Anadolu Feneri, Historical lighthouse at Black Sea entrance, Istanbul, Turkey
Anadolu Feneri is a lighthouse at the Black Sea entrance to Istanbul, featuring a cylindrical stone tower with a gallery around its lantern room. An attached two-story keeper's house stands beside the tower, originally built to house those who operated and maintained the facility.
A first lighthouse at this location was documented in 1755, before the current structure began operations in 1856. The construction of this facility was part of modernizing ship navigation through the Bosphorus strait during the 1800s.
The name Anadolu Feneri comes from Turkish words meaning Anatolian Lighthouse, and it marks the Asian side entrance to the Bosphorus strait. From this vantage point, visitors can look across the water toward the European shore and feel the geographical divide between two continents.
The lighthouse is powered by electricity with a backup butane gas system for emergencies. Visitors should be prepared for wind and wear sturdy shoes when exploring the site.
This lighthouse forms a connecting line with Rumeli Feneri on the European shore and marks the northern boundary of Istanbul's port. These paired lighthouses were positioned so they could visually guide ships as they passed through the narrow waterway.
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