Department of labour and social protection. Webcam Berdyansk online

The history of Berdyansk begins in 1817, when Governor-General of the Novorossiysk territory was the French and Russian statesman Duke Rishele, the question of the construction of the port of Azov was discussed by the Governing Senate. Construction began at the mouth of the river Obitochnaya, where arose the present town of Primorsk.

However, it soon became clear that for the port the location was badly chosen. In 1824 count M. S. Vorontsov, the new Governor-General, instructed Admiral Alexey Greig to an expedition, headed by captain of the second rank of Cretan and surveyor Manganari, which was to find a convenient place for the construction of the pier on the North sea of Azov.

In damp, cold, windy autumn 1824 Cretan fulfilled his assignment and in the report of M. S. Vorontsov wrote: "Berdyansk spit incredibly superior dignity of his Obitochnaya, and you can have the Marina and the port is Sevastopol will give in..."

The obvious benefit of choice of location for the port of Berdyansk had convinced the Emperor, Nicholas I, who visited the Azov sea region, 20-21 October 1828, following from Mariupol to the Crimea.

July 1, 1830, took place the solemn opening of the pier, which is notified Newspapers of Russia. Authority new port grew rapidly, and in 1835 Berdyansk has received the city status.

In 1838 was built Nizhneserginskiy lighthouse, which is a 23-foot octagonal white stone tower with an orange stripe in the middle. The first weak beacon lights sailing ships plied the sea of Azov, saw in 1840. And after almost half a century, in 1883, to replace the kerosene lamp came electric. The beacon-veteran reconstructed and equipped with new equipment, and now carries his watch, pointing the way to the ships to native coast.

The city of Berdyansk were growing and developing, although at first development was carried out haphazardly and chaotically. In the centre was erected the mansions of the nobility, merchants, priests, office space.

And on the outskirts there were Berdyansk colony: a sailor, a German, a Soldier (better known as Liski), Dog bar, gavrilovka, Near and Far Macarty...

In the middle of the last century in Berdyansk the main "employer" was still a seaport. Completed the construction of the breakwater, which was adopted by the special Commission of March 24, 1869. This stone building is 640 meters long with two port lights on the ends — the signs of passage into the Harbor, located at a distance of 859 meters from the shore, and still faithfully serves the port. In the late afternoon, when the breakwater the sun is setting, they can be enjoyed from the coastal area or the waterfront in Gorky street.

In the second half of the century in the city there were small industrial companies, opened banks. In the whole of Europe was aware of the plant D. Grievza production Greek. Factories of agricultural machinery was opened by schröder and Matias. Like mushrooms after the rain appeared rope and twine factory of the Crown and Janzen, sochno-wax Sellstrom plant, sausage factory Licona, brewery Fetter, pasta factory Claudina, the printing house of Ediger. The Italians built the city's power plant.

The transformation of Berdyansk in the port-industrial and merchant city, the efforts of democratically-minded circles was accompanied by significant changes in its appearance. By this time in the city came out two daily Newspapers, worked three libraries, four of the bookstore, running water, and there was light. In 1899, after many bureaucratic difficulties and delays, Berdyansk finally received a railway connection with the station Chaplino.

In about ten Orthodox churches, two Jewish and one Karaite synagogue, there are male and female grammar schools, nautical classes, city College, and several credit institutions.