Crimean mountains - the name of the peaks with a description, photo. The highest mountains of Crimea (photo)

In the place of the mountains in the Crimea, in ancient times, the sea spread. The bottom of the Black Sea was uneven, divided by underwater ridges into deep elongated hollows, in which sands and clays accumulated. In places, the ridges rose above sea level, forming rocky islands with a rugged coastline. In swampy areas of quiet shallow bays, tropical plants accumulated along with silt and sand, which later turned into coal.

In the eastern part of the Crimea lies the Kerch Peninsula, cut by the low Parpach ridge. In the place of the mountains in the Crimea, in the Middle Jurassic, the sea still spread. Its bottom was uneven, divided by underwater ridges into deep elongated hollows, in which sands and clays accumulated. In places, the ridges rose above sea level, forming rocky islands with a rugged coastline. In swampy areas of quiet shallow bays, tropical plants accumulated along with silt and sand, which later turned into coal.

The continuing deflection of the bottom of the geosyncline in the Middle Jurassic epoch again led to the formation of faults, along which magma again rushed from the depths. This epoch is the time of the most intense volcanic activity in the mountainous Crimea. The remains of Middle Jurassic volcanoes have been found in many parts of the Crimea - on Kara-Dag, near the village of Limeny (Blue Bay), near Melas and Foros, near the village of Karagach (Kizilovka) near Simferopol and in other places.

On the border of the Middle and Upper Jurassic periods, the most important event in the geological history of the mountainous Crimea takes place: for a relatively short period, almost all the dry land of the mountainous Crimea becomes elevated above sea level. During this period of time, the main features of the "architecture" of the mountains in the Crimea were formed. Then the sea returns to the Crimean mountains again, but it occupies a much smaller area. It was no longer a vast geosyncline, but a narrow and long trough, in which calcareous silts accumulated, which later turned into limestone. Today they form the uppermost part of the First Ridge.

The Late Jurassic trough with some changes also existed in the Lower Cretaceous. By the middle of the Cretaceous, the third great uplift in the history of the Crimean Mountains takes place: the islands, merging with each other, form the base of the future mountain range. Volcanoes arose on some islands. The volcanic activity of the Cretaceous period was the last stage of volcanism in the Crimean mountains. And although in its further geological history there were still many turbulent events, the outpouring of lavas was no longer repeated.
In subsequent geological epochs, the uplift of the Crimean Mountains expands, and its modern appearance is formed. Initially a vast island gradually turns into a peninsula. The development proceeded unevenly: the earth's crust either sank, and the outskirts of the peninsula were flooded with sea, then it rose significantly in the form of a wide flat arch.

In the middle of the Neogene period (11 - 12 million years ago), the territory on the site of the mountainous Crimea was never flooded by the sea again. The surface leveled by the sea was raised by tectonic processes to a height of up to 1300 m. This is the level of the flat tops of the First Ridge. The uplift of mountains in the Crimea led to a sharp increase in the destructive activity of rivers. Arrays of rocks broke off from the coastal limestone cliffs of the First Range and slid down steep slopes to the sea.

One of the last stages of the geological history of the Earth, the Quaternary, which is also called glacial, stands out in particular. At that time, in the northern hemisphere, not only high mountains, but also the plains adjacent to them were covered with ice. Large glaciers also covered the neighboring Crimean peninsula mountain ranges of the Carpathians and the Caucasus. In the Crimea, neither in the foothills nor in the mountains were found direct signs of glacier activity. But some scientists believe that during the maximum glaciation on the Russian Plain, the Crimean Mountains, then already significantly elevated, were covered with powerful accumulations of snow, and perhaps even glaciers. In the middle of the Quaternary period, arctic fox, reindeer, and lynx lived here. The vegetation on the northern slope of the Crimean Mountains was represented by birch forest-steppe. And when the climate warmed up, the traces of glacial activity on the yayles were destroyed by the rapidly advancing dissolution of limestones.

Connected to the mainland by a narrow Perekop isthmus, the mountainous Crimea has the shape of a quadrangle with a wide ledge - in the east by a long ledge of the Kerch Peninsula, in the northwest by the Tarkhankut Peninsula. The area of ​​Crimea is approximately 26 thousand square meters. km. The distance from the southernmost point of Crimea - Cape Sarych to Perekop in the north - 195 km, in the latitudinal direction from the Kerch Peninsula to Cape Tarkhankut - 325 km. Crimea from the south and west is washed by the Black Sea, from the east by Sivash - a shallow lagoon of the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov.
The surface of Crimea is sharply divided into the northern, flat (steppe) part, which occupies three-quarters of the area of ​​the peninsula, and the southern, mountainous, which accounts for a quarter of the entire area.
The relief of the flat part of the Crimea is rather monotonous. The picture is different in the mountainous Crimea. In the form of a gentle arc more than 160 km long, the mountains stretch along the southern coast of the peninsula. They consist of three ridges, gradually rising to the south and breaking off at the Black Sea coast with a multi-hundred-meter ledge.

The first, or Main Ridge, is the highest, stretching along the coast from Feodosia to Balaklava. Between its northern gentle and southern steep slopes there is a leveled surface of the ridges, the so-called yayls, in some places wide (up to 8 km), in others narrow, or even completely interrupted by deeply incised gorges.
The height of the eggs is different. Above all Babagun-yayla. It contains the highest peaks of the Crimean Mountains - Roman-Kosh (1545 m) and Demir-Kapu (1540 m).
The second ridge is much lower than the First (up to 600 - 750 m above sea level). It goes to the north, parallel to it, separated by a wide longitudinal valley.
The third ridge is the lowest, its height does not exceed 350 m above sea level. It is located north of the Second and is separated from it by a longitudinal valley, especially clearly expressed between Sevastopol and Simferopol.
In the eastern part of Crimea lies the Kerch Peninsula, cut by the low Parpach ridge.

). The total length of the Crimean Mountains is 160 km, the width is about 50 km. The height of the inner ridge reaches 750 m. The inner ridge is a series of cuestas, smoothly rising to 350 m. Crimean mountains located on the main ridge stretching along the entire southern coast of Crimea. This Mount Roman-Kosh(1545 m), located on Babugan-yayla.

Crimean mountains: origin

If we consider Crimean mountains through the eyes of a geologist, it can be seen that the Main Ridge is an elevated block with a series of faults from the north. Such a structure was formed already in the Early Cretaceous, after other synclinal troughs of the southern part of the peninsula closed and the surface of the Crimea rose, giving the landscape its modern shape. The mountains are composed mainly of sedimentary rocks, which are between 180 and 200 million years old. These rocks are unevenly distributed: at the bottom there are clay shales and quartzite sandstones, crumpled into small folds; the next layer is igneous rocks, conglomerates and clay-sand layers; Upper Jurassic limestones, conglomerates and sandstones, clay are located above.

Geologically Crimean mountains are part of the Alpine folded region of Europe.

The climate of the Crimean mountains

The mountain climate in the Crimea is humid and moderately cold, similar to the Mediterranean. In the mountains, winter begins in mid-October and lasts until the end of March. Closer to the peaks, the snow cover can reach a meter thick. The weather during this period is unstable, with sharp temperature fluctuations. mountain slopes Chatyr-Dag, Ai-Petri , Demerdzhi and Babugan-yayly in winter, avalanches are dangerous. Summer in the Crimean mountains is dry and hot, but even in July night temperatures can drop to 0°C. Each mountain slope of the peninsula has its own climatic conditions. This is due to the fact that each of them is affected by different winds.

Mountain tears: streams and rivers

In the Crimean mountains is the main watershed of the entire peninsula. Most of the rivers begin on the Main Ridge, at altitudes from 600 to 1100 meters. The total runoff from the mountains is about 774 million cubic meters with an average density of the river network of 0.2 km / km 2. According to the relief, watercourses can be divided into three groups: rivers, beams and streams of the Southern coast of Crimea, beams and rivers of the northwestern slopes of the Main Range, beams and rivers of the northeastern slopes of the Main Range.

The shortest streams are located on Southern coast of Crimea- there are practically no rivers longer than 10 kilometers. Starting on the south side of the Main Ridge, they empty into the Black Sea. These rivers are characterized by slopes from 172 to 234 m/km, with an average catchment height of up to 900 meters. In this group of rivers there are 36 streams with a total length of 293.6 km. The most important of them: Derekoika, Ulu-Uzen, Uchan-Su, Avunda.

The longest and most full-flowing rivers of Crimea begin on the northwestern side of the Main Ridge. There are only eight main rivers, but their total length is 328 km. They also empty into the Black Sea. The main rivers of this group are: Black, Belbek, Kacha, Kokkozka, Alma, Salgir, Biyuk-Karasu, Indole.

Flora and fauna of the Crimean mountains

Difficult topography and diverse climatic conditions ensured a variety of vegetation in the Crimean mountains, concentrated in a small space. From the point of view of botany, the mountains can be divided into the following zones:

• northern slopes;
• flat top (plateau);
• southern slopes.

The southern slopes are covered with the most typical vegetation for the Crimea, including specimens characteristic only of the Crimea. Mountain flora changes when climbing to the peaks, forming belts:

• lower - up to 226 meters (south-shore vegetation: abraham tree, zamaniha, hazelnuts, dogwood, cup tree, rosehip, blackberry, hold-tree, capers, mad cucumber, acacia, magnolia, boxwood, cork oak, bananas, wisteria, almonds , pistachio tree, walnut, etc.);
• medium - above 226 meters (deciduous forests consisting of small-leaved hornbeam, oak and Crimean pine predominate);
• the upper one consists mainly of beech forests, in which ordinary and Crimean pines, maple, aspen, dogwood, mountain ash are found.

On the northern slope, the first belt consists mainly of meadows. The kingdom of herbs is also on the yayla. Rich vegetation serves as a good shelter for Crimean animals. In the mountains you can see ground squirrels, hamsters, jerboas, Crimean weasels, hedgehogs, ferrets, badgers, martens, foxes, deer, roe deer, moufflons and wild boars. sky above Crimean mountains different types of larks, bald bald, millet, wheatears, bee-eaters, shrikes, starlings, nightjars, nightingales, warblers, jays, vultures, vultures and dozens of species of other birds have chosen.

Caves of Crimea

In the Crimean mountains, a large number of caves of various sizes have been discovered. The most famous of them:

• Sceltic;
• Red (Kyzyl-Koba);
• Honey;
• Yeni Sala;
• hanging;
• Geophysical;
• Basman;
• Thousand-headed (Binbash-Koba);
• Marble;
• Suuk-Koba.

Reserves and sanctuaries of the mountainous Crimea

The unique nature of the Crimean Mountains has been preserved thanks to human efforts: on the territory of the mountain range there are several nature reserves and reserves of national importance. The largest of them:

• Crimean Nature Reserve (the largest reserve of the peninsula, located in the central part of the mountainous Crimea, area - about 33 thousand hectares);
• Orlinovsky reserve;
• Beech grove (Ai-Petri);
• Reserve "Chatyr-Dag".

Grand Canyon of Crimea

On the east side Kokkozka valley, cut into the northern slope of the Ai-Petri Yayla, there is a gorge called the Grand Canyon of Crimea. Since 1974, it has been a nature reserve and is protected by the state. The depth of the canyon reaches 320 m, the length is 3.5 km, the width in the narrowest places is about 3 m. The Auzun-Uzen River flows along the bottom of the canyon.

The most famous "mountain" places of Crimea

There are many places in the Crimean mountains that are popular not only among rock climbers, but also among ordinary tourists. These places delight the eye with the beauty of the local landscapes, inherent only to them, and the magnificent panoramic views that open from them. The most famous "mountain" places of the Crimea are.

When asked what is the highest mountain in Crimea, they often answer that the highest mountain in Crimea is Ai-Petri. Wrong answer!

But obviously, such an answer proves that Ai-Petri is the most famous (popular) mountain of Crimea.

Tourists who visited the Vorontsov Palace, an English park, and then climbed to the top of Ai-Petri by funicular, forever remember the beauty and name of this mountain. Artek residents know that the height of Ai-Petri is like a counter: one, two, three, four, five - 1234 meters. This is not the highest mountain in Crimea. And it does not belong to the high Crimean mountains.

What Crimean mountains do you know? The answer sounds: Ayu-Dag (Bear Mountain). This is another mountain that is most memorable for tourists. Its height is 577 m. It is clear that with such a height, Ayu-Dag (Bear Mountain) cannot be called the highest mountain of Crimea and even be among the top ten highest mountains of Crimea. What mountain of the Crimean peninsula is the highest?

The highest mountain in Crimea

Roman-Kosh. Remember this name! This is the highest mountain in Crimea. Roman-Kosh- its height is 1545 m.

Second highest mountain Demir-Kapu, 1540m. Then, Zeytin-Kosh- 1537m; Kemal-Egerek- 1529m; Eklizi-Burun- 1527m. As you can see, these mountains are slightly inferior in height to the highest mountain of Crimea, Roman-Kosh.

But, for some reason, the names of these mountains are never listed by tourists. Chufut-Kale, Sapun Mountain, Chatyr-Dag, the Karadag mountain range ... remember. But they cannot name the highest mountain of Crimea.

Mountains are closest to heaven, and therefore mountains are always sacred. And the higher the mountain, the closer it is to God. The mountains are fraught with a special energy.

To feel it, you need to visit the mountains one day. And then, you confidently exclaim: “Only mountains can be better than mountains!” Nature reserves and karst caves (one of the most beautiful caves in the world Marble), Demerdzhi ghost valley (1356 m) - that's what the Crimean mountains are!

Crimean mountains- are located in the southern part of the Crimean peninsula, stretching in three ridges from Cape Aya in the vicinity of Balaklava in the west to Feodosia in the east. The length is about 160 km, the width is about 50 km. The outer ridge consists of hills up to 350 m high, the inner ridge reaches a height of 750 m, the highest point of the Main Ridge (Yaila) stretching along the sea - Mount Roman-Kosh 1545 m high, is located on Babugan-Yayle.

Plate-like massifs are stretched in a chain from the southwest to the northeast of the Main Ridge in the following order: Baydar Yayla, located at an altitude of up to 739 meters above sea level; Ai-Petrinskaya yayla (up to 1320 m), Yalta yayla (up to 1406 m), Nikitskaya yayla (up to 1470 m), Gurzufskaya yayla (up to 1540 m) and Babugan-yayla (with the highest point of Crimea Mount Roman-Kosh - 1545 m) . All these yayls are interconnected and form a closed top of the western chain of the Main Ridge. In contrast to them, the yayls, located to the east, are fragmented massifs, separated from each other by deep mountain passes or passes (bogazes). The Kebit pass separates the Babugan massif and Chatyrdag located to the east (height - up to 1527 m above sea level). Behind the next, Angarsk pass, there is Mount Demerdzhi (the highest point - 1356 m) and Dolgorukovsky massif (up to 1000 m). Even further, also beyond the pass, at an altitude of up to 1259 m, the most extensive Karabi-yayla stretches. In the eastern part of the Crimean Mountains, small ridges and short ridges with separate peaks and peaks, including those of volcanic origin, such as the Karadag massif, formed instead of yayla.

Grand Canyon of Crimea. Since 1974 it has been a state nature reserve. It is located on the eastern side of the Kokkozskaya valley, in the depths of the northern slope of the Ai-Petri Yayla, 4 km southeast of the village of Sokolinoye. The depth of the gorge reaches 250-320 meters, the width in the narrowest places of the canyon does not exceed 2-3 meters. The Auzun-Uzen River flows along the bottom of the canyon. For the first time, the Grand Canyon was described in detail by Professor I.I. Puzanov in 1925.

Due to the complex relief and various climatic and meteorological conditions, the Crimean Mountains have a wide variety of vegetation in a small space. If we consider from the point of view of flora, then the Crimean mountains can be divided into zones: the vegetation of the southern slopes of the mountains, the flat top of the mountain range - Yayla and the northern slope of the mountains.

The vegetation of the southern slope of the Crimean mountains is the most typical for the Crimea. It contains elements peculiar only to the Crimea. As the mountains rise, the vegetation of the southern mountains changes greatly, forming characteristic belts:

South-Berezhskaya vegetation (Maquis belt) - occupies the lowest part of the southern slope. This belt is characterized by the predominance of shrubs. Only here grow wild evergreens: needle, strawberry tree, Cretan rockrose and ivy. In addition to wild evergreens, a number of cultivated ones grow in the South-Berezhsky belt: cypress, laurel tree and oil tree. The most characteristic plants complete the picture of the vegetation of the maquis belt of the southern slope:

Shrubs and semi-shrubs: juniper, Abraham tree, zamaniha, dogwood, hold-tree, cup tree, blackberry and wild rose.
Herbs: capers, spurge, wild cucumber.

Decorative breeds bred by man: silk acacia, magnolia, chamerops, cork oak, plane trees, bushes, bananas, ailanthus, climbing glycine. Fruits: sweet almond, sweet chestnut, pistachio tree, loquat, pomegranate, fig tree and walnut.

The belt following the maquis, located above 226 meters. This belt is dominated by woody vegetation, which forms deciduous forests of a mixed type, but with a predominance of oak and small-leaved hornbeam. But in addition to oak and hornbeam, you can find here, especially in the western part, the Crimean pine, which differs from the ordinary one in long needles (8 - 15 cm), sitting checkers, and a pyramidal tent.

The 3rd horizontal belt of vegetation consists of almost pure beech forests, but in some places there is Crimean and common pine, as well as other tree species: aspen, maple, mountain ash, dogwood. Beech forests rise to the very top of the southern slope of the mountains.

In general, the vegetation belts of the northern slope of the mountains are located in the same way as on the southern slope, only there is no maquis belt on the northern slope. Instead, there is a meadow-steppe or forest strip with mixed vegetation. Pine is found almost along the entire slope. However, it grows in significant quantities on the slopes. On the cliffs of the mountains, a red-stemmed species with bright green short needles is more common - Scots pine. And below, among the oak forests, pine with a gray trunk, long, sparse, dull needles predominates. The northern slope is mainly divided into:

Lower forest, consists of oak and small-leaved hornbeam, among which grows hazel, aspen, euonymus, buckthorn, barberry and hawthorn.
Belt of beech and hornbeam forests. There are also areas with Crimean and common pine and single lindens, maples, dogwood, mountain ash, and in rare cases birch is found in the forests of the northern slope.

The juniper schist belt is above 5,000 feet. Here, in addition to juniper, yew and daphin are found.

Yayla is mostly treeless. This is explained by the law of vertical zoning: the yayla lies above the natural forest boundary. However, the plateau of the Crimean mountains does not lie at any one level, but at altitudes from 600 to 1500 meters above sea level. And since one above the other is located in steps, the forest grows well on the slope between two yayla, as between the Dolgorukovsky plateau and Tyrka. At one time, this was explained by the fact that a person burned and cut down forests on the plateaus for many centuries, but paleontological studies convincingly indicate that in ancient times, and 10,000 and 100,000 years ago, the plateaus were not completely covered with forest. Rather, it was a forest-steppe; open to the winds, elevated places remained treeless. Yayla is the realm of herbs. From late April to autumn, something blooms here on Crimean yayla: crocuses, adonis, irises, violets, adonis, veronica, cinquefoil, meadowsweet, bedstraw, yarrow, St. Yayla herbs: fescue, steppe sedge, clover, cuffs, feather grass, bluegrass, fescue, couch grass, timothy grass, hedgehog, short-legged. There are at least five hundred species of plants on Demerdzhi-yayla. Forty-five species of plants are found only on the Yayla, being endemic.

Unlike plants, the animal world is represented rather poorly. The foothills and the northern slope of the mountains are characterized by various types of hamsters, ground squirrels and jerboas. From the order of insectivores, a hedgehog is very common. In the strip of foothills, mountain forests and on the southern coast, there is a Crimean weasel, which is a cross between a weasel and an ermine. The badger is found in the forests of the northern and southern slopes, and the steppe polecat is found in the foothills.

From the detachment of predators in the Crimea, a wolf is represented, which was practically exterminated and is only occasionally found in the foothill forests. The fox is found both in the steppe part and in the mountainous part. Occasionally, among ordinary foxes, silver foxes come across.

The largest mammal of the Crimea, the deer, is found in the mountain forests. The exact Crimean deer has not yet been studied. At present, this animal has been preserved in small numbers in the vicinity of the Kozma-Damianovskiy Monastery. In addition to deer, roe deer live in mountain forests.

Resorts: Alupka, Alushta, Gurzuf, Kerch, Sevastopol, Sudak, Feodosia, Yalta, etc.

Crimea is a wonderful place where two of the most attractive natural factors for tourism coexist: the sea is gentle, clean, warm, and the mountains are unique and picturesque, suitable for climbing and hiking, some even for winter sports. Many of them have now been turned into nature reserves, which lead excursions, tourist trails have been laid, others are of interest to lovers of antiquities, since here you can see the ruins of ancient fortifications, and still others are simply beautiful and picturesque, equipped with observation platforms from which you can see marvelous view of the sea and the promenade. Some peaks are reached by cable cars, others have to be reached on foot along steep slopes, but still it is always quite interesting, especially for sincere fans of such hikes.

Of the numerous Crimean mountains, tourists are invariably of particular interest to:

• Ayu-Dag (between the villages and);
• Ak-Kaya (near the village of White Rock in the valley of the Biyuk-Karasu river);
• Bakatash (near the village of Dachnoe);
• Taraktash (between Sudak and the village of Kamenka);
• Angar-Bogaz or Angarsky pass;
• Rock of Dates (between the villages of Privetnoye and Zelenogorie);
• Ai-Georgy (Sunny Valley);
• Paragelmen (Old Mayak village);
• Falcon (between Sudak and Novy Svet);
• Rock Red Stone ();
• Cape Plaka (Utes village);
• Cat-mountain and rock Diva (near Simeiz);
• Baydarsky Gate Pass ();
• Valley of Ghosts (near Alushta):
• Roman-kosh;
• Ai-Petri (between Alupka and Koreiz);
• Demerdzhi;
• Kara-Dag (near the village);
• Meganom (between Sudak and Solnechnaya Dolina).

There are many mountains in the Crimea, you can not even dream of seeing them all at least from afar in one vacation. But there is a plus - regardless of which seaside resort you have chosen for your vacation, some picturesque hill will definitely fall into your field of vision and can be a great place for excursions, walks, sightseeing and photographing.

Without a doubt, all the Crimean mountains, massifs and rocks are worthy of a separate story, but I will try to describe the brightest, most unique and most unforgettable of them.

Reserve Kara-Dag

Kara-Dag rises near the resort village, which can’t be said otherwise than majestic - it’s really a mountain-volcanic massif of a very impressive appearance, about which there are a lot of legends and with which many stories are connected. Once upon a time, a terrible volcano boiled here, and now the Karadag State Reserve has spread, along the territory of which several excursion trails have been laid. You can try to go through them on your own, but it is better to get an experienced guide (whose services are usually offered on the Koktebel embankment) and get ready to listen to exciting stories. For example, about the fact that at the foot of Kara-Dag there actually lives some kind of formidable monster, about which local residents tell fairy tales, and zoologists in all seriousness are trying to detect it and at least somehow study it.

The trail for tourists usually leads along the coastal ridge, it offers a beautiful view of the surroundings, the coastal cliffs. Here you can see the attraction and the main symbol of Koktebel - the Golden Gate rock. Many legends are also associated with her and it is believed that she grants wishes.

During a walk, it will be useful to look not only around, but also under your feet. Not only for practical reasons (after all, a mountain, steep ledges), but also for pragmatic reasons - a lot of minerals of volcanic origin are found here, some of which turn out to be very valuable. Or at least just beautiful - onyx, jasper, amethyst, citrine, all conceivable varieties of quartz.

Such a walk can have only one drawback - this is the steppe region of Crimea, with sparse vegetation, so there is not a shadow, not a tree, and on a hot day it is very difficult and tiring. Therefore, choose a cloudy day for a walk or the period of early autumn - late spring, when the days are still not very hot.

Mount Ayu-Dag (or Bear Mountain)

Modern historians often argue that it would be more correct to call this mountain not "Ayu-Dag", which literally from the Crimean Tatar means Bear Mountain, but still "Aya-Dag" - i.e. Holy Bear. There are many legends associated with this giant, and the locals are happy to tell them to anyone who stops in the middle of Partenit or Gurzuf and, with his head thrown back, examines the petrified giant. The mountain actually resembles a bear lying on its stomach near the water - the outlines of the muzzle, scruff, arch of the back, powerful paws and even a short tail are very clearly visible.

The bear is of interest not only for viewing from a distance and idle admiring. Several hiking trails run along the mountain, most of which start from the village. They lead to the observation deck on Cape Ayu-Dag, to the children's camp "Artek", which lies at the foot of the mountain from the side of Gurzuf, to the ruins of ancient temples and buildings that once towered on the mountain, and simply through beautiful places - past the waterfalls and cold lakes, through forest thickets and clearings.

If you have a guide (some tour agencies offer such a service), he will be happy to tell you that once upon a time a very rich life flourished here: traces of the first settlements go back to the most gray-haired antiquity. The ruins of the settlements of the ancient Taurians, who lived here from the 4th century BC, are now considered more or less studied. BC. according to the IV century. n. e., although there were tools of the ancient people of the Bronze Age and even earlier finds, but they turned out to be very rare and scattered. The largest trace in the history of this area was left by the Christians, who in the 8th century erected a large fortified monastery of St. and Paul. There were also other monasteries here - for example, St. Helena and Constantine, the stone foundation of which can be found in the Ai-Konstantin glade.

Ayu-Dag has amazing nature, its own special microclimate - the mountain is almost completely covered with a dense forest of oaks, ash trees, mountain ash, there are a lot of junipers and wild roses. As the guides say, there are about six hundred varieties of plants here, and some of them are listed in the Red Book. There are also many animals here - hedgehogs, hares and squirrels along the way will definitely be noticed. Lots of birds. There are also snakes - fortunately, not poisonous.

If you're going on a hike up a mountain, seriously consider your gear. I advise you to wear something to cover both your arms and legs - a lot of thorny bushes, this will save you from the prospect of being scratched. And shoes are also important - there are very steep climbs, so beach slippers will not work. However, the climber's ammunition is also not needed here - it will be an ordinary walk, and not rock climbing.

Meganom

Meganom is both a mountain, and the name of a tract, and the name of a cape located in the southeastern Crimea, not far from Sudak. A curious tourist can easily get here both by taxi and by bus or minibus, plying between Sudak and Solnechnaya Dolina. The local tract attracts lovers of beach holidays - at the foot of the mountain there are many secluded bays with clear water, but those who are eager to travel through the mountains, study their nature, photograph marvelous views also like to wander here.

From a distance, Mount Meganom looks like a gigantic crocodile frozen by the water; close up, it is an impressive heap of crumbling rocks, sometimes covered with red clay, which is considered healing here. The vegetation here is very sparse, since the area is very arid - so the traveler will find an almost cosmic landscape, as if it were some kind of lost world - dry grass, rare low shrubs, suddenly opening glades or crevices. Very addictive and completely free!

Winding paths laid by tourists lead along the slope of Meganom, which sometimes lead to the camps of lovers of wild recreation (tents and fireplaces) or to quiet bays where you can refresh yourself if you choose a hot day for a walk.

Like a magnet, Meganom also attracts lovers of mysticism - the concentration of the paranormal here is perhaps the highest in Crimea. Here they see ghosts, and summon spirits, and some mysterious circles appear on the slopes, but the most beautiful story I have ever heard is that Meganom makes wishes come true. Therefore, start your acquaintance with this mountain by touching its hot stones and guessing something very sincerely - it will definitely come true!

Ghost Valley

This place is located near the Demerdzhi ridge - another miracle of nature. It is worthy of the most careful examination and attracts tourists with several of its features at once: it is a unique natural geological monument and ... this is the place where some episodes of Gaidai's comedy "Prisoner of the Caucasus" were filmed. An attentive tourist will definitely recognize the stone on which the beautiful Natalya Varley danced and sang “Somewhere in the world ...”, a nut grows here, from which Nikulin’s hero fell in one of the episodes. But I remember another local attraction more - a rectangular stone, around which the heroes of Kokshenov and Pugovkin wandered in the film "Sportloto-82".

Both adults and children enjoy walking and taking pictures here. And, despite the frightening name, the valley does not frighten at all - on the contrary, there is something fabulous in it. It surprises with its natural sculptures, which were formed under the influence of weathering.

This slope of Demerdzhi consists of limestone, which for many centuries was washed out and blown by the winds here, and only bizarre pillars remained among the green bushes. Of course, in the evening or at dawn, these pillars appear before the eyes of the traveler like real ghosts, but in the light of day it’s not scary and you can give free rein to your imagination - in these blocks you can see animals, people, fantastic towers. There is "Giant", "Frog", "Sphinx" and even "Boris Yeltsin".

The most convenient way to get to the valley is by car, it is located not far from Alushta. It will be interesting for both adults and children, just stock up on water and provisions, it will not be easy to buy it somewhere nearby.