Bear Mountain in Crimea is beautiful, legendary and amazing. Ayu-dag or bear-mountain in Crimea

View of Ayu-Dag from Balgatura,
highest point Gurzuf

Mount Ayu-Dag, description

The height of the mountain is 577 meters, which in no way distinguishes Ayu-Dag from the rest of the peaks of the Crimean Peninsula, but its shape and outline allow it to be different from others and immediately recognizable. Bear Mountain is a typical laccolith, that is, it should have been a volcano, but the magma never broke through the layers of rock, but only lifted them, “inflating” the mountain, if the description of the result of the geological process can be simplified.

Sea cliffs of Adalary against the backdrop of Mount Ayu-Dag:
photo 2008

The main rock is gabbro-diabase of volcanic origin; other rocks and minerals are also found. Gabbro-diabase has a dark green hue, which is given to it by the feldspar and pyroxene included in its composition. The geological composition distinguishes Ayu-Dag from the mountains of the Main Range; in contrast to the fragile, eroded limestone that makes up the surface of the Crimean Mountains, the Bear Mountain rocks are many times stronger.

The mountain, with a cape extending into the sea, separates two large by the standards of Southern Crimea settlements- Partenit and Gurzuf. For Artek, located in close proximity to its western slopes, this is also one of the symbols. The southern end of the mountain is called Monastyrsky Cape, the eastern end is called Cape Musseri.

	Ayu-Dag. Cape Musseri and Cape Monastyrsky from the Partenite side

Vegetation of the Ayu-Dag reserve

The top and slopes of the mountain are covered with low-growing forest, which mainly consists of sessile and downy oak and hornbeam. To a lesser extent, the forest is represented by hawthorn, ash, maple, dogwood, Christ's thorn, rowan and rose hips. Some specimens of sessile oak are half a millennium or more old.

Coniferous trees are represented by juniper and pine; strawberry and evergreen prickly broom can be found on the slopes. Between the Monastic Cape and the shores of the small Panair Bay in the east you can find a pistachio grove, which, according to scientists, is a real relict of the local flora.

In February, the slopes are covered with snowdrops. Can be seen here and rare view Crimean forest cabbage.

The fauna of the reserve is also diverse, with 16 species of animals listed in the Red Book. On the slopes of the mountain you can see a hare, fox, marten, badger, hedgehog, small rodents, lizards and snakes scurry among the stones.

Monastery of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul
and other architectural objects of Ayu-Dag

In the eighth century AD, the monastery of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul was erected on Bear Mountain. At a time when southern Crimea was under the influence of the Byzantine Empire, according to church hierarchy it was called the Gothic diocese. Its bishop was St. John, supposedly born in Partenit, which was then called Partenites, and buried (again presumably) in the monastery on Ayu-Dag.

The remains of the temple basilica can still be seen in the Crimea sanatorium at the foot of the mountain. It was destroyed and restored more than once during its long life. Last time it, like the monastery itself, was destroyed by the Ottoman Turks in 1475. In honor of its creator, Saint John, a memorial sign has been erected nearby.

In the Ai-Konstant clearing you can see the ruins of the Church of Saints Constantine and Helen (14-15th century), made in the form of a basilica with one nave, and an older tower. They say that from here two columns that had lain for centuries after the destruction of the church by the Turks were taken to the estate of Count Vorontsov in Alupka.

On Monastyrsky Cape you can find the remains of the foundation of a building, possibly Christian temple. Another destroyed basilica is located a hundred meters higher in the Klisura clearing.

And finally, at the very top there is the so-called upper fortification, also fairly destroyed, attributed to the skill of the Taurians. And other, smaller archaeological finds indicate that even before our era the Tauri settled on the top of Bear Mountain.

Here and there on the slopes of Bear Mountain they find the remains of a defensive wall, which in the Middle Ages encircled the mountain in three rings. After the invasion of the Turks, the population abandoned Ayu-Dag, leaving behind only ruins.

			Ruins of defensive structures on the slopes of Ayu-Dag. Lithograph by F.I. Gross mid-19th century

Thus, we can say that the historical past of this reserve lies within the Middle Ages - between the 7th and 15th centuries.

	Ayu-Dag against the backdrop of the village of Zaprudnoye and the village of Partenit

Walking along the Ayu-Dag routes

You can come to the foot of the mountain both from Gurzuf and from Partenit. If you are leaving from the direction of Gurzuf, you will need to get off at the Artek Gorny stop and walk to the beginning of the trail along the back of Bear Mountain. Then everything is very clear, the path will take you to the very top of Ayu-Dag, from where you can proceed to Monastyrsky Cape (136 meters).

Ayu-Dag from the Gurzuf side

If you came from Partenit, then you need to find the entrance to the Crimea sanatorium. There will be piles of stones along the path, which is why this area is called “ Big stones" Turning left at this place, you can find the Ai-Constant clearing with the ruins of a temple.

To get to the Klisura clearing you will need to climb another hundred meters, and from there there is access to Panair Bay.

There are many branches from these routes, but you need to remember that the slopes of Ayu-Dag are often fraught with danger, especially in the southern and western directions. You should be careful in rainy weather. In winter, the top of the mountain is often covered with a cap of fog.

View of Ayu-Dag from the Red Stone rock	View of the Red Stone rock and Mount Ayu-Dag

Numerous observation platforms of Ayu-Dag give beautiful views to the sea and surrounding areas. From the east you can see Partenit, Utes, Maly Mayak

There are many mountains in Crimea, but Bear Mountain deserves special attention. Bear Mountain (in language Crimean Tatars- Ayu-Dag) has clear and pronounced animal outlines: a powerful and gigantic bear, leaning towards the sea, as if drinking water from it. Both the back and head of the bear are clearly visible, even Mishka’s fur is noticeable: it is represented by the dense forest that surrounds Ayu-Dag from different sides.

Bear Mountain, view from Gurzuf

But not only because of its unusual appearance, Bear Mountain stands apart among the ridges of the Crimean mountains; it is more interesting because of its non-standard origin. If other mountains in Crimea consist mainly of limestone, that is, of bones layered over many millennia different organisms, including shells, then Ayu-Dag arose thanks to a volcano that tried to erupt in these places one and a half hundred million years ago, but never really succeeded. The volcanic magma failed to break through the earth's thickness so much so that a full-fledged volcano arose in this place, but it formed a grandiose dome and became the progenitor of the unusual appearance of Bear Mountain.

So interesting origin Ayu-Daga immediately catches your eye if you look closely at the rocky rocks on the mountain. They most often consist of such a durable and beautiful stone as gray-green gabbro-diabase. It is curious that it is from gabbro-diabase, which becomes aesthetically pleasing after polishing, that the stands on Red Square in Moscow are made, and the first stations of the Moscow metro, as well as the Moscow River canal, are also lined with it.

Today, Bear Mountain is a landscape reserve, a protected area. It is not only pleasant to look at her from different corners Crimea, and Ayu-Dag is perfectly visible from Mount Ai-Petri and from the Arbor of the Winds, but it is also possible to climb along the back of the “Bear”. If you are going on vacation in Crimea, I recommend including a visit to this mountain in your program.

Ancient trail to the top of Bear Mountain: what you can see

By the way, the path along which excursion groups climb the mountain is very ancient. It was cleared and trodden in those distant times when people lived on the mountain. Here and there you can see the remains of ancient masonry, which served as a barrier and protected the road from possible scree.

The path to the top of Ayu-Dag

Traveling along this trail and along Bear Mountain in general can give you a lot of surprises. The volcanic past has enriched the mountain with underground gifts: at least 20 types of minerals are found here, including beautiful and rare stones: golden pyrite, tourmaline, laumontite, vesuvian and even such a beauty as purple amethyst. Real pathfinders and “alchemists” can try their luck and try to find these minerals on the mountain. It seems that such a souvenir, which millions of years ago could have been part of an ancient volcano, if found, would be much more interesting and valuable than a purchased refrigerator magnet or a template postcard.

In addition to the volcano, people also left many traces on the mountain - ancient buildings. Thus, the giant Bear contains the remains and traces of about 14 ancient temples. Already at the very beginning of the ascent you will come across the little that remains of the medieval church - the Basilica of Peter and Paul. This temple was built back in the 15th century, was destroyed and rebuilt many times, only its foundation has survived to this day, but it will be interesting to look at it and capture it, especially since the guide will tell you the secrets of its rich historical past with his story.

Further, the trail will smoothly climb along the “shaggy body” of Ayu-Dag, densely overgrown with forests, among which grow oak, juniper, hornbeam, and strawberry trees. There are also such “hairs” of plants in the “wool” of the mighty Bear that are not found anywhere else in the world! These are Crimean forest cabbage and Vera gorse.

The road will rise steeper and steeper, the view of Partenit and the coastal sea distances will be more and more impressive.

Views of Partenit

View of the Bear Mountains

Along the path you will come across the remains of ancient defensive fortification walls, and then, when some not very prepared travelers are already eager for a break, it will lead to the observation deck and the Ai-Constant clearing. This is where you can take a break, admire the panorama of Partenit, the coastal and sea distances, and explore the ruins of an ancient monastery.

Ruins of the monastery in the Konstants glade

Some travelers arrange picnics in the Ai-Constant clearing.

Glade Constant on Ayu-dag

There are legends that this is the most energetically powerful place on the mountain and in the whole of Crimea, and witches allegedly use it when they organize their covens here, and magicians and warlocks conduct their rituals here. The Ai-Constant glade attracts and famous people, and those who need healing and hope that if they are saturated with special cosmic energy in this place, a miracle will happen and illnesses will recede. Well, it may well be. As they say, there is no smoke without fire, and the power of faith only enhances the effect.

After the Ai-Constant clearing, there are two options for continuing the route. Anyone who adheres to the idea that only mountains can be better than mountains will certainly continue to climb to the top. The same travelers who are lured by the seductive view of the hard-to-reach and therefore deserted wild beach opening from the clearing will probably move towards it, down to the sea. Both will benefit. True, neither mountaineers nor beachgoers will get along without obstacles. Those who choose the path up will follow a narrow, rocky and steep path, and they will have to be patient. Because the grandiose mountain-like Bear is not easily conquered, and a hike to its relatively small half-kilometer height will not seem like an easy walk. However, if you believe in the nutritional energy power of the I-Constant clearing, then what problems could there be? Charge up - and go!

View of the sea from Ayu-dag

On the way to the top you can find the remains of another ancient defensive wall, and at the very height - a ring-shaped stone fortification. But the “hairiness” of Mishka in its very upper part does not allow one to see the magnificent panorama from above; the mountain forest blocks the view, which, of course, does not make the ascent any less interesting.

Travelers who, in the Ai-Constant clearing, prefer beach pleasures instead of mountain exploits, should not think that they have made their life much easier. The descent to the wild beaches along rocky slopes is not easy and not everyone can overcome it, but no one has canceled the risk of falling. However, the pleasure of being on some of the wildest Crimean beaches is worth the effort. The water here is crystal clear, a very beautiful color, and there are always few or no people at all. But do not forget that on the way back from the beach you will again have to feel like mountaineers and climb; there is no lower path to Partenit along the coast. By the way, you can also get to these pristine beaches by boat from Partenit; water transport is rented at the boat station.

View of wild beaches from Bear Mountain

It’s even more difficult to get to the “head” of Bear Mountain, which is a rock - Cape Monastyrsky. Not far from this place there is a unique pistachio grove, the likes of which are not found anywhere else in Crimea.

Legends of Ayu-Dag

The most popular Crimean legend about the mountain says that Ayu-Dag is a bear leaning towards the water who decided to drink the sea in an attempt to return the girl who grew up among the bear pack and became her favorite. The girl sailed away on a boat with a young man whom she saved after a shipwreck and fell in love with. Tour guides invariably tell this legend to tourists, but it is far from the only one.

Another legend tells of a giant traveler bear who wandered through forests and mountains for a long time, leaving many traces. Thanks to him, beautiful valleys, potholes, ravines, and hills appeared on the earth, which can now be seen in the area of ​​Yalta, Alupka, Simeiz and other places in Crimea. After long wanderings, this bear came to where Gurzuf and Partenit are now located. Being tired from long wanderings, the hefty Mishka wanted to drink water and leaned towards the sea to do this. He drank longingly and for a long time, and the Sea God liked this picture so much - the sight of a drinking bear that he decided to capture it forever and made the animal petrify. So the huge bear still stands at the watering hole, only in the form of a mountain, and continues to catch admiring glances.

There is another legend that complements this one. According to her, they lived in these places pious people, and nature then was much richer and harsher, forests stretched everywhere on the southern coast of Crimea, where many dangers and wild animals lay in wait. It was hard for the people; they only relied on God and prayed to him. But over time, they decided to ease their hardships: they cleared space and cut down forests. Life has become easier. People felt their omnipotence and began to establish power over nature, began to forget God, and stopped praying to him. Then God was angry with them and decided to severely punish them. To do this, he sent to them with retribution from the distant north giant bear, who lived in the ice and was previously chained. This bear sailed to the shores of Crimea, came onto land and began to destroy everything. He got so carried away that he couldn’t stop when God told him to. Having exceeded his mission, he was very tired and decided to lean towards the sea and drink water. Then God said to him: “You were a great avenger, but you also became a great disobedient.” And he punished the bear by turning him into a mountain.

Pushkin Trail on the slope of Ayu-Dag, or the Road to Nowhere

There is one of the slopes of Bear Mountain unusual road. There probably isn’t another one like it in Crimea. This path leads nowhere, but ends at the edge of an abyss. What kind of mysterious path is this?

In the 19th century, the noble family of the Pervushins lived on the territory of what is now Artek. They greatly revered Pushkin and his legacy, and decided to commemorate his memory on the 50th anniversary of the poet’s death. It was planned in his honor to cut a road in the rocks above the sea, which was supposed to run along the slope of Ayu-Dag and connect the Partenite and Gurzuf valleys. This path was intended to become the most non-standard and large-scale monument to Pushkin of all existing ones. According to the plan, they wanted to decorate this road with images of heroes from Pushkin’s works and landscape it with rare plants.

After the fourth part of the road was built, one of the workers died. And suddenly the contractor and workers unanimously refused to continue construction. What scared them? Perhaps they knew some story about the curse of this place? There is information that several centuries before the construction there was a large landslide, and along with fragments of rocks an entire village collapsed into the sea. Be that as it may, construction stopped and was never resumed.

You can walk along the unfinished Pushkin Trail from Gurzuf, it’s better to ask local residents how to get there. There is a lot to see there. For example, groves of Italian pine, planted by the Pervushins, wild olives, elaborate rock sculptures, and what about the incomparable view of the entire Artek and Gurzuf! Perhaps the spirit of the great poet is here, so be sure to take a walk along the Pushkin trail... But be extremely careful where the trail ends, because beyond that there is only an abyss, there is no continuation of the road. Over the past 60 years, the treacherous place where the path suddenly ends and abruptly turns into a cliff has confused at least 10 people and claimed their lives.

As you can see, a walk along Bear Mountain is not just an excursion, but an entire adventure. The mountain is located next to resort Gurzuf, and if you are vacationing in another part of Crimea, then you can probably buy an organized excursion to Ayu-Dag.

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It is an architectural symbol of the peninsula, so Ayu-Dag acts as a symbol of nature: huge bear, descended to the shore of the Black Sea, and fell to its roaring water. There are several ways you can do excursion to Ayu-Dag. The first method is to use the services of travel agencies in Crimea. The second is to plan a trip and climb to the top of Ayu-Dag yourself. If this is not feasible for you, we suggest method number three – virtual: before you is a “remote” acquaintance with this famous and formidable mountain.

Where is Mount Ayu-Dag located?

Mount Ayu-Dag is located on the southern coast of Crimea, on the border of Big Yalta and Big Alushta, in the east of the urban-type settlement of Gurzuf ( Yalta region). Name " Ayu-Dag" translated from the Crimean Tatar language means " Bear Mountain" The height of this bear above sea level is 577 meters. It “spread out” into the sea for about 2.5 kilometers, stretching to the northwest. The surface area is about 4 square kilometers. Since 1947, Mount Ayu-Dag has been declared a natural monument and is protected by the state.

Ayu-Dag is unique mountain. From its geological composition it is clear that this is not part or continuation The main ridge of the Crimean mountains: she is made up of something completely different rock. This rock is not the typical sedimentary material characteristic of Crimea (sandstone, limestone, shale), but a very strong, igneous rock born deep in the Earth. This rock is called gabbro-diabase and is a grayish-green stone, especially beautiful after polishing (it can be seen on the lining of the stands on Red Square in Moscow, at the first stations of the capital's metro). The domed Crimean mountains, consisting of gabbro-diabase, are “failed” volcanoes: the magma in these places could not reach the surface, but only squeezed out the top layer earth's surface and froze in the form of a mountain. Mountains of this type are called laccoliths. Ayu-Dag- the largest laccolith of the southern coast of Crimea, which is about 161 million years old.

Subsoil « Bear Mountains“conceal about 20 types of minerals. If luck smiles on you, then during the excursion to Ayu-Dag you will become the owner black tourmaline, golden pyrite, laumontite, vesuvian and even amethyst.

If you look at Ayu-Dag from the sea, you can see a green panorama full of harsh rocks, cliffs, ledges, capes and bays between them. The largest rocks are called Akustani, Cape Monastyrsky and Mussert, and the bays are called Panair and Gyshir Liman.

Ayu-Dag looks green for a reason: almost 600 species of representatives of the Crimean flora “live” on it (22% of the total number of plants in Crimea), including 44 species that are rare for the peninsula, 17 are in the Red Book, 13 are endemic. A Crimean forest cabbage and Vera's gorse grow only here, and are not found anywhere else on the planet. The main botanical attraction of Ayu-Dag is the pistachio grove, located in the area of ​​Panair Bay and Monastyrsky Cape.

The fauna of Ayu-Dag is badgers, roe deer, deer and wild boars wandering up the mountain in search of food, as well as hares, squirrels, leopard snake, gecko.

Ayu-Dag: a “bearish” story

Although Bear Mountain is a natural symbol of Crimea, it did not escape “communication” with a person who left many traces on the top and slopes of the mountain over hundreds of years. This communication began a very long time ago - archaeological finds show that it was back in the Late Bronze Age - early iron(from the XIII to the IX centuries BC). At the beginning of our era, there was a settlement here, presumably Taurus. In the 8th century, Bishop of Gothia Saint John founded a large monastery on Ayu-Dag Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. Soon, behind its fortified walls was the episcopal see of the Gothic diocese. The remains of the Basilica of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, located at the foot of the mountain, have been preserved. Today they can be seen by visiting the territory of the Crimea sanatorium (Partenit village). In the Middle Ages, several settlements were formed around the monastery. During the Turkish yoke, which began in 1475, the monastery fell into decay and gradually disappeared, along with the villages surrounding it. Besides the Turks, there was another reason that forced people to leave their homes: mountain dehydration.

Excursion route to Ayu-Dag

The average duration of an excursion to Ayu-Dag is 4 hours. It begins with a visit to the memorial complex with the tomb of John of Gotha. At the beginning of the trail you will be able to purchase a map with the route of the upcoming journey, a diagram of Ayu-Dag, and souvenirs. The first part of the excursion is a steep climb. Be careful: you are walking on clay with pieces of gabbro-diabase. The first stop will be at an altitude of 125 meters. Here, in the Ai-Konstant clearing, are ruins of the Church of Saints Constantine and Helena, foundations of other medieval buildings. The next stop is at a height of 240 meters: a destroyed temple of the same time. At the top of Ayu-Dag you can see the well-preserved walls of a ring-shaped fortification . It can be assumed that these are the remains of a shelter used during the military threat. Near this fortress there are the ruins of a temple similar to the temple from the clearing I-Constant.on the M18 highway on regular buses in the Yalta or Alushta directions until the turn between the villages of Partenit and Gurzuf. From this turn there is a road to Ayu-Dag.

Going to excursion on Ayu-Dag, do not forget to take your camera with you: you will definitely want to take “pieces” of the mountain with you as a souvenir, even in digital form. Let them warm your soul in cold weather winter evenings. Have a nice trip!

Ayu-Dag, or Bear Mountain, is capable of bewitching not only its appearance, but also many mysterious beliefs and legends. Someone is purely attracted here scientific interest, for some, the desire to have a great vacation, for others, ancient legends, and for other tourists, the latest rumors about UFOs and aliens.

Where is Bear Mountain located?

Ayu-Dag is located in the south of Crimea and serves as a conditional border between Big Alushta and Big Yalta. Its height is 577 meters above sea level. If you climb to the top of Mount Bear, you can admire the beautiful and majestic nature of Partenit and Yalta.

Ayu-Dag - a legend of love and separation

The ancient legend of Bear Mountain tells that the mountain bears, raiding the people of the plain, once found a little girl on the shore among the wreckage of a ship and took her in to raise her. The animals simply doted on her, because she grew up very beautiful, and her voice was especially amazing. A formidable flock of predators could listen to her singing from morning to evening.

And then one day, when the bears were not at home, the sea washed a boat with a beautiful young man at the girl’s feet. He fled from the robbers, in whose slavery he had spent many years, but hunger, thirst and constant blows against the rocks greatly exhausted him and deprived him of his last strength. With her care, the beauty managed to bring the guy back to life. The young people spent a lot of time together: he told her about different countries and people, and she sang to him. The two fell in love with each other so much that they soon decided to escape from the bear's den together.

When the animals returned to the mountains and did not find their pupil there, the enraged old leader fell down to the water and began to frantically slurp it. The whole flock followed his example. The bears decided to drink up the sea and pull the lovers' sailing boat to the shore. The seriously frightened fugitive suddenly began to sing such an amazing song that even the old leader himself could not resist the pleas to spare the youth and love of the couple. He stopped drinking and let the girl and the boy go, but never got back to his feet. For thousands of years he lies on the shore, peering into the distance and yearning for the one who abandoned him forever.

Another version of the legend about the bear insists that the evil predator, who destroyed everything in his path, was so overwhelmed by the beauty of the Partenite Valley that he decided to stay here forever. The tired beast bent over the water to quench his thirst, and never rose again: at the command of the sea god, he turned into a block of stone.

Indeed, the outlines of a mountain in Crimea are very reminiscent of one lying on the sea huge bear. And yet, medieval Italian maps have been preserved, on which this geographical point is designated as Camello, which means “wereman”. Well, if you want, you can find such similarities.

Why is Ayu-Dag attractive?

Not only folklore legends are associated with the mountain in Partenit. There is also great amount ancient archaeological sites. For example, even today you can see the remains of the fortress wall and various temple buildings. There is even a version that the name Ayu-Dag comes from Aya-Dag (Holy Mountain).

Mount Bear attracts a huge number of geologists. It's all about the material from which it is created. This is not a sedimentary rock like limestone, but a durable igneous gabbrodiabase (By the way, this is what the stands on Red Square in Moscow are made of). In addition, this mountain is not a continuation of the large ridge of the Crimean Mountains. That is why many scientists are of the opinion that Bear Mountain in Crimea is an extinct volcano.

On Ayu-Dag, tourists can see more than 600 species of plants, which is 22% of the entire Crimean fauna. Animals also live here, among which 16 species are listed in the Red Book.

Climbing the mountain

Entrance to the territory of the Crimean Bear is free, but not every tourist will be able to climb to its peak on their own. The fact is that the road to the observation deck is very ancient and difficult. So people who are not familiar with the area should not skimp on the services of an experienced instructor.

From the observation deck of Mount Ayu-Dag you can look at Partenit from a bird's eye view, feel its beauty and majesty, and be charged with a lot of positive emotions. And of course, don’t forget to take photos on Bear Mountain to show them to your friends later.

Tourist information

How to get there:

• From Partenit, go through the central entrance to the territory of the military sanatorium "Crimea". Climb to the top along the path named after the pioneer along this route, General N.N. Raevsky Jr.
• from Gurzuf take bus No. 2 to the final stop at the Gorny camp (Artek). Then you need to walk for about 20 minutes along the asphalt road past the Artek greenhouse and the Osman tract. Moving along the western slope of Bear Mountain, you will see a small artificial lake, before reaching which a well-trodden path leading to the right begins.

• Don't climb to the top in bad weather(snow, rain, ice, strong wind, fog).
• Don't go alone. It is best to sign up for a small excursion group (5-15 people) led by a guide: he will not only guide you along a safe road, but will also tell you a lot of interesting things.
• There are several routes along Ayu-Dag, designed for people with different physical fitness and health conditions. Realistically assess your capabilities so that your walk brings only positive emotions.
• Among the attractions of Ayu-Dag it is worth mentioning memorial Complex St. John of Gotha (VIII century), a pile of boulders “Big Stones”, the Ai-Constant clearing, where the ruins of the ancient monastery of Saints Constantine and Helen (XIV-XV centuries) and Panair Bay are located.

Ayu-Dag, or Bear Mountain, is capable of bewitching not only with its appearance, but also with many mysterious beliefs and legends. Some are drawn here by purely scientific interest, others by the desire to have a great vacation, others by ancient legends, and other tourists by the latest rumors about UFOs and aliens.

Where is Bear Mountain located?

Ayu-Dag is located in the south of Crimea and, as it were, serves a conditional purpose..." />

Ayu-Dag (Bear Mountain)

5 (100%) 1 vote

Visiting Crimea and not climbing to the top of the famous Ayu-Dag mountain is a big and irresponsible mistake. This mountain (or as it is also called “Bear Mountain”) is a mysterious and incredibly beautiful symbol of Partenite, containing the secrets of many sacred places, valuable archaeological finds, ancient healing mineral springs, remains of fortress monuments and Orthodox burial grounds. All this is definitely worth seeing!

The mountain is located in the southern part of Crimea, between Alushta and Big Yalta. Its area is four square kilometers, and its height reaches only 577 meters. However, this height is more than enough to enjoy the beauty of Yalta, standing at the very top.

Bear Mountain is unique in its geological characteristics. It is not the main part of the main complex of the Crimean mountains, because it consists of a completely different type of stone. The mountain is not formed from sedimentary rock, like most mountains Crimean peninsula, but from strong igneous rock.

Vegetation Bear Mountains

The mountain arose approximately 150 million years ago, in the middle Jurassic. This happened as a result of the penetration of both molten and magma that came to the surface. The mountain is a laccolith - a “failed” volcano. Ayu-Dag is the largest laccolith on the southern coast of Crimea.

The stone that makes up the mountain has a gray-green tint. It is especially beautiful after polishing. By the way, it is from this stone that the stands on Red Square are carved, the canals of the Moscow River and the oldest stations of the Moscow subway are lined. To date, scientists have discovered 18 types of minerals here.

Adalara rocks. View from Bear Mountain

In addition, this is a protected monument of Crimea; on its territory there is a reserve of 528 hectares. The mountain slopes are covered thick green vegetation, among which there are evergreen strawberry trees, rare Pontian butcher's broom, and fragrant jasmine bushes. At the top of the attraction lies a luxurious forest.

Here you can admire lush oak, evergreen hornbeam, fragrant juniper and shaggy pear. At the top of the mountain grow ash, beech, maple and even (who would have thought!) pistachio trees. And Ayu-Dag is the only place in the CIS countries where a rare species of fern grows - forest cabbage. In total there are about 543 species on the mountain various plants.

There is an equally rich collection of living inhabitants. Here you can meet martens, squirrels, foxes, badgers, hedgehogs and hares. The most various types birds: seagulls, owls, woodpeckers, blackbirds. Reptiles also live on the mountain: lizards, snakes and yellowtooths. In addition, more than twenty species of animals inhabiting the mountain are listed in the Red Book.

View of the village of Partenit

Among the archaeological finds, a special place is occupied by flint tools that date back to the Meso-Neolithic era. According to historical data, Taurus tribes lived in this territory from the 4th century BC to the 4th century AD. And in the Middle Ages, the grandiose and striking monastery of St. was built on the mountain. Peter and St. Pavel. It is believed that this monastery was founded by the Bishop of Gotha, who transferred his own see of the diocese there.

Archaeological sources indicate that today on the territory of this sacred place there are the relics of St. John, however, these can only be guesses. During the Middle Ages, small settlements regularly appeared on the mountain, which existed until the end of the 15th century and were destroyed as a result of Ottoman raids. Research scientists believe that main reason, along which people left the territory of the mountain - its dehydration after the earthquakes of the 15th century.

Previously, it was possible to climb Bear Mountain along the path named after General Raevsky Jr. This road is now closed and surrounded by a fence. Get to top part mountains can be reached through the checkpoint at the Crimea sanatorium, where you can also purchase a card. It is worth noting that the fence of the old path has many gaps, using which you can repeat the path of Nikolai Raevsky. However, we should not forget about caution. The road to the top of the mountain is ancient, so if you are not familiar with the area, climb the slope in the company of a knowledgeable instructor.

Descent to the sea from the mountain

Now this route is an entire archaeological and historical monument for tourists. From the height of the highest point of the slope there are magnificent views of the bottomlessly clear Black Sea. And what beautiful sunsets you can see here! Sometimes it seems that all the colors of the world have merged together in order to convey an incredibly lively and genuine extravaganza of feelings! Expressive, colorful, inaccessible and truly stunning, Ayu-Dag is unlikely to leave anyone indifferent!

Ayu-Dag on the map of Crimea

Photo of Mount Ayu-Dag

Slope of Mount Ayu-DagDescent from the mountain to the sea

Remains of ancient structures on Ayu-Dag