Lighthouses of Northern Turkey

Most of the modern nation of Turkey occupies the broad peninsula of Anatolia (Asia Minor) between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. The northwestern corner of the country is the region of eastern Thrace, a part of Europe adjoining Greece and Bulgaria. Between Anatolia and Thrace is the small Sea of Marmara, connected to the Black Sea by the Bosporus and to the Aegean Sea by the Dardanelles. These narrow passages form a famous international waterway, lit by several historic lighthouses, connecting the Black Sea to the Mediterranean. This page describes the lighthouses of Turkey's Black Sea coast east of the Bosporus entrance. Lighthouses of the Bosporus, Thrace, the Sea of Marmora, and the Dardanelles are on the Northwestern Turkey page. The Turkish word for a lighthouse is fener (plural fenerler) or deniz feneri ("sea lantern"). Burnu is a cape or headland, ada or adası is an island, and limani is a harbor. Lighthouses in Turkey are operated by the Directorate General of Coastal Safety (Kıyı Emniyeti Genel Müdürlüğü). ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. Admiralty numbers are from volume E of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA List numbers are from Publication 113. General Sources Deniz Senyalleri ve Fenerer Official light lists posted by the Coastal Safety Directorate. Photos of nearly all the lighthouses are available here, but Microsoft Internet Explorer may be needed to follow the links. Historical Lighthouses Historical accounts in English for 12 lighthouses, posted by the Coastal Safety Directorate. Deniz Fenerleri Photos of 22 lighthouses by Haluk Özözlü.

Şile Feneri; Coastal Safety Directorate photo

Artvin Province Lighthouses
[Sarp (Hopa-Sarp, Georgian Boundary) Range Front]

1980. Active; focal plane 33.5 m (110 ft); white light occulting once every 4 s. 20 m (66 ft) steel post light. The seaward side of the pylon carries a 6 m (20 ft) wide slatted daymark, painted white with a red vertical stripe on the range line. These range lights were built following an agreement between Turkey and the Soviet Union establishing the boundary between the two countries' 12-mile territorial waters; the range line lies along this sea boundary. The rear light is just on the Georgian side of the border and is listed under Georgia. The Coastal Safety Directorate has an account of the history of the station. Sarp is a town on the border. Located just south of the Georgian border near the waterfront. Site status unknown. ARLHS TUR-071; Admiralty E5779; NGA 19344.

Hopa Inner Breakwater

1973. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); red flash every 3 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) round concrete tower with gallery. Entire lighthouse is white. A closeup and another photo are available, and Google has a distant satellite view. Located at the end of the inner (east) breakwater of Hopa, Turkey's easternmost Black Sea port. Site status unknown. Admiralty E5780.6; NGA 19360.

Hopa Outer Breakwater

1973. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); green flash every 3 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) round concrete tower with gallery. Entire lighthouse is white. A 2008 photo and a view from the sea are available, and Google has a distant satellite view. Located at the end of the outer (west) breakwater of Hopa, Turkey's easternmost Black Sea port. Site status unknown. Admiralty E5780.5; NGA 19357.

* Hopa (Çamh Burnu) (2) 1980 (station established 1935). Active; focal plane 23 m (75 ft); two white flashes every 15 s. 12 m (39 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery and four ribs; no lantern. Two 1-story keeper's houses. Entire light station is white concrete. A photo is at right. Located on a headland about 4 km (2.5 mi) northeast of Arhavi and 12 km (7.5 mi) southwest of the town of Hopa. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS TUR-016; Admiralty E5780; NGA 19352. Rize Province Lighthouse * Rize (Piryos Burnu) (2) Date unknown (station established 1884). Active; focal plane 22 m (72 ft); white flash every 5 s. 18 m (59 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower with gallery; there is a square 1-story concrete equipment room sheltered by the base of the tower. No photo available. Located on a bluff overlooking the harbor of Rize. Site status unknown, but since the tower is close to the coastal road it should be easy to spot. Admiralty E5782; NGA 19368. Trabzon Province Lighthouses Arakli Burnu 1969. Active; focal plane 35 m (115 ft); white flash every 5 s. 12 m (39 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower with gallery; a section in the center of the tower is enclosed. The lighthouse is unpainted gray metallic. Located on a prominent cape about 3 km (2 mi) northwest of Arakli. This is just off the coastal highway, but the site status is unknown. Admiralty E5783; NGA 19384.

Hopa Feneri; Coastal Safety Directorate photo

[Trabzon Güzelhisar (2)]

Date unknown (station established 1863). Active; focal plane 31 m (102 ft); two white flashes every 15 s. 6 m (20 ft) square skeletal tower with a small lantern and gallery, painted white; lantern dome painted red. A view from the sea is available. The original lighthouse was a short masonry tower attached to a keeper's house, very similar to the surviving Sinop lighthouse (see photo below). The light stands in front of the historic citadel (güzelhisar) of Trabzond. Located on a promontory a short distance west of Trabzond harbor. Site status unknown. Admiralty E5784; NGA 19388.

* Yoroz (Isikli, Fener) Burnu

1886. Active; focal plane 25 m (82 ft); white flash every 10 s. 8 m (26 ft) round cylindrical stone tower, rising from the front of a 1-story keeper's house. Lighthouse painted white; the house has a red tile roof. A photo and a closeup are available, there are several additional photos, and Ted Sarah also has a small photo. Note: the location of the lighthouse is often called Fener Burnu (Lighthouse Point), but this risks confusion with another Fener Burnu lighthouse at Fenerbaçe, near İstanbul. Located on Yoroz Burnu (Cape Yoroz), a very prominent headland about 13 km (8 mi) northeast of Vakfikevir and about 35 km (22 mi) west of the city of Trabzon. Site status unknown. ARLHS TUR-010; Admiralty E5786; NGA 19408.

Giresun Province Lighthouses
* [Eynesil]

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 30 m (98 ft); white flash every 10 s. 7 m (23 ft) square skeletal tower, painted white. A photo shows the lighthouse built within the walls of the historic Eynesil fortress, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a prominent cape about 3 km (2 mi) northeast of the town of Eynesil. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS TUR-069; Admiralty E5787.5; NGA 19412.

Giresun

Date unknown (station established 1863). Active; focal plane 111 m (364 ft); white flash every 15 s. 12 m (39 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower with gallery; there is an enclosed section in the center of the tower. Lighthouse painted white. Located on a steep hilside overlooking the base of the breakwater of Giresun. Site status unknown. Admiralty E5790; NGA 19428.

Ordu Province Lighthouses

* Ordu (Piramet) Date unknown. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); white flash every 5 s. Approx. 13 m (43 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, painted white. Hasan Marangoz has a view from the sea. Located on the elbow of the breakwater at Kumbaşı, about 4 km (2.5 mi) northwest of Ordu. Probably accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty E5793; NGA 19444. * Çam Burnu (Vona-Ordu) 1880. Active; focal plane 39 m (128 ft); white flash every 10 s. 6 m (20 ft) round cylindrical masonry tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. A photo is at right, and another closeup photo is available. Located on a prominent cape 5 km (3 mi) north of Persembe and 25 km (15 mi) northwest of Ordu. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS TUR-067; Admiralty E5794; NGA 19448. Fatsa Yalıköy Breakwater 2001. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); quick-flashing green light. 11 m (36 ft) round concrete tower with gallery. Entire lighthouse is white. Hank van Es has a distant view. Located at the end of the breakwater at Yalıköy, a small port about 12 km (7.5 mi) east of Fatsa. Ünye Date unknown (station established 1911).Active; focal plane 19 m (62 ft); two white flashes every 6 s. 7.5 m (25 ft) round concrete tower with a flared top, centered on a square 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. Yasin Aydın has a good photo. Located on a promontory sheletering the harbor of Ünye. Site status unknown. Admiralty E5798; NGA 19460.

Çam Burnu Feneri; Coastal Safety Directorate photo

Samsun Province Lighthouses
Çalti Burnu

1961. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); white flash every 5 s. 15 m (49 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower, painted white. 1-story keeper's house painted white with a red tile roof. Located on a cape about 7 km (4.5 mi) northeast of Terme. Site status unknown. Admiralty E5799; NGA 19464.

Çiva Burnu (2)

Date unknown (station established 1880). Active; focal plane 23 m (75 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 18 m (59 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery. Entire lighthouse is white. The original light was a skeletal lighthouse, presumably similar to the surviving Bafra Burnu lighthouse (see below). Çiva Burnu (Cape Civa) is the wedge-shaped delta of the Yesilirmak River. Presently the river flows into the sea at the point of the cape. The lighthouse is 2.5 km (1.5 mi) southeast of the river mouth and about 30 km (19 mi) northeast of the city of Samsun. Site status unknown. ARLHS TUR-002; Admiralty E5800; NGA 19468.

Samsun East Mole

1959. Active; focal plane 13.5 m (45 ft); red flash every 5 s. 12 m (39 ft) round concrete tower. Entire lighthouse is white. A view from the north mole is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the east mole of Samsun harbor. Site status unknown. Admiralty E5803; NGA 19476.

Samsun North Mole

1959. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); green flash every 2 s. 11 m (36 ft) round concrete tower. Entire lighthouse is white. Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the north mole of Samsun harbor. Site status unknown. Admiralty E5802; NGA 19480.

* Samsun (2)

2008 (station established 1863). Active (?); focal plane about 16 m (52 ft); light characteristics unknown. Approx. 12 m (39 ft) octagonal cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-story building. The lighthouse appears to be unpainted white concrete; the lantern roof is red. Muammer Ay has a closeup photo apparently taken in June 2008, a closeup is available, and Google has a satellite view. The lighthouse is part of an extensive beach redevelopment project being undertaken by the city of Samsun; there is a photo of the lighthouse under construction (a little less than halfway down the page). The lighthouse resembles the original lighthouse as seen in a postcard view posted by Klaus Huelse. That lighthouse disappeared sometime in the 1930s or 1940s. Located near the base of the Samsun North Mole.

* Bafra Burnu

1880. Active; focal plane 25 m (82 ft); white flash every 5 s. 23 m (75 ft) hexagonal pyramidal cast iron skeletal tower with lantern, gallery, enclosed 2-story watch room, and central cylinder. Entire lighthouse painted white. Another small photo is available (1/4 the way down the page), there's a distant view, the Coastal Safety Directorate has the history of the station, and Google has a good satellite view. The lighthouse was prefabricated in France. Bafra Burnu is the cape formed by the delta of the Kizilirmak (Irmak River), which drains a large part of central Anatolia. Located about 1 km (0.6 mi) southwest of the river's mouth near Sahilkent, about 20 km (13 mi) north of Bafra. Site apparently open, tower closed. Admiralty E5806; NGA 19496.

Sinop Province Lighthouses
* Gerze (Kosk Burnu)

1944. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); two white flashes every 3 s. 6 m (20 ft) round concrete tower with double gallery and four ribs. Entire light house is white. A photo is available, and C. Tosun also has a photo. Located on a sharp promontory that shelters the harbor of Gerze, about 25 km (15 mi) south of Sinop. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty E5807; NGA 19508.

* Gerze North Mole Date unknown. Active; characteristics unknown. Approx. 9 m (30 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery. Entire lighthouse is white. A photo is available. Located at the end of the north breakwater mole of Gerze. Accessible by walking the mole. Site open, tower closed. * Sinop (Boztepe Burnu) 1863. Active; focal plane 107 m (351 ft); two white flashes every 15 s. 4 m (13 ft) lantern mounted on a concrete pedestal and attached to the seaward side of a small 1-story concrete keeper's house. Entire lighthouse is white. A photo is at right. This might be the original lighthouse covered by stucco. Boztepe Burnu is a promontory, shaped rather like a turkey's head, that protects the harbor of Sinop, one of the oldest ports of Turkey's Black Sea coast. Located at the tip of the promontory. Accessible by road. Site apparently open, tower closed. Admiralty E5808; NGA 19512. İnce Burun (Sinop) 1863. Active; focal plane 26 m (85 ft); four white flashes every 20 s. 12 m (39 ft) masonry tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-story masonry keeper's house. The upper portion of the tower is octagonal and the lower portion is square. Entire lighthouse painted white. Three additional keeper's houses or other light station buildings. Kerim Arli has a good 2007 photo, another good photo is available, Okan Çalış has a photo, and Google has an excellent satellite view of the station. This lighthouse stands on the northernmost point of Turkey. Note: Turkey has several other İnce Buruns. Located on the point of the cape, about 25 km (15 mi) west northwest of Sinop. Site status unknown. ARLHS TUR-005; Admiralty E5810; NGA 19532.

Sinop Feneri; Coastal Safety Directorate photo

Usta Burnu (Ayancik)

1963. Active; focal plane 29 m (87 ft); white flash every 5 s. 6 m (20 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower mounted atop a square 1-story concrete equipment room. Located on a prominent cape at Caylioglu, about 8 km (5 mi) west of Ayancik. Site status unknown. Admiralty E5811; NGA 19536.

Kastamonu Province Lighthouses

İnebolu (2) Date unknown (station established 1863). Active; focal plane 38 m (125 ft); white flash every 10 s. 9 m (30 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery and four ribs. Entire lighthouse is white. Located on a promontory overlooking the harbor of İnebolu. Site status unknown. Admiralty E5812; NGA 19544. İnebolu North Breakwater 1953. Active; focal plane 13.5 m (45 ft); green flash every 3 s. 7 m (23 ft) round concrete tower, painted white. Located at the end of the north (outer) breakwater of İnebolu. Site status unknown. Admiralty E5813; NGA 19548. Kerempe Burnu 1885. Active; focal plane 82 m (269 ft); one long (2 s) white flash every 20 s. 8 m (26 ft) round stone tower attached to the front of a 1-story stone keeper's house. Entire lighthouse painted white. A photo is at right, a 2008 closeup is available, and the lighthouse appears on a postage stamp. This lighthouse is on a mountainous cape and is probably difficult to access. Located on the point of the cape about 8 km (5 mi) west of Doğanyurt. Site status unknown. ARLHS TUR-007; Admiralty E5816; NGA 19556.

Kerempe Feneri; Coastal Safety Directorate photo

Bartın Province Lighthouses
Amasra South Breakwater

1961. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); red flash every 6 s. 10 m (33 ft) round hourglass-shaped steel tower, painted white. Google has a satellite view. Amasra is a small port about 15 km (9 mi) northeast of the city of Bartın. Located at the end of the south (really the east) breakwater. Site and tower closed. Admiralty E5818; NGA 19580.

* Amasra North Breakwater 1961. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); green flash every 6 s. 10 m (33 ft) round hourglass-shaped steel tower, painted white. Google has a satellite view. Amasra is a small port about 15 km (9 mi) northeast of the city of Bartın. Located at the end of the north breakwater; accessible by walking the mole. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty E5817.5; NGA 19584. Amasra 1863. Active; focal plane 77 m (253 ft); white flash every 10 s. Lantern mounted at the seaward end of a 1-story masonry keeper's house. NGA lists the tower height as 9 ft, but probably this does not include the lantern. A 2008 photo is at right, and the lighthouse is seen in a Google satellite view. This light is a sibling of the Sinop lighthouse. Located atop a cliff on the north side of a steep-sided island northwest of Amasra harbor. Site status unknown. Admiralty E5817; NGA 19576. Bartın Limani South Breakwater 1965. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); three green flashes every 10 s. 8 m (26 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery. Entire lighthouse is unpainted white concrete. The lighthouse is seen in a Google satellite view. Located on a promontory on the south side of Bartın harbor, 12 km (7.5 mi) northwest of the city. Site and tower closed. Admiralty E5818.6; NGA 19596.

Amasra Feneri, July 2008 anonymous Wikipedia public domain photo

Demirli Burnu

1965. Active; focal plane 70 m (230 ft); two white flashes every 6 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery. Entire lighthouse is unpainted white concrete. The lighthouse is seen in a Google satellite view. Located on a promontory on the south side of Bartın harbor, 12 km (7.5 mi) northwest of the city. Site and tower closed. Admiralty E5818.4; NGA 19588.

Zonguldak Province Lighthouses

Zonguldak (2) 1920s (station established 1908). Active; focal plane 53 m (174 ft); white flash every 5 s. 9 m (30 ft) round masonry tower with lantern and gallery, attached to the seaward side of a 1-story keeper's house. Lighthouse painted white. Lokman Önsoy's photo is at right, Ali Turner has a photo, a distant view is available, and the lighthouse appears on a postage stamp. The original lighthouse was a wood tower. Located on a high promontory at the northeast entrance to Zonguldak harbor. Site status unknown. ARLHS TUR-057; Admiralty E5820; NGA 19608. Zonguldak North Breakwater 2002. Active; focal plane 19 m (62 ft); red flash every 5 s. 12 m (39 ft) square skeletal tower mounted on a round, truncated conical stone tower. The tower is unpainted except the concrete gallery rail is painted red. Located at the end of the north breakwater of Zonguldak harbor. Site status unknown. Admiralty E5821; NGA 19624. Zonguldak West Breakwater 2002. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); green flash every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) square skeletal tower mounted on a round, truncated conical stone tower. The tower is unpainted except the concrete gallery rail is painted green. Located at the end of the west breakwater of Zonguldak harbor. Site status unknown. Admiralty E5822; NGA 19620.

Zonguldak Feneri, September 2007 Creative Commons photo by Lokman Önsoy

Ölüce Burnu

1863. Active; focal plane 78 m (256 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 9 m (30 ft) round tower, attached to the seaward end of a keeper's house. Lighthouse painted white. The lighthouse is easy to find in a Google satellite view. Located on a prominent cape about 3 km (2 mi) north of Ereğli. Site status unknown; Mustafa Kilic was able to take a distant view of the lantern. ARLHS TUR-044; Admiralty E5826; NGA 19632.

Ereğli Outer Breakwater

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); two green flashes every 5 s. 6 m (20 ft) white concrete tower "on hexagonal building," according to NGA. No closeup photo available; only the upper part of the tower is seen in a distant view from the sea. Located at the end of the new south outer breakwater of Ereğli. Site status unknown. Admiralty E5828; NGA 19652.

Kocaeli Province Lighthouse
* Kefken Adası (2)

Date unknown (station established 1879). Active; focal plane 24 m (79 ft); three white flashes every 15 s. 10 m (33 ft) octagonal cylindrical white concrete tower with a flared top and double gallery. A Coast Guard station adjoins the lighthouse. Özözlü has a distant photo. The history of this station is unknown; a 1920 light list describes the light as a 7 m (23 ft) metal column. One of the few islands on Turkey's Black Sea coast, Kefken is located off Kefken Burnu, a prominent cape about 50 km (30 mi) east of Şile. Boat transportation to the island is available. Located near the west end of the island, overlooking the island's harbor. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS TUR-058; Admiralty E5830; NGA 19664.

İstanbul Province Lighthouse
*** Şile Burnu

1859. Active; focal plane 60 m (197 ft); one long (1.5 s) white flash every 15 s. 19 m (62 ft) octagonal stone tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-story stone keeper's house. Tower painted white with narrow black horizontal bands. A photo appears at the top of this page; in addition, a 2005 photo, a black-and-white closeup photo, and a distant view are availabl, Wikipedia has a closeup by Serra Koyunc, and the Coastal Safety Directorate has the history of the station. Cape Şile is the first prominent cape east of İstanbul on Turkey's Black Sea coast. Built by French engineers under contract to the Ottoman Empire, the lighthouse is one of Turkey's best known and most beautiful. Located on the point of the cape about 1 km (0.6 mi) northeast of the town of Şile. Site open, tower listed by the Coastal Safety Directorate as open to visitors. ARLHS TUR-046; Admiralty E5832; NGA 19680.

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

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Posted April 16, 2007. Checked and revised June 18, 2009. Lighthouses 37. Site copyright 2009 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.