Derbent Lighthouse, Stone lighthouse in Derbent, Russia.
The Derbent Lighthouse is an octagonal stone structure standing 18.6 meters tall on the remains of the northern city wall, about one kilometer from today's Caspian Sea coastline. This stone-built landmark serves as a distinctive marker in the ancient port city.
The lighthouse was constructed in 1853 to support steamship navigation on the Caspian Sea and survived a major earthquake in 1892. The structure maintained its function during military disturbances in the early 1900s.
The lighthouse reflects the connection between this port city and the sea, which has shaped its economic life over centuries. Visitors can observe how the structure integrates with the old city layout and tells the story of the region's maritime past.
The lighthouse remains operational and its beam reaches approximately 18 nautical miles across the Caspian Sea. Since it is an active navigation aid, checking access conditions beforehand can be helpful.
The structure is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site of ancient Derbent, considered one of Russia's oldest settlements. The combination of ancient walls and the modern lighthouse shows how the city was continuously inhabited and built over millennia.
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