One of the most mysterious islands on our planet is Skrypleva. This place is so close to the mainland that you can feel yourself not only on the island, but also on the mainland. However, the inhabitants of this region feel like real Robinsons, isolated from the rest of the world.
In November 2021, the oldest lighthouse in Vladivostok on Skryplev Island turned 130 years old! This lighthouse has witnessed many stories that have happened here during this time.
The first thing that catches your eye when you arrive on the island, in addition to the rusty pier, is the signpost. It seems to remind you that from Skrypleva to Rio de Janeiro is 16,842 km, and to Singapore – 5,354. Fishing here is only 2 km away, but if you want to grab a beer, you need to walk 4.9 km. However, getting to the mainland is not that easy. The shores of Skrypleva are impregnable, and the sea here has character. This island is full of mysteries and secrets, attracting tourists from all over the world who are eager to discover this amazing corner of our planet.
Lighthouse chief Yuri Vakulenko tells how one family could not get to his island for 4 months, but the sea did not leave them in trouble. He says that he is friends with the sea and has his own special way to calm it down - for this he only needs a stone on the shore, a prayer and a couple of hours.
Raisa Samoylova has lived on this island for 17 years. She used to start every morning by walking around the area to find out what the sea had washed up on the shore. But now the number of gifts from the sea has decreased, but there is more garbage.
The island was named after Konstantin Skryplev, a naval hydrographer. The history of this place began on November 20, 1876, when the first lighthouse of Vladivostok was lit here. For many years, the Skryplev lighthouse was literally a stop for all ships entering the Bosphorus-Eastern Strait. Together with its brother standing opposite, the Basargin lighthouse, this lighthouse is the gateway to the ocean and an extremely important landmark in navigation.
Despite its proximity to Vladivostok, Skrypleva still remains a mysterious and little-known place for many people. Various legends and tales appear on the Internet, and they say that this small island once housed a prison. It was even nicknamed the seaside Alcatraz. However, Yuri Vakulenko, the head of the lighthouse, confirms that there have never been such terrible places on the island. Since the very end of the 19th century, there has been a lighthouse here that guards the sea and helps ships approach the shore safely.
In the 1930s, pillboxes and caponiers appeared on the island, which were used to protect Vladivostok from the sea. Skryplev was part of a coastal battery, which consisted of several points and provided protection for the port from enemy attacks. This story adds mystery and enigma to a place that is so little known to people.
One of the legends associated with the island says that during the Great Patriotic War, there was a female anti-aircraft battalion on Skryplevo, and young sailors in their boats sailed to meet girls from the neighboring Russian Island. Perhaps this is true, and perhaps not, but the fact remains - women really did serve on this island.
Today, Skryplev serves only a navigational function. The lighthouse on it is serviced by only five people, although the staff is supposed to be eight. However, the islanders do not complain about life and are happy that they are delivered food, water and fuel. Sometimes they manage to get out to the city, and sometimes guests drop by the beautiful island. This year, one guy in a scuba suit and fins decided to swim from Patrokl Bay to visit Skryplev. The owners not only did not drive him away, but also arranged a tour of the island. This proves that Skryplev is still a mysterious place that attracts people with its beauty and uniqueness.
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