Cape Aniva: the ruins of an atomic lighthouse on a remote island in the Far East

@ElentirENG ES 7·21·2022 · 23:21 0

El Cano Aniva, located on the island of Sakhalin, has one of the most remote and inaccessible lighthouses in the world, which was powered by nuclear energy.

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In 1937, the island of Sakhalin was part of the Japanese Empire. That year began the construction of a lighthouse to alert maritime traffic of the risks of Cape Aniva. The lighthouse, called Nakashiretoko and with a tower of 9 floors and 31 meters high, was completed in 1939.

At the end of World War II, the USSR annexed the island of Sakhalin. At this time, the Cape Aniva lighthouse was one of 132 Soviet lighthouses that were powered by atomic batteries, specifically by Strontium-90, which allowed these lighthouses to operate for 10 years without needing a recharge.

During Soviet times, the lighthouse was inhabited. Up to 12 people could reside in it, occupying the third, fourth and fifth floors. The light from the lighthouse was visible at a distance of 35 kilometers.

In 1990, in the midst of the decomposition of the USSR, the Cape Aniva lighthouse was automated and the personnel residing in the tower were removed. It was running on its atomic batteries until 2006, and then it was abandoned. Today it is a dilapidated building that, despite the dangers it entails and its remote location, attracts quite a few tourists. You can see here a video by Nikita Andreev, recorded with a drone, showing the exterior of this impressive lighthouse:

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Main image: Nikita Andreev.