Turkmenistan, a country of central Asia, was one of the constituent republics of the Soviet Union until 1991. At its western end, Turkemenistan borders the southeastern quadrant of the landlocked Caspian Sea, the world's largest lake. Since lighthouses on the Caspian are not included in international light lists not much is known about them. Further information, especially photos, would be welcome.
Turkmenbashi (known as Krasnovodsk under Russian and Soviet rule) is the only port of any size. Accessible by air and also by ferry from Baku in Azerbaijan, it is the country's main point of contact with Europe.
- Lighthouses
Karaada (Ostrov Karaada, Bekdash) - Date unknown. Active(?); characteristics unknown. Round or octagonal tower with lantern and gallery. Google has a fine satellite view of this historic light station. Karaada is a small island about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) southwest of Bekdash near the northwestern corner of Turkmenistan. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown; there must be a distant view from shore.
- ** Tarta
- Date unknown. Inactive. Approx. 17 m (56 ft) hexagonal stone tower with gallery, mounted on a square stone base. The tower was probably painted white originally, but little paint remains. Oleg Storozhenko's photo is at right, and he has also posted a more distant view. Storozhenko reports that the tower is abandoned. Located at Mys Tarta, a cape about 20 km (13 mi) west of Turkmenbashi. Site open; tower open.
- Kizyl-Su (Turkmenbashi, Krasnovodsk)
- Date unknown. Active(?); characteristics unknown. Round or octagonal tower with lantern and gallery. Google has a good satellite view of the station. Kizyl-Su is the original name of Krasnovodsk, now called Turkmenbashi. The city is built on a bay (Kizyl-Su or Krasnovodsk Bay) that is partially enclosed by a chain of barrier islands, and the light station is built at one of the highest points in this barrier. The light apparently serves as a landfall light, since it doesn't mark an entrance through the barrier. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown.
Tarta Light, June 2007
photo copyright Oleg
Storozhenko; used by permission