Luparivskyi Front Lighthouse: 120 years of service
Ukrainian lighthouses form a distinct and remarkable part of the country’s national heritage.
This year marks the 120th anniversary of the Luparivskyi Front Lighthouse being first lit. For over a century, its beam has guided mariners across the waves, providing a vital sense of certainty and peace. It was built in 1906 in the village of Lupareve, located on the left bank of the Southern Buh River in the Mykolaiv region.
The history of the Luparivskyi Front Lighthouse remains relatively obscure, even though the lighthouse is an essential part of Ukraine’s maritime and hydrographic heritage. It serves as a component of the leading line that guides vessels through the seventh elbow of the Buzko-Dniprovsko-Lymanskyi Channel. While range lighthouses typically share a name and are distinguished only as “front” and “rear,” this pair is a rare exception: it is formed by the Luparivskyi Front and the Kysliakivskyi Rear lighthouses.
The navigational history of the Buzko-Dniprovsko-Lymanskyi Channel dates back at least to the mid-19th century. The 1851 edition of the Sailing Directions for the Black Sea and Sea of Azov advised mariners to navigate the channel using an optical telegraph, which served as an aid to navigation at the time. By 1862, however, the structure had deteriorated so severely that it was dismantled. It was replaced by a new aid to navigation: a 10-metre mast with four supporting braces, topped with a wooden signal board.
The modern history of the Luparivskyi Front Lighthouse as a lighted aid to navigation began in 1906. That year, the lighthouse was built on the site of previous landmarks, becoming part of the navigation support system for the Buzko-Dniprovsko-Lymanskyi Channel.
During the Second World War, the Luparivskyi Front Lighthouse was severely damaged. It was not until 1955 that a new 13-metre quadrangular stone tower was constructed to take its place. To maximize visibility for approaching vessels, the seaward side of the tower was painted red and marked with a distinctive, broad white horizontal stripe.
The Luparyvskyi Front Lighthouse is equipped with a dioptric light-optical apparatus. It emits a fixed red light aligned with the leading line, providing a
visibility range of 16 nautical miles (29.6 km).
The lighthouse is primarily powered by the external electrical grid, with a battery and diesel generator serving as backups. Since 2009, the status of both the light’s optical apparatus and the power supplies have been managed via the monitoring system.
Through wars, destruction, and changing eras, the lighthouse has remained steadfast in its mission: ensuring safe passage along one of southern Ukraine’s key waterways. It stands as an enduring example of an historic aid to navigation that continues to serve its purpose under modern shipping conditions.
The Luparivskyi Front Lighthouse has also earned a place in the hearts of lighthouse enthusiasts and philatelists. In 2009, it was featured in the first postage stamp souvenir sheet, Lighthouses of Ukraine, issued by the national postal service, Ukrposhta, in collaboration with the State Hydrographic Service of Ukraine (SHSU).
Text based on material kindly provided through the collaborative effort of the specialists at the State Hydrographic Service of Ukraine (SHSU)
IALA e-Bulletin Rapporteur: Paul Ridgway.
