The Golden Gate Rock is a natural arch that rises above the sea water at the foot of Mount Karadag. The height of the rock reaches 8 meters, the width of the passage between the pillars is 6 meters. All excursion ships that sail from Koktebel usually sail inside the Golden Gate.
The rock consists of basalt and in the rays of sunset it has a beautiful yellow color. In some places, the pillars of the golden gate are covered with salt. The Tatars called the Golden Gate Shaitan-Kapu (Devil`s Gate) and believed that behind it there were gates to hell. In Soviet times they were called the Karadag Gate.
This territory is a Karadag Nature Reserve, so free access to Mount Karadag is prohibited. However, there are no restrictions on sailing excursion ships along the Karadag. Every hour from Koktebel numerous boats and ships go here on excursions.
All excursion ships, including quite large ones, sail under the arch of the Golden Gate. Local captains came up with a tradition: when the ship sails under the arch, you need to throw a coin so that it hits the rock and make a wish.
The Golden Gate can be viewed from above. When tourists visit the Karadag Nature Reserve with an excursion, the trail approaches the cliff on the Karagach mountain range. Here you can see the Golden Gate from a height of 300 meters. The Golden Gate is especially beautifully illuminated by the sun here in the afternoon.
