The Ob River is the westernmost of the three great rivers of Siberia, flowing northward into the Kara Sea, an embayment of the Arctic Ocean. Since roads are scarce in Siberia, the major rivers are important arteries of transportation. We know of only one lighthouse on this important inland waterway system, although there may be others.

In the Soviet Union, all lighthouses were closed to foreign visitors. Since the breakup of the Soviet empire, conditions have become much more free, but some of the lighthouses are still closed to casual visits because they are located in sensitive military areas. Better information on accessibility is needed, and photos and visitor reports are welcome.

The Russian word for a lighthouse is mayak (маяк); mys is a cape and ostrov is an island. Aids to navigation on Russia's lakes and rivers are presumably maintained by the River Transport division of the Russian Maritime Board. Since aids to navigation on these inland waterways are not listed on international light lists, we have no information on which lighthouses are active or, if they are active, on their light patterns.

Lighthouse

Novosibirsk Locks Entrance

Date unknown. Active; focal plane about 9 m (30 ft); directional light, characteristic unknown. Approx. 7.5 m (25 ft) octagonal cylindrical concrete tower, painted with red and white horizontal bands. A photo is at right, another photo, a view from across the river, and a more distant view from the east are available, and Google has a satellite view. This lighthouse marks the northern (downstream) entrance to a canal that leads vessels to a series of locks bypassing the Novosibirsk Dam. Completed in 1956, the dam created the Novosibirsk Reservoir (informally known as the Ob Sea), a lake 160 km (100 mi) long. Located in Novosibirsk, on the east side of the Ob on the point of land between the river and the canal. Site open, tower closed.

Novosibirsk Locks Entrance Light, June 2006
Panoramio photo copyright dog25; permission requested