown) . Active; focal plane 25 m (82 ft); yellow light, 2 s on, 2 s off. 5 m (17 ft) square pyramidal tower, painted white wuth a red vertical stripe on each face. EDM, which built the lighthouse, has a photo. EDM also has a photo of the original tower, and another photo is available. This lighthouse is built near the southwest corner of Ostrov Kildin (Kildin Island) marking the entrance to the western entrance to the strait between the island and the mainland. Site status unknown. Admiralty L6414; NGA 15288.
Kildinskiy Severnny (North Kildinsky): Date unknown. Active; focal plane 84 m (276 ft); white flash every 6 s. 19 m (62 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted with red and white horizontal bands. EDM doesn't mention this lighthouse, but it has been restored, as seen in Yarman Yan's 2008 photo and closeup. The lighthouse is built on the north side of Ostrov Kildin (Kildin Island) about 25 km (15 mi) east of the entrance to Kola Bay. Site status unknown. ARLHS ERU-041; Admiralty L6404; NGA 15292.
Kildinskiy Vostochny (East Kildinsky): Date unknown. Active; focal plane 19 m (62 ft); red or green light, depending on direction, 1.5 s on, 4.5 s off. 10 m (33 ft) octagonal cylindrical concrete tower with gallery but no lantern, mounted on a square concrete base. The lighthouse is unpainted white concrete; gallery rail is red. The lighthouse was restored and repainted by EDM in 2004, and the company has a photo. Yarman Yan has a 2008 photo, and another photo is available. Located on the southeastern side of Ostrov Kildin (Kildin Island) a short distance east of the settlement of Vostochny (East) Kildin. Site status unknown. ARLHS ERU-042; Admiralty L6408; NGA 15308.
Mys Chevray: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); white flash every 2.5 s. 9 m (30 ft) square wood pyramidal skeletal tower, covered by a slatted wood daymark painted red with a white diagonal stripe on each face. EDM has a photo and also a photo of the light before restoration. Located on a cape of the mainland opposite the estern end of Kildin Island. Site status unknown. ARLHS ERU-087; Admiralty L6418; NGA 15312.
Mys Teriberskiy: Date unknown (station established 1896). Active; focal plane 47 m (154 ft); two flashes, green and then red, every 9.6 s. 13 m (43 ft) lantern and gallery mounted at one end of a 2-story metal-clad building. The metal siding is bright yellow; lantern painted red. Fog horn (two blasts every 30 s). A photo is available. The metal siding covers badly weathered masonry seen in an earlier photo. This light stands at the end of a westward-pointing promontory about 90 km (56 mi) east of Murmansk, marking the entrance to a bay leading to the settlement of Teriberka. Site status unknown. ARLHS ERU-024; Admiralty L6440; NGA 15336.
Ostrov Gavrilovskiy: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 29 m (95 ft); white flash every 3 s. 13 m (43 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower. The front of the lighthouse is covered by a slatted daymark painted white with a black vertical stripe. A 2009 distant view is available. Located on an island off the coast about 40 km (25 mi) east of Teriberka. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS ERU-094; Admiralty L6446; NGA 15344.
Ostrov Bolshoy Oleniy: Date unknown (station established 1910). Active; focal plane 49 m (161 ft); three white flashes, short-long-short, every 14 s. 24 m (79 ft) round concrete tower with gallery and at least originally with lantern. Tower painted yellow with white trim; lantern (formerly?) painted red. EDM restored the lighthouse in 2005, removing the lantern and adding solar power. The company has a photo and also a photo of the light before restoration. Another "before" photo and a second "after" photo are also available. Located near the western end of the island, just off the coast near Porcnicha. Site status unknown. ARLHS ERU-084; Admiralty L6472; NGA 15376.
Kharlovskiy: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 121 m (397 ft); three white flashes every 13.8 s. 11 m (36 ft) square pyramidal wood tower, painted pale yellow. EDM restored this lighthouse, removing its lantern, in 2006. The company has a photo and also a photo taken before restoration. Another pre-restoration photo is available, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. This light is somewhat undistinguished in appearance, but its great height gives it a range of 42 km (26 mi), making it one of the most powerful lights of the Arctic. Located on the highest point of Ostrov Kharlov, which shelters of the harbor of the Kharlovka settlement. Site status unknown. ARLHS ERU-096; Admiralty L6494; NGA 15408.
Vostochnaya Litsa: Date unknown (station established 1910). Active; focal plane 50 m (164 ft); two flashes, white, red or green depending on direction, every 12 s. 17 m (56 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery and a small modern lantern, painted with red and white horizontal bands. A photo is available. Located on the north side of the entrance to a fjord leading to the settlement of Vostochnaya Litsa. Site status unknown. ARLHS ERU-033; Admiralty L6506; NGA 15416.
Mys Cherniy: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 78 m (256 ft); white flash every 5 s. 17 m (56 ft) tower, painted red with a white horizontal band. No photo available. Located on a promontory about 10 km (6 mi) east of Drozdovka. Site status unknown. ARLHS ERU-018; Admiralty L6516; NGA 15432.
Kola Peninsula East Side Lighthouses
Mys Ostryye Ludki: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 133 m (436 ft); two white flashes every 15 s. 22 m (72 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower, covered by a slatted daymark painted white with a red vertical stripe on each face. No photo available. Located high on a bluff about 30 km (19 mi) northwest of teh Tersko-Orlovskiy lighthouse. Site status unknown. ARLHS ERU-263; Admiralty L6556; NGA 15492.
Tersko-Orlovskiy: 1842. Active; focal plane 88 m (289 ft); two white flashes every 6 s. 20 m (66 ft) round old-style, stucco-clad brick tower with lantern and gallery; the tower probably includes keeper's quarters. The unpainted gray stucco is chipping off, revealing patches of the red brick. Lantern painted red. Fog horn (five blasts every 60 s). A good photo is available, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has an excellent satellite view of the station. This is a historic light station, and the lighthouse is probably the 1842 original. Located on a headland north of the easternmost tip of the Kola Peninsula. Site status unknown. ARLHS ERU-069; Admiralty L6560; NGA 15496.
Ostrov Veshnyak: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 44 m (144 ft); white flash every 5 s. 25 m (82 ft) octagonal masonry tower with lantern and gallery, painted with red and white horizontal bands. No photo available, but Google has a good satellite view. This light marks the extreme eastern end of the Kola Peninsula. Located on an island off Tri Ostrova ("Three Islands"). Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS ERU-072; Admiralty L6564; NGA 15500.
Ostrova Ponoyskiye Ludki: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 20 m (66 ft); three white flashes every 12 s. 18 m (59 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower, covered by a slatted daymark painted white with a red vertical stripe on each face. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located on a skerry off the mouth of the Ponoy fjord near Korabel'noye. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS ERU-165; Admiralty L6572; NGA 15512.
South Side Kola Peninsula Lighthouses Ostrov Danilov: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); white flash every 5 s. 14 m (46 ft) tower, described as a square "truncated pyramid," painted with red and white vertical stripes and topped by a yellow lantern. No photo available. Located on a small island on the west side of the passage into the White Sea, a short distance offshore and about 35 km (22 mi) northeast of Sosnovka. Site status unknown. ARLHS ERU-161; Admiralty L6576; NGA 15516.
Sosnovetskiy (5): Date unknown (station established 1823). Active; focal plane 44 m (144 ft); two white flashes every 7.2 s. 31 m (102 ft) cylindrical iron tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted with black and white horizontal bands; lantern painted red. Fog horn (eight blasts every 48 s). EDM restored the lighthouse in 2006 and has photos taken before and after the restoration. Huelse has a historic postcard view of the 1909 lighthouse, a cast iron tower with central cylinder. Located on an island (Ostrov Sovnovets) about 4 km (2.5 mi) east of Sosnovka. Site status unknown. ARLHS ERU-066; Admiralty L6580; NGA 15520.

Kandalaksha Bay Lighthouses
Note: Kandalaksha Bay is the narrow northwest-pointing arm of the White Sea; the bay is really an estuary leading to the port of Kandalaksha.
Ostrov Nablyundeniya: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 9 m (30 ft); red flash every 6 s. NGA describes this light as a "white house, red roof, and lantern gallery, mast in front." No photo available. Located on an island marking the entrance to the bay leading to Umba, on the north shore of the estuary. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty L6618; NGA 15716.
Ostrov Sredniye Ludy: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 32 m (105 ft); two white flashes every 5 s. 17 m (56 ft) square cylindrical skeletal tower. The upper half of the tower is surrounded by a round vertically slatted daymark. The daymark is supposed to be painted white with a red horizontal band, but in Serge Dixon's 2008 photo all the paint has worn off the wood. Located on an island in the middle of the lower end of Kandalaksha Bay. Accessible only by boat. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty L6682; NGA 15692.
Mys Kochinnyy: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 19 m (62 ft); white flash every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) gray tower with a white lantern. No photo available. Located on a headland on the north side of the estuary about 60 km (37 mi) southeast of Kandalaksha, marking a point where the estuary narrows sharply. Site status unknown. ARLHS ERU-246; Admiralty L6630; NGA 15636.
Ostrov Kibirinskiye Ludy Range Rear: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 32 m (105 ft); flash every 5 s, white or red depending on direction. 17 m (56 ft) yellow wooden tower with a black lantern. No photo available. The front light, 900 m (0.56 mi) southeast, is described as a white square truncated pyramidal structure with a red vertical stripe. Located on an island about 20 km (13 mi) southeast of Kandalaksha. Site status unknown. ARLHS ERU-163; Admiralty L6636.1; NGA 15624.

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

** Murmansk Memorial: Date unknown. Approx. 28 m (92 ft) hexagonal cylindrical tower with lantern and two galleries, painted with red and white horizntal bands. A closeup photo is available, and Austin Charron has posted a good photo. This lighthouse is a memorial to seamen lost at sea in the Arctic. It is not a genuine aid to navigation, but it deserves special mention as the only lighthouse in the Murmansk area readily accessible to tourists. Site open, tower status unknown but probably open.

Murmansk Memorial Light; Novokom photo

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