Lighthouses of Russia: Yenisey River

Most of Siberia is drained by one of three great rivers: the Ob, the Yenisey, and the Lena. The Yenisey River is the largest of Siberia's three river systems. The lower course of the river is an estuary called the Yenisey Gulf; the gulf is about 250 km (155 mi) long and up to 50 km (30 mi) wide. Upstream from the Gulf, the river is navigable from June through October at least as far as the timber-exporting port of Igarka, about 675 km (420 mi) from the river's mouth. Dudinka is the only town of any size downstream from Igarka.

Navigation on the river is guided by a large number of range lights. In general, these lights are carried on wood skeletal towers. Some of these towers are very light in design, probably so that they can be relocated as required by changes in the river channel. This page generally lists only the larger lights, those roughly 15 m (49 ft) or taller; these are more substantial and permanent structures.

Many thanks to Michel Forand for his research on the lighthouses of the Russian Arctic; all of the information on this page comes from his work.

The Russian word for a lighthouse is mayak (маяк); mys is a cape and ostrov is an island. Aids to navigation on the inland waterways of Russia are maintained by the River Transport division of the Maritime Board.

Special thanks to Michel Forand for sharing his careful research on the lighthouses of the Russian Arctic.

Russian light list (RU) numbers are from Russian Navy Publication 2111 as reported by the Admiralty. The Admiralty is no longer listing the lights of this inland Russian waterway, but the former Admiralty numbers are from volume L of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. None of these lights appear on the ARLHS or NGA light lists.

Muksuninskiy Range Rear Light
Muksuninskiy Range Rear Light
photo copyright Evgeny Gusev; used by permission

General Sources
Evgeny Gusev
The web site of geologist Dr. Evgeny Gusev of VNIIOkeangeologia, the All-Russia Scientific Research Institute for Geology and Mineral Resources of the Ocean. The photos on this page were taken during geological expeditions to the lower Yenisey River in 2004 and 2005. Special thanks to Dr. Gusev for permission to present them here.

Yenisey Delta Lighthouses
Siderovskiy Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 62 m (203 ft); one long white flash every 6 s. 23 m (75 ft) skeletal tower carrying a slatted daymark painted black with a white vertical stripe. No photo available, and Google has only a distant satellite view of the area. This is a downstream range. Located on the east side of the river about 25 km (15 mi) south of the river's mouth. Site status unknown. RU 2111-2171; ex-Admiralty L8256.1.
Siderovskiy Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 40 m (131 ft); white flash every 1.5 s. 15 m (49 ft) skeletal tower carrying a slatted daymark painted black with a white vertical stripe. No photo available, and Google has only a distant satellite view of the area. Located about 1.6 km (1 mi) south of the rear light. Site status unknown. RU 2111-2170; ex-Admiralty L8256.
Nikandrovskiy Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 48 m (157 ft); white flash every 1.5 s. 16 m (52 ft) skeletal tower carrying a slatted daymark painted white with a black vertical stripe. No photo available, and Google has only a distant satellite view of the area. This is an upstream range. Located on the east side of the river just north of the settlement of Baykalovsk. Site status unknown. RU 2111-2165; ex-Admiralty L8254.
Nikandrovskiy Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 56 m (184 ft); one long white flash every 6 s. 26 m (89 ft) skeletal tower carrying a slatted daymark painted white with a black vertical stripe. No photo available, and Google has only a distant satellite view of the area. Located 930 m (0.58 mi) south of the front light. Site status unknown. RU 2111-2166; ex-Admiralty L8254.1.
Nikandrik Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 21 m (69 ft); one long white flash every 6 s. 15 m (49 ft) skeletal tower carrying a slatted daymark painted white with a black vertical stripe. No photo available, and Google has only a distant satellite view of the area. This is a downstream range. Located on the west side of the river opposite the Nikandrovskiy Range. Site status unknown. RU 2111-2191; ex-Admiralty L8258.1.
Nikandrik Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); white flash every 1.5 s. 12 m (39 ft) skeletal tower carrying a slatted daymark painted black with a white vertical stripe. Evgeny Gusev's photo is at right, but Google has only a distant satellite view of the area. Located about 460 m (0.29 mi) south of the rear light. Site status unknown. RU 2111-2190; ex-Admiralty L8258.
Turushin-Beregovoy Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 69 m (226 ft); one long white flash every 6 s. 15 m (49 ft) skeletal tower carrying a slatted daymark painted white with a black vertical stripe. No photo available, and Google has only a distant satellite view of the area. This is a downstream range; it guides vessels in a passage diagonally across the braided river. Located on the east side of the river about 5 km (3 mi) south of Baykalovsk. Site status unknown. RU 2111-2226; ex-Admiralty L8264.1.
Turushin-Beregovoy Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 46 m (151 ft); white flash every 1.5 s. 15 m (49 ft) skeletal tower carrying a slatted daymark painted black with a white vertical stripe. No photo available, and Google has only a distant satellite view of the area. Located about 1220 m (0.76 mi) southwest of the rear light. Site status unknown. RU 2111-2225; ex-Admiralty L8264.
Sopochnyy Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 31 m (102 ft); one long white flash every 6 s. 18 m (59 ft) pyramidal skeletal tower carrying a slatted daymark painted white with a black vertical stripe. No photo available, and Google has only a distant satellite view of the area. This is a downstream range guiding vessels on a long reach into the delta. The front light is on a 6 m (20 ft) tower. Located near the south end of an island, Ostrov Sopochnyy. Site status unknown. RU 2111-2286; ex-Admiralty L8274.1.
Muksuninskiy Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 41 m (135 ft); green flash every 1.5 s. 14 m (46 ft) square steel skeletal tower carrying a slatted daymark painted black with a white vertical stripe. No photo available, and Google has only a distant satellite view of the area. This is an upstream range. Located on the east side of the river on a high bluff overlooking the start of the delta. Site status unknown. RU 2111-2260; ex-Admiralty L8270.
Nikandrik Range Front Light
Nikandrik Range Front Light
photo copyright Evgeny Gusev; used by permission
Muksuninskiy Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 48 m (157 ft); one long green flash every 6 s. 22 m (72 ft) square steel skeletal tower carrying a slatted daymark painted black with a white vertical stripe. Evgeny Gusev's photo is at the top of this page, but Google has only a distant satellite view of the area. Located about 1.1 km (0.7 mi) south of the rear light. Site status unknown. RU 2111-2261; ex-Admiralty L8270.1.
Chernilovskiy Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 22 m (72 ft); one long white flash every 6 s. 15 m (49 ft) square steel skeletal tower carrying a slatted daymark painted white with a black vertical stripe. No photo available, and Google has only a distant satellite view of the area. This is an upstream range guiding vessels leaving the delta. The front light is on a 9 m (30 ft) tower. Located on the west side of the river opposite the Muksuninskiy Range (previous entries). Site status unknown. RU 2111-2281; ex-Admiralty L8272.1.
Lugovoy Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 22 m (72 ft); one long white flash every 6 s. 15 m (49 ft) square steel skeletal tower carrying a slatted daymark painted white with a black vertical stripe. No photo available, and Google has only a distant satellite view of the area. This is a downstream range. Located on the east side of the river a short distance south of the Chernilovskiy Range. Site status unknown. RU 2111-2203; ex-Admiralty L8276.1.
Lugovoy Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane about 18 m (59 ft); white flash every 1.5 s. 15 m (49 ft) square steel skeletal tower carrying a slatted daymark painted black with a white vertical stripe. No photo available, and Google has only a distant satellite view of the area. Located about 750 m (0.47 mi) southwest of the rear light. Site status unknown. RU 2111-2202; ex-Admiralty L8276.
Verkhne Golovinskiy Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 19 m (62 ft); white flash every 1.5 s. 12 m (39 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower carrying a slatted daymark painted white with a black vertical stripe. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. This is an upstream range. Located on the south point of an island on the west side of the river just above the delta. Site status unknown. RU 2111-2325; ex-Admiralty L8280.
Verkhne Golovinskiy Range Rear (2)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 28 m (92 ft); one long white flash every 6 s. 21 m (69 ft) square steel skeletal tower carrying a slatted daymark painted white with a black vertical stripe. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. The original light tower was replaced in 2008. Located about 750 m (0.47 mi) south of the rear light. Site status unknown. RU 2111-2326; ex-Admiralty L8280.1.

Yenisey River Lighthouses between the Delta and Dudinka
Nizhne Sechenskiy Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 81 m (266 ft); one long red flash every 6 s. 15 m (49 ft) square skeletal tower carrying a slatted daymark painted white with a black vertical stripe. No photo available, but Google has a good satellite view. This is a downstream range guiding vessels on a long south to north reach approaching the village of Karaul. Located on the east side of the river about 5 km (3 mi) east of Karaul. Site status unknown. RU 2111-2381; ex-Admiralty L8288.1.
Nizhne Sechenskiy Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 61 m (200 ft); red flash every 1.5 s. 12 m (39 ft) square skeletal tower carrying a slatted daymark painted black with a white vertical stripe. No photo available, but Google has a good satellite view. Located about 700 m (2300 ft) south of the rear light. Site status unknown. RU 2111-2380; ex-Admiralty L8288.
Selyakino (Mys Selyakin) Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 74 m (243 ft); one long white flash every 6 s. 12 m (49 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower carrying a slatted daymark painted white with a black vertical stripe. Evgeny Gusev has a photo showing both towers (this one is on the left), and Google has a satellite view. This is a downstream range guiding vessels on a long south to north reach approaching a high bluff called Mys (Cape) Selyakin. Located on the east side of the river near the settlement of Selyakino. Site status unknown. RU 2111-2431; ex-Admiralty L8296.1.
Selyakino (Mys Selyakin) Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 61 m (200 ft); red flash every 1.5 s. 12 m (39 ft) square skeletal tower carrying a slatted daymark painted black with a white vertical stripe. Evgeny Gusev's photo is at right, and Google has a satellite view of the area. Located about 370 m (1215 ft) south of the rear light. Site status unknown. RU 2111-2430; ex-Admiralty L8296.
Yuzhno-Krestovskiy Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 62 m (203 ft); white flash every 1.5 s. 13 m (43 ft) square skeletal tower carrying a slatted daymark painted white with a black vertical stripe. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. This is an upstream range. Located on the east side of the river about halfway between Dudinka and the delta. Site status unknown. RU 2111-2500; ex-Admiralty L8314.
Yuzhno-Krestovskiy Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 85 m (279 ft); one long white flash every 6 s. 18 m (59 ft) square skeletal tower carrying a slatted daymark painted white with a black vertical stripe. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located about 580 m (0.36 mi) northeast of the rear light. Site status unknown. RU 2111-2501; ex-Admiralty L8314.1.
Nizhne Dudinskiy Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 62 m (203 ft); white flash every 1.5 s. 13 m (43 ft) square skeletal tower carrying a slatted daymark painted white with a black vertical stripe. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. This is an upstream range. Located on a bluff about 3 km (2 mi) north of Dudinka; accessible by road. Site status unknown. RU 2111-2570; ex-Admiralty L8328.
Nizhne Dudinskiy Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 85 m (279 ft); one long white flash every 6 s. 18 m (59 ft) square skeletal tower carrying a slatted daymark painted white with a black vertical stripe. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located about 610 m (2000 ft) southeast of the rear light; accessible by road from Dudinka. Site status unknown. RU 2111-2571; ex-Admiralty L8328.1.
Selyakino Range Front Light
Selyakino (Mys Selyakin) Range Front Light
Panoramio photo copyright Evgeny Gusev; used by permission

Yenisey River Lighthouses between Dudinka and Igarka
Ostrovnoy-Gribanovskiy Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 29 m (95 ft); one long red flash every 6 s. 15 m (49 ft) skeletal tower carrying a slatted daymark painted white with a black vertical stripe. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. This is an upstream range; the front light is on a similar 9 m (30 ft) tower. Located on an island about 20 km (13 mi) southwest of Dudinka. Site status unknown. RU 2111-2596; ex-Admiralty L8336.1.
Gribanovskiy Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 46 m (151 ft); one long white flash every 6 s. 35 m (115 ft) skeletal tower carrying a slatted daymark painted white with a black vertical stripe. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. This is an downstream range; the front light is on a similar 7 m (23 ft) tower. Located on the east side of the river about 5 km (3 mi) south of the Ostrovnoy-Gribanovskiy Range. Site status unknown. RU 2111-2626; ex-Admiralty L8344.1.
Vershininskiy Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 60 m (197 ft); one long red flash every 6 s. 15 m (49 ft) skeletal tower carrying a slatted daymark painted white with a black vertical stripe. No photo available, but Google has a good satellite view. This is a downstream range. Located on the east side of the river about 50 km (30 mi) south of Dudinka. Site status unknown. RU 2111-2661; ex-Admiralty L8350.1.
Vershininskiy Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 50 m (164 ft); red flash every 1.5 s. 15 m (49 ft) skeletal tower carrying a slatted daymark painted black with a white vertical stripe. No photo available, but Google has a good satellite view. Located 183 m (600 ft) south of the rear light. Site status unknown. RU 2111-2660; ex-Admiralty L8350.
Nikol'skiy North Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 59 m (194 ft); one long white flash every 6 s. 15 m (49 ft) skeletal tower carrying a slatted daymark painted white with a black vertical stripe. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. This is a downstream range. Located on the east side of the river about 80 km (50 mi) south of Dudinka. Site status unknown. RU 2111-2666; ex-Admiralty L8352.1.
Nikol'skiy North Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 47 m (154 ft); white flash every 1.5 s. 12 m (39 ft) skeletal tower carrying a slatted daymark painted black with a white vertical stripe. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located 370 m (1215 ft) south of the rear light. Site status unknown. RU 2111-2665; ex-Admiralty L8352.
Nikol'skiy South Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 42 m (138 ft); white flash every 1.5 s. 15 m (49 ft) skeletal tower carrying a slatted daymark painted white with a black vertical stripe. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. This is a upstream range guiding vessels on a very long southbound reach. Located on the west side of the river about 100 km (60 mi) south of Dudinka. Site status unknown. RU 2111-2690; ex-Admiralty L8358.
Nikol'skiy South Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 56 m (184 ft); one long white flash every 6 s. 15 m (49 ft) skeletal tower carrying a slatted daymark painted black with a white vertical stripe. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located 740 m (0.46 mi) south of the front light. Site status unknown. RU 2111-2691; ex-Admiralty L8358.1.
Nosok Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 47 m (154 ft); white flash every 1.5 s. 12 m (39 ft) skeletal tower carrying a slatted daymark painted white with a black vertical stripe. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. This is a upstream range guiding vessels through a narrow stretch of the river. Located on the east side of the river about 160 km (100 mi) south of Dudinka. Site status unknown. RU 2111-2700; ex-Admiralty L8360.
Nosok Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 55 m (180 ft); one long white flash every 6 s. 16 m (52 ft) skeletal tower carrying a slatted daymark painted black with a white vertical stripe. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located 480 m (0.3 mi) southeast of the front light. Site status unknown. RU 2111-2701; ex-Admiralty L8360.1.
Kychkovskiy Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 32 m (105 ft); white flash every 1.5 s. 13 m (43 ft) skeletal tower carrying a slatted daymark painted red with a white vertical stripe. No photo available, and Google has only a blurry satellite view of the area. This is a upstream range guiding vessels on a long southbound reach. Located on the west side of the river about 150 km (95 mi) north of Igarka, opposite the mouth of the Khantayka River. Site status unknown. RU 2111-2810; ex-Admiralty L8376.
Kychkovskiy Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 41 m (135 ft); one long white flash every 6 s. 15 m (49 ft) skeletal tower carrying a slatted daymark painted red with a white vertical stripe. No photo available, and Google has only a blurry satellite view of the area. Located 370 m (1215 ft) south of the front light. Site status unknown. RU 2111-2811; ex-Admiralty L8376.1.
Khantayskiy Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 38 m (125 ft); white flash every 1.5 s. 12 m (39 ft) skeletal tower carrying a slatted daymark painted white with a black vertical stripe. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. This is a upstream range. Located on the east side of the river just south of the mouth of the Khantayka River. Site status unknown. RU 2111-2825; ex-Admiralty L8380.
Khantayskiy Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 47 m (154 ft); one long white flash every 6 s. 18 m (59 ft) skeletal tower carrying a slatted daymark painted white with a black vertical stripe. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located 260 m (850 ft) southeast of the front light. Site status unknown. RU 2111-2826; ex-Admiralty L8380.1.
Verkhne Khantayskiy Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 51 m (167 ft); one long white flash every 6 s. 21 m (69 ft) skeletal tower carrying a slatted daymark painted white with a black vertical stripe. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. This is a downstream range guiding vessels on a long northbound reach approaching the Khantayka River. Located on the east side of the river about 5 km (3 mi) south of the Khantayka. Site status unknown. RU 2111-2841; ex-Admiralty L8384.1.
Verkhne Khantayskiy Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 33 m (108 ft); white flash every 1.5 s. 15 m (49 ft) skeletal tower carrying a slatted daymark painted black with a white vertical stripe. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located 550 m (1800 ft) southwest of the rear light. Site status unknown. RU 2111-2840; ex-Admiralty L8384.

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

Adjoining pages: North: Yenisey Gulf

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Posted December 29, 2011. Checked and revised February 26, 2017. Lighthouses: 40. Site copyright 2017 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.