Crimean nature is rich and diverse, but for a long time it has existed under strong pressure from humans. However, there are many species that do not live anywhere except Taurida. There are even more of those that have resort significance (they improve the health of the air, are a source of active substances), decorate the landscape, and make it picturesque. Crimea's nature reserves, national parks and specially protected areas are designed to protect the land and water of the peninsula and preserve them for the future. We'll talk about them today.
         
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Reserved mountains above the resort capital
The Yalta Mountain Forest Reserve appeared in 1973. Before that, there was a hunting ground in its place, which was then transferred to the forestry department. The protective regime was intended to preserve both the resort region and protect the geology, the rocks themselves and the mountain peaks of Crimea.
The reserve stretches along the coast for 40 km, into the depths of the peninsula - 23 km. It contains such famous objects as, and crenellations. Part of the adjacent water area is also protected. The area of the reserve is now about 14.5 thousand hectares; in 2018 it received federal status.
It is difficult to even list what plants and animals inhabit it. Here grow fluffy and rocky oaks, pistachio, strawberry, peonies, orchids, sunflowers and a dangerous holder tree (its South African relatives were nicknamed even more original - “wait a little”). 65% of the plant species diversity is present here, and the rare peregrine falcon and imperial eagle also live here, there are red deer, mouflons, foxes, quite a few lizards, etc.
Hiking trips for tourists are constantly held in the Yalta Nature Reserve - it owns the most famous tourist sites. There are standard routes with guides and guides. Unauthorized visiting, and especially causing harm to the environment, is fraught with trouble.
Guarding an ancient volcano
Some natural protected areas of Crimea trace their history back to hunting or research centers of pre-revolutionary times. This is how the Karadag Nature Reserve began - its pedigree starts from the scientific station named after. Vyazemsky, which appeared in 1914. Academician Pavlov insisted on taking the area under protection. The reserve itself was created only in 1979. It is positioned not so much as a security institution, but as a research institution.
Its perimeter is Karadag itself and the surrounding area (that is, the massif of the ancient volcano), coastal waters. The natural diversity is amazing - 2,500 varieties of plants and 5,300 representatives of the animal kingdom, among them dozens of endemics, as well as inhabitants of the Red Books. In the sea off the local shores, 45 species of vegetation and 900 living creatures of various sizes were recorded.
Kara-Dag is one of the most visited natural corners of Crimea. Since it is now a scientific institution (volcanologists, marine biologists, geologists and representatives of many other natural sciences work here), the security is somewhat weakened - many reviews say this, but this does not mean that you can cut down trees or hunt here - it’s all the same illegal.
The protected namesake of the peninsula
In some wildlife sanctuaries and national parks of Crimea, fate is like a detective story. The Crimean Reserve began in 1913 as a royal hunting estate. For the crowned marksman, rare animals were brought there and exhibited for inspection until they multiplied enough to become game. The revolution stopped the abuse of nature and in 1923 created a perimeter where it was necessary to restore and introduce endangered specimens.
Military destruction is understandable, but the transformation of the reserve into a hunting reserve in 1957 is worth attention. Now only the shooters were not the crown bearers, but the communists and “democrats” elected by voting. The protected status was restored only in 1991. Nowadays it is also a national park of Crimea.
The reserve owns the high-altitude leaders of the mountainous Crimea, including. There are more than 1,200 representatives of the flora, and more than 8,000 species of fauna (the exact details have not yet been clarified). These lands are especially beautiful in the spring, when the primroses bloom.
The national park has recreational areas for organized recreation, and excursions are held regularly. They get in here and often get away with it, but those caught are heavily fined. There is a Museum of Nature on the park management territory (). The reserve staff conducts active lecture work.
Bird kingdom of the Crimean peninsula
Swan Islands are a chain of low patches of land in , formed as a result of the erosion of a sand spit. They are unsuitable for farming, therefore, for more than a century they have served as a reliable haven for waterfowl and migratory birds.
The name is arbitrary - swans do not nest here, although they remain during the molting period and often stop during migration. In addition, pelicans, flamingos and other birds live here or pass through.
Bird wealth was the reason for the creation of a specially protected area. They began to protect the nature of the islands in 1947; in 1949 they became a branch of the Crimean nature reserve. Since 1971, Lebyazhye has been an ornithological complex, and in 1991, with the restoration of its former status, they again came under its subordination. Since 2018, it has been an independent reserve.
Visiting the attraction is only permitted if accompanied by a ranger on a boat. Many birds here have already realized that they are not touched here, that is, they are almost tame. It’s not difficult to take pictures with them, almost hugging them. Near the islands you can often see them - they are also guarded here.
National park under double protection
The Opuksky reserve is one of the youngest in Crimea, created in 1998. But it is rich - in addition to the mountains and the legendary coastal Rock-ships, the Koyashsky healing salt lake and steppes with tulips, it owns an ancient Greek city. Yes, the area has not yet been explored, but there is still more to come.
The reserve was lucky with its security. The Opuk military training ground is located nearby. Shooting on it is limited, but the security regime is maintained. So, illegal travelers can be escorted out of here not only by forest rangers, but also by stern “little green men.”
In addition to the beauty of the Kerch steppe, the reserve protects the unique geological structure of the cape, picturesque sea cliffs and a complex system of underwater tunnels off the coast (partially inhabited). Its existence also contributes to the preservation of the system and its healing sludge.
Excursions to the reserve are especially popular in the spring, when wild flowers bloom. Mixed routes (by land and water) are also popular, allowing you to explore both the steppe and the beautiful coastlines of the cape. By agreement, they often dive near the coastline to inspect the underwater tunnels.
Map of Crimean reserves and sanctuaries
Nature reserves and national parks of Crimea are a unique chance to preserve peninsular nature. Its beauty is a good attraction for tourists, but the visitors themselves can be a threat to it. In conclusion - a video on the topic, enjoy watching!
If you look at the map of the Crimean Peninsula, you will immediately notice a large area of protected and protected areas. Indeed, the nature of Crimea is too valuable an asset to allow human intervention. Thus, the mountainous Crimea almost completely entered the protected area; almost the entire Main Ridge is protected. Unique landscapes, forests, groves, and water areas are protected by law in order to preserve their original appearance and save fragile biocenoses that cannot tolerate the economic activities of modern society.
At present, unfortunately, even the status of a nature reserve or wildlife sanctuary in Crimea does not always save us from the menacingly approaching front of reckless buildings.
scheme of objects of the protected Crimea:
Reserves of Crimea
There are only six nature reserves in Crimea, but their total area is impressive - 63,783 hectares. The largest of them - Crimean Natural - covers 44,175 hectares of protected area. It stretches from south to north from Massandra and Nikita to the northeastern border of Chatyr-Dag and from west to east from Zagorskoye to Izobilnenskoye reservoir. Its main treasures are the highest plateaus in the mountains of Crimea - Babugan-yayla, Gurzufskaya and Nikitskaya yayla, as well as the entire enormous mountain-forest area to the north of them.
| Plateau of the reserved Crimea: | |
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| Winter Babugan-yayla - Crimean Nature Reserve |
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The Crimean Nature Reserve includes as a branch the ornithological reserve "Swan Islands", which occupies mainly the protected part of the Karkinitsky Bay water area and the Lebyazhy Islands itself, of which there are six, and which have become a real haven for many nesting and migratory birds.
The next largest reserve is the Yalta Nature Reserve. It is most familiar to tourists, as it is located in close proximity to the coastal strip of the Southern Coast of Crimea. But its conservation status is in big question, since all the main routes along which tourists get to the mountains run through its forests.
| Reserves of Crimea: Yalta Natural | |
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| One of the decorations of the Yalta natural reserve - Mount Ai-Petri |
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An exception can be considered the eastern enclave of the Yalta nature reserve, which is protected quite strictly. But the mountains attract their admirers, especially since the passes are open most of the year. And only during the summer drought, when forest fires break out here and there, do patrols appear on the passes, turning tourists back. Usually the Shaitan-Merdven pass, the Koreiz trail leading to Ai-Petri, and the Gurzuf Saddle pass are closed. However, there are plenty of alternative options to get to the mountains, which is what lovers of active recreation take advantage of.
| Passes of the protected Crimea: | |
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| Shaitan-Merdven - pass from the South Coast to the Main Range of the Crimean Mountains | Gurzuf saddle - pass between the Gurzuf plateau and Babugan-yayla |
The remaining reserves of Crimea are much smaller. Third place in this honorable list is occupied by the Karadag Nature Reserve, covering an area of 2,855 hectares. It boasts a decent level of protection of its wealth, thanks to which it is slowly recovering from the industrial development of its subsoil in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The unique biota of this place can only be seen as part of an excursion group.
| Reserves of Crimea: Karadag natural: | |
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| Mountain reserves are part of the protected Crimea: | |
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| Mount Ayu-Dag - landscape reserve | Mount Castel - botanical reserve above Alushta |
Between Belogorsk and Old Crimea there is the Kubalach tract, which was turned in 1978 into a nature reserve with a total area of 526 hectares. The Kubalach ridge and the mountain of the same name (738 meters) are covered by a dense forest of beech, oak, hornbeam and ash.
To the east of this reserve, on the outskirts of Old Crimea, there is the Agarmysh Forest natural monument. A forest, mainly of beech, hornbeam and oak, traditional for the Crimea, covers the slopes of Sychevaya Balka between two mountains - Big Agarmysh and Small Agarmysh. In the vastness of the Agarmysh mountain range you can find many caves.
One of the most beautiful nature reserves in Crimea, “New World”, surrounds the village of the same name, located on the shores of picturesque bays and protected by beautiful mountains. The protective status of these beautiful places cannot contain the influx of vacationers, fortunately all the beauties and attractions are accessible and close. And there is something to protect, first of all, a relict juniper grove - the property of the New World reserve.
A real monument to the forces of nature is the Grand Canyon of Crimea, for the preservation of which a landscape reserve was created in 1974 on an area of 300 hectares. Not only the famous canyon, but also the surrounding forests, where the springs that feed the waters of the canyon originate, are included in the legally protected zone. The gorge of incomparable beauty is subject to a real invasion of tourists, and only the inaccessibility of some areas saves it from total littering.
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The Khapkhal hydrological reserve includes 250 hectares of continuous deciduous forest covering the slopes of the Khapkhal gorge, through which the Eastern Ulu-Uzen River flows. The main magnet that attracts tourists to the territory of this reserve is the picturesque Dzhur-Dzhur waterfall, the deepest waterfall in Crimea. The rest of the area is rarely visited by vacationers, thanks to which the forest has retained its pristine beauty. This is the greenest of the Crimean reserves.
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The Paragilmen botanical reserve is also completely covered with forest. It stretches from the west, where it abuts the slopes of Babugan-yayla, to the east, where the mountain of the same name stands, designated as a separate natural monument. On this mountain you can find endemic and rare plants of Crimea, but visiting it is free.
The small Kanaka reserve (160 hectares) occupies the coast between the Luch resort and the village of Rybachye. In the east of the reserve, in the Kanaka ravine, relict groves of tree-like juniper and blunt pistachio grow, for which this beautiful coastal zone was given this status. You can visit the Kanaka Nature Reserve freely; tourists and vacationers are attracted by kilometers of beaches and relative desertedness.
Less than ten kilometers southeast of Cape Kazantip, on the outskirts of the village of Ostanino, there is an ornithological reserve “Ostaninskie (Astana, Oysulskie) plavni. The reed-covered floodplains of the banks of the Samarli River attract a large number of birds to nest and rest after a long flight. In a small reserve (50 hectares) pine trees grow, which is unusual for the steppe landscape of the Kerch Peninsula.
Five kilometers northeast of the Ostana Plavni, the Kazantip Bay is bordered by Cape Chagany. Between this cape and the salty Chokrak lake lies the Karalar steppe, designated as a landscape reserve for the protection of unique steppe landscapes and steppe biocenosis. Both flora and fauna are very rich here; hunting is prohibited, although visiting is not limited.
On the eastern border of the Karalarsky reserve there is an amazing lake Chokrak with healing mud and waters that are fed from underground hydrogen sulfide springs. To protect the lake from technogenic influence, Chokrak and its coast were enclosed within the boundaries of a hydrological reserve.
Two hundred meters from the left bank of the Western Bulganak River, in the place where its flow passes through the village of Vodnoye, a small (21 hectare) landscape reserve “Weeping Rock” was organized in 1989. This is the name given to the outcropping of karst rocks, through the cracks and cracks of which water penetrates, forming a small lake. Weeping Rock is surrounded by a small forest.
Those who visited Cape Tarkhankut were sure to try to get to Dzhangul, or as it is officially called the “Dzhangul Landslide Coast” landscape reserve. Here you can see firsthand how a landslide can destroy the coast. Stone chaos - a pile of stones of different sizes - makes a proper impression on those who came to Tarkhankut for the first time.
Dzhangul is an integral part of the Tarkhankutsky National Park, which is also called the “Beautiful Harbor”. In this park, the Bolshoy Kastel ravine and the Atlesh tract with coastal waters are also protected by law. The rocky, layer-cake-like cliffs and grottoes of Atlesh make the right impression. This very beautiful place was chosen by tourists for wild recreation and diving. The most popular vacation spot is the shores of Karadzhinskaya Bay between capes Tarkhankut and Priboyny, Bolshoi and Maly Atlesh on the southern coast of the Tarkhankut Peninsula.
The upper plateau of Chatyr-Daga is allocated as a separate protected area “Yayla Chatyr-Daga”. Despite the fact that this plateau still needs to be conquered, it is especially loved by tourists. No one limits visits, so Chatyr-Dag is one of the most visited plateaus of Crimea. The lower plateau is more reminiscent of Karabi-yayla with its numerous caves and is protected more strictly, as it is part of the Crimean Nature Reserve. Only the Valley of Ghosts with its forest and unique stone weathering forms falls under protected status. However, it is the Valley of Ghosts that is visited most of all, including by excursion groups.
The beautiful Belbek Gorge, for the preservation of unique geological forms, conducive to scientific research, received the status of a natural monument of national importance. A relict yew grove located just to the south is designated as a separate natural monument. The Belbek Canyon is adjacent to such historical monuments as the Suren fortress and the Chelter-Koba cave monastery. The Kachin Canyon Nature Reserve is designed to preserve the outstanding geological features of the gorge and the flora of its slopes. On the territory of the reserve there is a cave monastery Kachi-Kalyon. Visiting the canyon is not limited; its proximity to Bakhchisarai makes it a popular destination on tourist maps.
The longest canyon in Crimea - Chernorechensky - like its aforementioned brothers, has turned from a natural monument into a state reserve, as well as the forests covering its peaks. The pristine beauty of its shores predetermined its inclusion in the ranks of the most valuable wildlife sanctuaries in Crimea. This canyon on the Chernaya River is visited freely by tourists, except for the section of the river where it leaves the Chernorechensky reservoir, which, being a water reservoir for Sevastopol, is inaccessible to the public and is even surrounded by barbed wire.
The largest cave in Crimea is Kizil-Koba on the western slopes of Dolgorukovskaya Yayla. Both as a miracle of nature and as an object of archaeological research, the Red Cave needs state protection, so since 1963 it has been declared a natural monument. Nowadays you can visit its depths on a fascinating excursion. The surrounding forests and the beautiful Su-Uchkhan waterfall received protected site status.
Mangup-Kale, although it has undeniable historical and cultural value, is protected by law in a comprehensive manner - both as an archaeological heritage and as an important natural site. Numerous caves and grottoes, karst formations represent a valuable landscape natural monument that requires careful attention from its many visitors.
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| Mangup is a complex natural monument hiding a cave city - this is also a reserved Crimea |
One of the youngest reserves in Crimea is Sasyksky. Lake Sasyk is the largest lake in Crimea, the mud of which is considered medicinal. In order to protect the lake, which also allows many rare steppe plants to grow on its shores, it was declared a landscape reserve in 2012.
On the Bakalskaya Spit, which is washed by the waters of the Karkinitsky Bay, there is a regional landscape park “Bakalskaya Spit”. A vacation spot and a popular tourist site, the spit is a reminder to people how economic activity, in this case sand mining, aggravated by the sea elements, can destroy natural landscapes. The spit is eroding, cutting off the islands from the land. The reserve also includes the salty Bakalskoye Lake.
One of the attractions of Sudak is Cape Alchak-Kaya, a protected area since 1988. There is an ecological fenced path along the rocks, but with proper dexterity you can avoid using it when walking along the coastal rocks. This is a small but very beautiful corner of the protected Crimea.
In addition to the listed objects, which are to one degree or another protected by the state from the influence of the average person, there are still quite a lot of places in Crimea with the status of natural monuments, the list of which includes groves of rare trees, areas of steppe or ravines, grottoes, islands, capes, caves.
Most often, their status serves only as an edification for tourists; many do not even imagine that the site they are visiting is protected. Easily accessible caves and forests are especially affected. The cutting down of trees and careless handling of fire have already led to the destruction of thousands of hectares of protected Crimea. Therefore, nature protection is not only the responsibility of rangers and foresters, but also of the vacationers themselves.
How we will see the reserves and wildlife sanctuaries of Crimea in the future largely depends on us.
olegman37
I have wanted to get to the largest nature reserve in Crimea for a long time.
However, having visited it in mid-May, I immediately realized that I would have to visit it more than once - this is not a place that can be told everything about in one story.
There is history, little-known sites that I love so much, including abandoned ones, and an incredibly rich natural world.
It emerged at the beginning of the 20th century as a reserve for royal hunting, became a reserve under Soviet rule, was badly damaged during the war and again returned after it to the status of a hunting ground for Khrushchev and Brezhnev... Here you can walk and walk, search and search, tell and tell...
But this is in the future, but for now... For now, the story is about the mountainous part of the reserve and its flora, the Romanov road and the gazebo of the winds, unique microthermal plants and the Crimean edelweiss...
2. The Crimean Nature Reserve consists of two significant parts - a mountain-forest area of about 34 thousand hectares, located in the central part of the main ridge of the Crimean Mountains, covering the Nikitskaya and Gurzuf yayls, Babugan, the Sinab-Dag and Konek ridges and descending almost along the foothill wooded part to the Partizanskoe reservoir in the north of the mountain range.
On the territory of the reserve is the highest point of Crimea - Mount Roman-Kosh, as well as the sources of such rivers as Alma and Kacha. 
3. Initially, the reserve arose in 1913 as an Imperial Hunting Sanctuary.
At that time, a ranger service was organized for the royal hunting reserve, and on Mount Bolshaya Chuchel, forest areas were allocated to demonstrate animals brought to the Crimea - Caucasian deer, Dagestan aurochs and bezoar goats, Corsican mouflons, bison. 
4. With the advent of Soviet power in Crimea, in 1923, a reserve with an area of about 23 thousand hectares was created on the site of the royal reserve; a weather station and a laboratory appeared here in which scientists conduct their research.
During the Great Patriotic War, the reserve was severely damaged by fires; bison were completely destroyed and almost the entire population of deer, roe deer and other large animals perished.
In 1957, the reserve was turned into the Crimean State Game Reserve. During the times of Soviet leaders N.S. Khrushchev and L.I. Brezhnev, the former reserve turned into a hunting ground for high-ranking officials not only from the USSR, but also from other countries. They say that Leonid Ilyich loved to be here and hunted quite often.
The status of the reserve was returned to this territory only in June 1991 by a resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Ukrainian SSR.
By the way, there is currently an opinion that the reserve has been turned into a hunting ground for the current President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych, that access to it is completely limited and almost special forces with machine guns are patrolling the perimeter.
In fact, this is all complete nonsense. Yanukovych was here only once - he was shown the restored hunting lodge of the former General Secretaries. And during his stay here, naturally, there was a tight security regime and you could see special forces with machine guns.
The reserve remains a reserve, which is naturally protected by a significant staff of rangers and foresters, but this is far from what is rumored. 
5. You can get to the reserve almost without problems - car excursions are organized here, the route of which begins in Alushta or Yalta.
The route passes through the forest and yayls; it is quite long and takes about 5 hours.
My visit to the reserve was combined with the research work of two employees, so the route was completely different from the excursion.
The first stop is the source of the Kacha River.
It is here that an almost imperceptible stream flows from the depths of the mountains, going down as a full-fledged river, which flows through the Kachin Valley and flows into the Black Sea. 
6. Small rapids and waterfalls of the source of Kachi 
7. Milk rivers, green banks 
8. The fauna of the reserve is quite rich - there are more than 200 vertebrate species, 52 of which are listed in the Red Book of Ukraine, and 30 in the European Red List.
Its territory is home to the largest population of red deer in Crimea 
9. A female red deer is carefully watching my camera. 
10. Romanovskaya road, built at the beginning of the 20th century, is the highest asphalt road in Ukraine. 
11. The road starts from the village of Massandra, passes through the Nikitskaya yayla, and descends through the main basin of the Crimean mountain forest reserve to Alushta.
It was built more than 100 years ago in very inaccessible places. The reason for the construction is clear - royalty needed to quickly and comfortably get to their hunting grounds.
The almost 60-kilometer road was built in 3 years, spending a very large sum for that time 
12. Crushed stone for the construction of the road was taken here from some slopes. Sections of them are still visible today. 
14. The road has hardly changed in 100 years. Only some of its especially dangerous sections have slightly changed their configuration.
In general, it is worth saying that the road was built conscientiously - after all, until 1957 it was never repaired. 
15. one of the old sections of the road that is not used today 
16. And this span has existed for 100 years 
17. After a loop, the road emerges from the beech forest onto the yayla. From here you can see absolutely incredible views for many kilometers 
18. View of the southern coast of Crimea 
19. View of Nikitskaya yayla 
20. It looks very much like the remains of some old stone road near the Arbor of the Winds. 
21. View of the Pisara-Bogaz pass 
22. The famous Gazebo of the Winds. 
23. Cracks in the rocks on Mount Shagan-Kaya 
24. Dangerous scree slopes lead down. But it was precisely there that scientists came to study rare plants. 
25. Alexander Nikiforov studies the relict endemic plant Selena jailensis (Silene jailensis) 
26. Selena jailensis (Silene jailensis) in person. A unique and extremely rare plant, which in the world exists only on screes on the southern slopes of the main ridge of the Crimean Mountains.
In total, scientists have counted 446 specimens of these plants.
Selena grows only on inaccessible rocky slopes, where there is absolutely no soil. It consumes moisture only condensed in rock crevices where its roots branch 
27. In general, the flora in the reserve is very rich, including rare and endemic species.
Purple form of rolling violet 
28. And her white uniform. 
29. Curly Kozelets 
30. Clematis Integrifolia 
31. And his still unopened bud 
32. This is already opened Clematis 
33. This is a Red Book plant, Bieberstein’s lily (it is also called Crimean edelweiss) 
34. As scientists said, this is a rather unique shot - two endemics at once - Yaylin ashthorn and Crimean edelweiss 
35. Veronica teucrium - medicinal plant 
36. She's Veronica 
37. Yailin sainfoin, also endemic 
38. The chatyrdaga rose exudes an incredible scent that can be heard a few tens of meters from the bush 
38. Chatyrdag rose flower - another endemic of Crimea 
39. Onosma multifolia flowers are also endemic 
40. Onosma closer 
41. And this is how feather grass blooms. I've never seen it bloom before 
42. Insects are a separate story for the reserve, but photographing them will need to be done separately 
43. One of the representatives of the vast feathered world of the reserve is the griffon vulture 
44. We were lucky - a small flock of 7 of them was circling above us. Apparently they spotted some interesting prey 
45. And this is a flying man who suddenly emerged from the cloud and flew on... 
My previous photo reports and photo stories:
The Crimean Peninsula, washed by the waters of the Black Sea, is a habitat for rare exotic animals and birds. The flora and fauna living here need conservation, research and close protection, so protected areas occupy 5.4% of the area. They are divided into 6 state reserves, 73 natural monuments, 33 reserves, 9 tracts and 30 garden and park areas. A map will help you determine how many nature reserves there are on the Crimean peninsula.
Natural reserves of Crimea and national parks: list of names with photos
- Crimean.
- Swan Islands.
- Yalta.
- Kazantipsky.
- Karadagsky.
- Opuksky.
- Cape Martyan.
- Astana flood plains.
- Kanaka Nature Reserve.
- Utes-Karansky Park.
- Khapkhalsky reserve.
- Chernorechensky Canyon.
- Agarmysh forest.
- Nikitsky Botanical Garden.
The most accessible protected areas of Crimea
Transport links with the Crimean reserves have been established. The road to the world of wildlife is open to all tourists. Some places charge a nominal fee for entry.
Crimean Nature Reserve
This area received the status of a protected area in 1923. It is located between Yalta and Alushta and occupies the largest area among the protected areas of Crimea. You can go on an independent trip by car, having previously received permission from the authorities of Alushta, or visit this area as part of an excursion group.
There are many attractions in the reserve. If you go by bus, be prepared to travel along mountain serpentines and frequent stops.
The first will be at the Trout Farm.
Then at the Kosmo-Damianovsky Monastery. Pilgrims from all over the world come there every year on July 14th.
The road will pass through a large number of observation platforms. You will be able to take unique pictures of the Black Sea coast.
On the way you will meet the Kebit-Bogaz pass. You will see a monument to the partisans who fought on these lands against the German invaders during the Great Patriotic War. At the Chuchelstsky Pass, tourists have the opportunity to contemplate the highest mountain peak of Crimea - Mount Romash-Kosh. At the next rest stop, called the “Gazebo of the Winds,” the entire southern coast is clearly visible. Walking through the pine forest near the “Red Stone” you can see Yalta from a bird’s eye view, and at the end of the route there is a parking lot near the Uch-Kosh gorge.
How to get there
The reserve is located in Alushta, on Partizanskaya Street, at building 42. Excursions are conducted on the territory by bus or car along developed routes, accompanied by a guide.
Swan Islands
The ornithological reserve is included in the Crimean Reserve, but is located in the north-west, in the Karkitinsky Bay. It is more than 3.5 kilometers away from the coastline. Six separate small islands are located in an 8-kilometer zone along the bay. The largest of them, the fourth, is 3.5 kilometers long. The islands were formed due to a layer of shells and sand. Their relief changes over time. The warm water of the bay, full of a variety of fish, attracts more than 320 species of marsh and waterfowl to this area, many of which rest here during migration, stop for the winter and set up nesting grounds.
The protected area is 52 hectares. Here you can meet mute swans, pelicans, several species of gulls, herons, waders and flamingos. In the warm season, the number of birds reaches 6,000. This place is home not only to birds, but also to dolphins, porpoises, a large jerboa and a white polecat. There are also representatives of the reptile kingdom.
How to get there
You need to get to Portovoye village by Crimean public transport. There is no direct route. First, you will need to take a bus to Razdolnoye. This bus runs from Simferopol, Evpatoria or Sevastopol. Then you need to transfer to the transport that goes to Portovoye and there find a boat that will take you to the Swan Islands. Sea transport goes there regularly and often, so there should be no problems.
Opuk Nature Reserve
It was organized in 1998 and is located on the Kerch Peninsula near the cape of the same name. The endless steppes, stretching over 1.5 hectares, are home to rare birds, animals and representatives of marine flora and fauna. It is better to visit this place in spring, when the ground is completely covered with magnificent blooming tulips of different shades.
This place is considered an archaeological site, since in the 5th century BC the settlement of Cimmeric, which was part of the Bosporan Kingdom, was located here. Here, during excavations, foundations and ruins of ancient walls were discovered. The gentle slopes of Mount Opuk are the only location on the peninsula where pink starlings nest.
If you move south from the cape by sea, at a distance of 4 km, you can see another attraction. Rock ships have been the heroes of legends for many centuries due to their external similarity to sailing ships. Cormorants, gulls, pigeons, and unique black swifts fly here to nest.
How to get there
You can get to Mount Opuk from the bus station of the city of Kerch by buses heading towards “Marevka” or “Yakovenkovo”. After which you will have to walk about 5 kilometers.
Cape Martyan
This protected area is located between the botanical garden in Nikita and the Ai-Danil rest house. The cape is a rock covered with subtropical forest, and is a continuation of the Nikitsky spur. The status of a nature reserve for the land and water areas around the cape was assigned in 1973. Few people know that along the entire length of the protected area there is a long winding shady path, among a dense primeval forest, in which you can find juniper, fluffy oak, and, less often, small-fruited strawberry. Along the path there are branches leading to rocky cliffs. Here nature has created entire viewing platforms that offer stunning views of the southern coast of Crimea.
How to get there
As a rule, from Yalta. In any area of the city you need to take a minibus going to the Nikitsky Botanical Garden. You can also get to the beginning of the protected area from the village of Nikita. But it’s better to buy an excursion, then you will be taken by comfortable transport directly to the place.
Yalta Nature Reserve
The discovery took place in 1973, when unique vast forest lands consisting of pine, beech and oak were taken under state protection. The area of the territory is 14,000 hectares, of which forests occupy 75%. The flora of the reserve today is represented by 1,300 plant species, 74 of which are listed in the Red Book. Among them are juniper, emitting a pleasant coniferous aroma, Crimean lumbago and the magnificent Bieberstein's cherry, rioting with snow-white flowers. And most importantly, beautiful flowering bushes of peonies, Crimean cistus, violets, and pistachio obtufolia. As well as endemic carnation, nettle, geranium, Stephen's sunflower and the gorgeous Crimean peony. The following came under close control:
- 37 species of various mammals;
- 113 birds;
- 11 reptiles;
- several representatives of amphibians;
- an innumerable number of insects.
On the territory of the reserve there are special trails and routes, the most famous of which is the “Sunny Path”. Tourists can contemplate the Uchun-Su waterfall, the battlements of Mount Ai-Petri, the Devil's Staircase pass and other attractions.
How to get there
From the Spartak cinema in Yalta there is a minibus No. 24 to the stop "Polyana Skazok" or bus No. 8, on which you need to get off at the "Nest". You can also get there from the bus station by minibus going along Yuzhnoberezhnoe Highway. The required stop is located at the turn to the “Glade of Fairy Tales”. Afterwards you need to get there on foot along the paved paths.
Kazantip Reserve
Cape Kazantip has had the status of a protected area since 1998. The mountain of the same name is its highest point. This is the smallest reserve in area, occupying 450 hectares and located on the shores of the Azov Sea. Translated from Turkic, “kazantip” means “cauldron”. The name stuck because of the rounded topography of the area, which from a height resembles the bottom of a cauldron.
The virgin steppe and pristine nature are under the vigilant protection of the state. Schrenck's tulips, feather grass, and steppe orchids grow and bloom here in abundance. Many plant species growing in this area are included in the Red Book and the European Red List. Several species of marigold butterflies can be found on the cliffs. A wide variety of rare waterfowl and an extensive fishery represent the fauna of the reserve.
There are also archaeological and ethnic monuments, several small castles, rich owners of ancient times, as well as menhirs, sources of strength and vitality that attract many tourists. Recently, archaeologists discovered on the territory the remains of an ancient settlement dating back to the 3rd century BC. Another local attraction is the lighthouse tower on Mount Kazantip. It has been working since the beginning of the twentieth century.
How to get there
We need to stay the course on p. Shchelkino. If you want to use public transport, there is a train from Kerch to the village of Ostanino and a bus to Shchelkino. If the means of transportation is a personal car, from Kerch or Feodosia go to Lenino, and then north to Ostanino.
Karadag Reserve
Kara-Dag is a majestic volcanic massif rising above the sea in the area of the cities of Feodosia and Sudak. Its age is estimated at 150 million years. This place is rightfully considered one of the most beautiful on the entire peninsula. All kinds of minerals are stored in the depths of the mountains: amethyst, agate, transparent rock crystal and jasper.
The reserve was created in 1979. It originates in the Otuz Valley and stretches into the Koktebel basin. It occupies about 2000 hectares, not counting the coastal zone of the Black Sea. The area consists of forest and steppe lands with southern coastal vegetation. More than 3,800 fauna representatives thrive here, many of which are listed in the books of rare plants of many countries and are protected by the Berne Convention and the CITES Convention. The same can be said about the flora of the reserve.
The purpose of creating the natural park was to study and preserve as much as possible the flora and fauna in their original form, so the place is not accessible for individual visits. But you have the opportunity to walk along specially equipped paths, listen to a fascinating story and visit nature museums as part of excursion groups.
During your walk along the way you will come across many viewpoints overlooking the famous rocks:
- Ivan the Robber.
- Holy.
- Golden Gate.
- Damn Finger.
- Sphinx.
Walking along the long mountainous terrain is very tiring. Children will quickly get tired and begin to be capricious. It is better to go here with an adult group.
How to get there
The reserve is accessible only as part of excursion groups, so you will have to get there by comfortable buses from the group meeting point. You can get here from Feodosia, through Koktebel, or from Sudak, through the village of Kurortnoye.
We will tell you further what other reserves and wildlife sanctuaries there are in the Republic of Crimea.
Astana plavni
Located near Lake Aktash, on the territory of the Kerch Peninsula. Area – about 50 hectares. The shore of the estuary is densely strewn with reed thickets. It is a habitat and nesting area for large flocks of waterfowl such as the gray crane and mute swan. This is the only location in Crimea where there are nests of common ducks.
The beaches of the Astana Plavni are pure sand; there are many mud and mineral springs in the area. There are several health resorts here.
How to get there
If you prefer to travel by car, from Kerch head to Lenino, and then to the server - to Ostanino.
Kanaka Wildlife Sanctuary
Located on the territory belonging to the Alushta City Council. The place is covered with relict juniper forests, which are more than 4 centuries old. True natural monuments that have survived a long history are several trees that are over 700 years old. In “Kanaka”, like other protected areas, a huge number of rare plants listed in the Red Book grow. The most common of them are pistachio trees, rose hips and jasmine. During the flowering period, the air is filled with the intoxicating aroma of fragrant herbs and medicinal plants. Walking along the equipped paths, inhaling the aroma of pine needles and flowering crops, you can stock up on health for many years to come. Collecting herbs is strictly prohibited here.
Not far from the reserve itself is the settlement “Kanakskaya Balka. There are several boarding houses there. The village has developed infrastructure: cafes, bars, restaurants, cinema, and a beach.
How to get there
From the train station in Simferopol you need to go to the village. Rybachye by minibus. From Rybachy to Kanaka it is 12 kilometers. They can be overcome by taxi or any minibus heading towards Privetny to Kanakskaya Balka.
From the railway station and airport of Simferopol you can get to Alushta and transfer to transport going to Privetnoye. Get off at the Kanakskaya Balka stop.
Khapkhalsky reserve
The hydrological reserve was founded in 1974 with the aim of protecting the territory of the Khapkhal gorge, with the beech-oak forest located on it, the Ulu-Uzen Vostochny river and the Jur-Jur waterfall.
The gorge is located on the slopes of Mount Demerdzhi and cascades down to the sea. In this difficult place there is complete silence, sometimes interrupted by the singing of flying birds.
Here are located:
- several caves;
- sources;
- a large cascade of waterfalls;
- Kapewata spring;
- fragments of the destroyed Church of St. Andrew.
The forests are represented by oak, beech and hornbeam trees. Vast dense thickets of ivy envelop the rocks and trunks. The fauna is very diverse. This is the habitat of the largest predator in Crimea - the Crimean mountain fox, as well as martens, weasels, and the Crimean badger. Higher in the mountains you can find wild boars, deer and roe deer. A special place is occupied by entire populations of bats, listed in the Red Book and protected by the Berne Convention. Rare snakes hunt mice here. The coast is a nesting place for many species of waterfowl, and the river is home to a rare freshwater crab.
How to get there
You need to go to the village of Generalskoye. If you travel by bus, municipal transport runs from Alushta towards the village. Rybachye. From Sevastopol and Yalta you need to go to Sudak.
Utes-Karasansky Park
It is one of the attractions of Alushta and occupies an area of 18 hectares. The Karasan estate in the old days belonged to the Raevsky couple. More than 200 years ago, the head of the family laid the foundation for a beautiful park here. The general was fond of gardening, so he brought exotic tree species to the territory, which he himself grew in greenhouses near Partenit. He brought many plants from the Nikitsky Botanical Garden. Nowadays, there are more than 200 species of rare flora exhibits that delight visitors. If you go east from Karasansky Park, the road will lead to Utes Park - all these lands are considered a single complex.
In the park there is the Raevsky Palace, made in the Moorish style. It serves as the building of the Karasan sanatorium.
How to get there
By car or bus, travel from Alushta towards Yalta for about 10 km, to the “Small Lighthouse” sign. Next, you need to drive under the bridge and after the gas station on the left, turn towards Utes 4, the Santa Barbara and Corona hotels. Without turning off the main road, drive towards the sea.
Chernorechensky Canyon
It is also called Crimean Daryal. This is the longest canyon of the Crimean peninsula, the length of which is 12 kilometers. It is located at the same distance from the Baydar Valley and the village. Chernorechye, in the middle of the road. Conventionally, the territory can be divided into two parts:
- From the village to the partisan clearing, where you can meet other tourists, organize picnic areas, or simply stroll to the ruins of a bridge blown up by partisans during the Second World War;
- From the partisan valley to the Baydar valley. This route attracts extreme travelers. To successfully follow the path, you must have minimal climbing skills; in some places you will have to wade. This place fascinates with the beauty of the boulders hanging overhead. There are two waterfalls along the way. Travel agencies offer as many as four route options along the canyon.
How to get there
From the western bus station of the city of Simferopol and from the city of Sevastopol by minibuses and buses going to the village. Chernorechye. If you are coming from the Baydarskaya Valley, it is better to first get to the village. Shirokoy, and then walk 2 km to Peredovoe. Before the bridge you need to turn off, following the inscriptions on the table indicating the direction “Chernorechensky Canyon”.
Agarmysh forest
“Agarmysh” translated from Turkic means “gray-haired”. The natural monument received this name due to the climatic features of the area. Fog often falls on the yayla and when the air becomes frosty, everything is covered with a layer of frost. The upper part of the Sychevaya Balka gorge belongs to the protected area.
The forests came under close government control due to massive logging and quarrying, which caused a reduction in forest land. They are thickets of oak, beech, hornbeam and hazel. Although this is a protected area, every tourist can easily get here if they do not violate the basic rules of clean ecology.
Traces of the old water supply system that supplied ancient settlements are preserved here. The history of the area is shrouded in myths and secrets. They say that the Lethe River flows underground, where the souls of the dead are transported to another world. The French beauty Jeanne de la Motte, who stole the queen's necklace, is also mentioned. This image is captured on the pages of many novels, the most famous of which is “The Three Musketeers.” In 1824, Zhanna received Russian citizenship and came to Crimea. After her sudden death, the trace of the necklace is lost, but according to legend, the Countess hid the diamond necklace in some well of Agamash.
The films “9th Company” and “Inhabited Island” were filmed here.
How to get there
You need to move from Stary Krym along the A23 road by public or private transport. A few kilometers before the turn to Grushevka village, the protected area begins.
Nikitsky Botanical Garden
One of the most beloved and visited places by tourists in Crimea. During the spring blooming of tulips and the autumn exhibition of chrysanthemums, many people specially travel here from all over the world. This is a research institution on fruit growing and one of the oldest gardens, on the territory of which there are countless rare plants. Its pride is the museum, which displays more than 170 thousand specimens. In the park you can visit a cactus greenhouse and an orchid exhibition. You need to go here for the whole day: walk along the winding garden paths, enjoy the aroma of flowering bushes, drink tea under the shade of bamboo, look into fairy-tale gazebos, take pictures against the backdrop of rare trees.
How to get there
You can get to the Nikitsky Botanical Garden from Yalta by bus or trolleybus from the “Veshchevoy Rynok” and “Pionerskaya” stops.
Crimea is a uniquely beautiful nature: unique mountain ranges, rare coniferous and mixed forests, springs with crystal clear water. A variety of animals and birds, listed in the Red Book, live here.
Crimea's reserves and national parks are areas covered with aromatic fragrant herbs and medicinal plants. There are steppe zones, rivers, lakes, waterfalls and impassable gorges. Centuries-old history, human activity and climatic features have made adjustments to the natural landscape. To preserve the pristine appearance of these places, study the characteristics of flora and fauna and maintain rare and endangered species, special protected zones have been created.
Before your trip, look at the routes on the map, and see the sights of the Crimean nature reserves in the photos. By visiting such places, you will feel like a pioneer, breathe in fresh air, enjoy picturesque beauty and views, and plunge into the atmosphere of wildlife. Each of these natural parks has something to see and something to remember.
Reserves of Crimea
For the first time, in 1870, part of the mountain-forest landscapes in Crimea acquired the status of an imperial (royal) hunting reserve.
Over the years of its development, the nature reserve fund of Crimea has become the most important indicator of the reference scientific and natural resource potential of the peninsula. This is a natural environment-preserving and environment-reproducing source of the plain-steppe, mountain-forest and southern coastal-sub-Mediterranean nature of the peninsula. As of 1.01. 1998 in Crimea there are 145 territories and objects of natural reserve fund, with a total area of 140.4 thousand hectares, including 43 territories of national significance, with an area of 124.7 thousand hectares (which is 87% of the area of the entire reserve fund) and 102 objects of local importance, with an area of 15.7 thousand hectares (13% of the area of the reserve fund). At the same time, specially protected territories and objects, reflecting the degree of uniqueness of nature in different regions of the peninsula, are unevenly distributed across the landscape areas of Crimea. The Main Crimean Ridge and the Crimean Sub-Mediterranean region are characterized by the greatest reserve density. The landscape areas of the Plain Crimea, the Kerch hills and the Crimean foothills are characterized by significantly less reserve density. In general, the reserve fund in Crimea accounts for 5.4% of the peninsula’s territory. This is 2.5 times higher than the similar average for Ukraine as a whole, but 2 times lower than the UN recommended optimal level of reserve saturation for regions of the world.
The Crimean Nature Reserve is the oldest on the peninsula, it was created in 1923. For a long time (1957-1991 it remained in the strange status of a “reserve hunting area”, when instead of protecting valuable animals, they were hunted by “reserve” hunting. Nowadays the reserve is together with a branch, it occupies 44.1 thousand hectares. The reserve protects north-slope forest, upland meadow-steppe (Yailta) and partially southern-slope forest landscapes. 1,165 species of higher plants grow in the protected area (plus 84 species on the Swan Islands). The floristic wealth includes 45 species of endemics, 115 species of rare and preserved species.The reserve is home to 39 species of mammals), 120 species of birds (on the Swan Islands - 20 and 230, respectively). Of particular value are beech, oak, hornbeam and pine forests, which play an important water and soil protection role. Red deer, mouflon roe deer, black vulture, griffon vulture and other rare animals live here. Up to 5,000 mute swans flock to the Swan Islands annually to molt, and the colony of gulls numbers more than 30,000 individuals.
The Yalta Natural Mountain Forest Reserve was created in 1973. It covers mainly the western South Coast (14,589 hectares). Forests occupy 3/4 of its territory. Tall, mainly pine forests are common here (they make up 56% of all forests in the reserve), also beech and oak, in places with evergreen sub-Mediterranean undergrowth. The reserve's flora includes 1,363 species of vascular plants, including 115 endemics; 43 plant species are listed in the Red Book of Ukraine. The reserve is home to 37 species of mammals, 113 species of birds, 11 species of reptiles and 4 species of amphibians.
The Cape Martyan Nature Reserve, located to the east of the Nikitsky Botanical Garden on the limestone cape of the same name, occupies, together with the coastal aquatic complex, only 240 hectares. The reserve was created in 1973 and is intended to preserve a corner of nature of the sub-Mediterranean type in Crimea. A relict pine-juniper-strawberry forest with more than 600 plant species, including 23 endemic species, is preserved here. The Red Book of Ukraine includes tall juniper, small-fruited greenberry, etc. The adjacent water area is home to 71 species of algae, 50 species of fish, 40 species of mollusks - a total of 200 species of marine animals.
Finally, in the east of the Crimean Sub-Mediterranean Sea there is the youngest nature reserve on the peninsula, the Karadag Nature Reserve, founded in 1979. It occupies an area of 1855.1 hectares of ancient volcanic mountain-forest landscape. The reserve was created to protect the rarest landscape and botanical-zoological objects. More than 100 mineral species and varieties were found on Karadag: semi-precious stones are found here - carnelian, opal, heliotrope, agate, rock crystal, amestist, etc. You can observe the attributes of the fossils of the volcano: lava flows and breccias, dikes, mineral veins. The rich flora of Karadag includes 1090 species of vascular plants, including about 50 endemics. Many species are listed in the Red Book of Ukraine: tall juniper, blunt-leaved pistachio, Poyarkova hawthorn, etc. The fauna of Karadag includes 28 species of mammals, 184 species of birds, reptile species, 3 amphibians, 1900 invertebrates. The flora of the coastal waters includes 454 species of plants and 900 species of animals (including 80 species of fish).
In addition to nature reserves, numerous other, mostly small in area, specially protected natural unique sites are scattered sporadically throughout Crimea. 32 state reserves have been established on the peninsula, accounting for 51% of the protected territory of Crimea. Among them - 1 reserves are of national importance. There are 73 protected natural monuments in Crimea, with a total area of 2.4% of the entire reserve fund; Among them, 12 have national status. There are 25 protected botanical gardens and parks-monuments of horticultural art in Crimea (their area is 1% of the reserve fund); 11 of them have national status. Finally, there are 11 protected areas in Crimea. They occupy 1.6% of the protected area of the peninsula.
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