Natural attractions of the Crimea

There are many natural attractions in Crimea: mountains, capes, caves, valleys, lakes.. On the online travel guide Geomerid, you can view a separate topic dedicated to the Mountains of Crimea. In this review we can read about other natural attractions of the Crimea:

1. Cape Fiolent
2. Cape Tarkhankut
3. Spit Belyaus
4. Saka Lake
5. Suvorov oak
6. Mammoth Cave
7. Marble Cave
8. The Temple of the Sun
9. Valley of Ghosts
10. Juniper grove

1. Cape Fiolent

Cape Fiolent is located on the southern outskirts of Sevastopol, 10 kilometers from Balaklava. The height of the rocky cliff at Cape Fiolent reaches 150 meters. At the edge of the cape, a pyramidal rock rises above the sea water, similar to an animal`s fang. The rocks at Cape Fiolent are of volcanic origin, as there was an ancient volcano.

Cape Fiolent Landscape Reserve is located 10 kilometers west of Balaklava

Picturesque coast on Cape Fiolent to the west of Balaklava

2 kilometers east of Cape Fiolent on the high shore is the St. George Monastery. In 2019, the monastery and the area around it were reconstructed, a small garden with viewing points appeared here. It offers the most beautiful view of Cape Fiolent. There is also a descent to the sea by a long staircase of 891 steps, which was called the "Path of Health". This staircase leads to the Jasper Beach at Cape Fiolent.

Cross Rock on Jasper Beach at Cape Fiolent

The Rock of the Holy Apparition on the Jasper beach at Cape Fiolent

The length of the Jasper beach reaches 500 meters, it is covered with pebbles. Boats that bring tourists here run between Balaklava and Jasper Beach. The journey time is about 15 minutes. Also, a small ship runs here from Balaklava. The travel time on it reaches 40 minutes. Many tourists come from Balaklava or Sevastopol by car.

2. Cape Tarkhankut

Cape Tarkhankut is the westernmost point of the Crimean Peninsula. There are no subtropical forests and mountains here. In these places, the nature of the Crimea is an arid steppe. However, the rocky shore of Cape Tarkhankut can be called one of the most remarkable natural attractions of the Crimea. In addition, there are magnificent sandy beaches near the village of Olenevka, as well as on the Spit of Belyaus, which are called "Crimean Maldives".

Emerald water at the foot of the rocks of the Big Atlesh on Cape Tarkhankut

The giant arch of the Big Atlesh and the Cave of the Snapdragon are symbols of Cape Tarkhankut

In 2014, the Tarkhankut National Nature Park was created here. Its area is 10 thousand hectares. The two most visited places on Cape Tarkhankut are the Atlesh Landscape Park (on the southern shore of Tarkhankut) and the Jangul landslide coast (on the northern shore of Tarkhankut). Between them, on the very edge of the cape, is the resort village of Olenevka, where you can swim on the sandy beaches of Miami and Sunset.

Giant arch in the rock of the Big Atlesh on Cape Tarkhankut

Artists on the rocks of Big Atlesh paint landscapes of Cape Tarkhankut

The height of the rocky shore at Cape Tarkhankut in some places exceeds 60 meters. In summer, tourists come here to spend their holidays in tents on the seashore. Tarkhankut is located far from the major resorts of the Crimea, so the water here is very clean. Tarkhankut is also one of the best diving spots in Crimea.

3. Spit Belyaus

The Belyaus Spit is located 70 kilometers northwest of Yevpatoria, near Lake Donuzlav. The beach on the Belyaus spit is called the "Crimean Maldives". Of course, the comparison with the beaches in the Maldives is not in favor of Belyaus, but if you compare it with the beaches of the Crimea, then without exaggeration, the Spit of Belyaus can be called the Best Beach in the Crimea.

Azure water and white sand on the 7-kilometer beach of the Spit of Belyaus, 70 kilometers from Yevpatoria

The entrance to the sea on the Belyaus Spit is very flat, which makes it convenient for children to swim

Sandy beaches are typical for the western coast of Crimea, in the area of Yevpatoria. This distinguishes it favorably from the Southern coast of Crimea, where all the beaches are covered with pebbles or stones. At the same time, if in Yevpatoria itself the width of sandy beaches is no more than 50 meters, then on the Belyaus Spit the width of the sandy beach averages 100 meters, and in some places reaches 200 meters. The length of the sandy Beach is 7 kilometers.

The width of the sandy beach on the Belyaus Spit exceeds 200 meters

Thanks to the beautiful sea and the magnificent sandy beach, the Spit of Belyaus is called the Crimean Maldives

The beach on the Belyaus spit is covered with white sand made of shell rock. It is very small and pleasant. The entrance to the sea is flat, that makes the Belyaus spit a good place for a beach holiday with children. The water on the beach has a beautiful azure color. There are no large cities and towns for tens of kilometers from the spit, therefore there are no problems with sewage. The sea water on the Belyaus spit is recognized as one of the cleanest in the Crimea.

4. Saki Lake

Saki Lake is located in the suburb of Yevpatoria, the city of Saki. Its mud and brine have such high therapeutic characteristic that Yevpatoria became one of the most famous balneological resorts of the Russian Empire back in the 19th century. Some people also come here to see the pink water. At sunset, you can take very beautiful photos here.

The beautiful pink color of the Saki Lake is due to the algae Dunaliella Salina, which secrete carotene

The pink color of the Saki Lake in Yevpatoria, where therapeutic mud is extracted

The beautiful pink color of the Saki Lake is due to the unicellular algae Dunaliella Salina, which secrete carotene. The intensity of carotene release varies depending on the time of year, so the lake has a color from purple in spring to bright pink in the hot summer months. It is most convenient to approach the Saki Lake by the dam from the side of the Embankment of the Saki Lake.

5. Suvorov oak

The Suvorov Oak is located near the White Rock in the city of Belogorsk. It is a unique botanical monument. Its age reaches 800 years. The oak was a witness to many historical events that took place on the territory of the Crimea. It “remembers” not only the commander Suvorov, but also the events of the era of Byzantium and the Golden Horde.

The Suvorov Oak in Belogorsk is a unique botanical monument of Russia

The age of the Suvorov oak in Belogorsk reaches 800 years, the trunk girth is 10 meters

Suvorov oak has a trunk diameter of 10 meters, and the size of the crown reaches 40 meters. Such trunk sizes are normal for American sequoia or African baobab, but for oak these sizes are really outstanding. Sometimes this oak is called Four Brothers, because at a distance of 3-4 meters from the ground, the main trunk of the tree branches into 4 trunks. Each of them is larger in diameter than the trunk of an ordinary tree.

6. Golitsyn Trail

Novy Svet is one of the most beautiful resorts in Crimea, and the Golitsyn Trail is the most famous attraction of this resort. It can even be called one of the most beautiful routes in the Crimea, accessible to all people. The Golitsyn Trail is laid along the seashore along three bays: Green, Blue and Azure. The length of the route is 1.5 kilometers.

The Golitsyn Trail in the Novy Svet resort begins near the Embankment in the Green Bay

The Golitsyn Trail ends in the Novy Svet resort near the Azure Bay, opposite the Karaul-Oba Mountain

The fantastically beautiful relief of the seashore in the resort of Novy Svet is formed by rocks that are fossilized coral reefs of the ancient Tethys Ocean. Its waters covered these lands in the Mesozoic era, about 200 million years ago. As a result of tectonic shifts of the earth`s crust, these reefs rose and formed low mountains.

The Golitsyn Trail in the Novy Svet resort goes around the Koba-Kaya Mountain, and enters the Chaliapin Grotto

After the Chaliapin Grotto, the Golitsyn Trail in the Novy Svet resort is cut into the rock

To the north of the village of Novy Svet there are two large reef mountains. Sokol Mountain rises directly above the village, and Fortress Mountain is located 7 kilometers away in Sudak. On its top is the Genoese Fortress. Climbing to the tops of these mountains is quite difficult.

7. Marble Cave

Marble Cave in the Crimean Mountains is the largest and most visited cave in Crimea. It is located in the middle of the road between Alushta and Simferopol: 45 km from Alushta and 35 km from Simferopol. Next to the Marble Cave (1.2 km) is the Mammoth Cave. Usually tourists visit these caves during one excursion.

A huge stalagmite in a Marble cave, which is called The Host

Collapse hall in the Marble Cave of Crimea

The marble cave was discovered during the exploration of Chatyr-Dag Mountain in 1987. It was called "marble", since a marble quarry is located nearby. The cave is located at a depth of 63 meters, and its length reaches 2 kilometers. The excursion route, open to the public, is 800 meters.

8. The Temple of the Sun

The excursion to the Temple of the Sun is one of the most interesting in Crimea. It is located near Mount St. Elias (Ilyas-Kaya); 5 kilometers from the village of Laspi and 10 kilometers from Foros resort. The Temple of the Sun in Crimea has many epithets: Place of Power, Crimean Stonehenge, Stone Flower, Dragon Teeth. Both lovers of esotericism and ordinary tourists talk about the special energy that is felt on the top of the mountain, near the altar.

Temple of the Sun - Crimean place of power at the foot of Mount Ilyas-Kaya

Followers of esoteric teachings constantly come to the Temple of the Sun in Foros

Despite its sacred and mysterious name, the Temple of the Sun in Crimea is a natural attraction. At the foot of Mount Ilyas Kaya, 7 pointed rocks are placed around the central stone. They stand strictly in a circle, while all 7 pointed rocks of the Temple of the Sun have a slight outward slope, like a huge stone flower.

Landscapes of the mountainous Crimea near the Temple of the Sun in Foros

Stones that surround the altar-stone in the Temple of the Sun in Foros like petals

Followers of esoteric teachings believe that the stone that stands in the center is an altar. The stones around the altar of the Temple of the Sun are the petals of a construction that accumulates the energy of the cosmos and allows you to get power. This is a Place of Power. On the altar, you can often see people lying down, who are gaining this Power.

9. Valley of Ghosts

One of the most interesting natural attractions is located on the western slope of the Southern Demerdzhi Mountain: Valley of Ghosts. Demerdzhi Mountain is located 10 kilometers from Alushta, but the interest in the Valley of Ghosts is so high that tourists come here from many resorts on the coast of southern Crimea, from Sudak to Yalta.

View of the Valley of Ghosts on the slope of the Southern Demerdzhi mountain

Famous rocks of various shapes, subject to weathering, in the Valley of the Ghosts of Mount Demerdzhi

The Valley of Ghosts is located near the village of Luchistoe. After passing the village, the car can be left in a Sunny Glade near the trail that leads to the mountainside. From below you will see the weathering figures in the Valley of Ghosts; they look like giant columns or narrow reef ledges. Some of them look like different parts of the body. All of them turned out as a result of weathering and the influence of precipitation.

10. Valleys of Heaven and Hell

The valleys of Heaven and Hell on Mount Karaul-Oba can be called one of the most beautiful sights of Novy Svet. These valleys are not as well known to the general public as the Golitsyn Trail, but the beauty of nature there surpasses everything that can be seen in the immediate vicinity of Novy Svet.

The Valley of Paradise in the resort of Novy Svet is located north of Сosmos Peak (on the opposite side from the sea)

The Valley of Hell in the resort of Novy Svet is located on the south side of Сosmos Peak (from the sea)

A walk to the Valleys of Heaven and Hell should start at the Champagne Winery of Novy Svet. Here you can go to the relict Juniper Grove, where you will see juniper trees. The age of some trees reaches several hundred years. If you walk along the Juniper Grove directly to the sea, you can go to the Royal Beach and the Azure Bay, which is located between Cape Kapchik and Mount Karaul-Oba.

Junipers growing from the cracks of stones are a symbol of the Valleys of Hell and Heaven in the resort of Novy Svet

Three Monks Rocks on the seashore in the Valley of Hell in the Novy Svet Resort

In order to go to the Valleys of Hell and Heaven, in the Juniper Grove you have to turn right and follow the path on the opposite side of the ravine. At first, the path goes along the edge of the Mount Karaul-Oba, but then you need to climb a fairly steep slope deep into the mountain. The distance from the entrance to the Juniper Grove to the climb to the Mount Karaul-Oba is 1.6 kilometers

Read more about Valleys of Heaven and Hell

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