Crimea is not only the sea coast, mountains and ancient parks with exotic plants. Few people know that about two-thirds of the peninsula is occupied by the steppe. And this part of Crimea is also beautiful, unique and charming in its own way. In this article we will focus on the Steppe Crimea. What is this region? Where are its boundaries? And what is its nature?
Features of the geography of Crimea
From the point of view of geomorphology and landscape zoning, the territory of the Crimean peninsula is divided into several zones:
- Plain or steppe (number I on the map).
- Mountain (number II).
- South coast or abbreviated as South Coast (III).
- Kerch ridge-hilly (IV).
If you look at the physical map of the peninsula, you can see that about 70% of its territory is occupied by plain (or steppe) Crimea. In the south it is directly adjacent to the Outer Ridge of the Crimean Mountains, in the north and east it is limited by a shallowSivash Bay, the shores of which are distinguished by the richest avifauna. We will tell you more about this natural region later.
Steppe Crimea on the administrative map of the peninsula
The area of this region is about 17 thousand square kilometers. However, only a quarter of the entire population of Crimea lives in this territory - no more than 650 thousand people.
12 districts wholly or partly located within the Steppe Crimea:
- May Day.
- Razdolnensky.
- Krasnoperekopsky.
- Dzhankoy.
- Krasnogvardeisky.
- Nizhnegorsky.
- Black Sea.
- Saki.
- Soviet.
- Kirovskiy (partial).
- Belogorsky (partial).
- Simferopol (partial).
The unspoken "capital" of the Crimean steppes can be called the city of Dzhankoy. Other large settlements in the region are Armyansk, Krasnoperekopsk, Evpatoria, Saki, Nikolaevka, Nizhnegorsky, Sovetsky, Oktyabrskoye. Practically in each of them there are enterprises that process one or another type of local agricultural raw materials. The cities of Armyansk and Krasnoperekopsk are the most important centers of the chemical industry. Soda and sulfuric acid are produced here.
Geology and relief
The region is based on the epihercynian Scythian plate, composed of deposits of the Neogene and Quaternary periods. The relief of the Steppe Crimea is quite diverse. In the northern and northeastern parts, it is represented by several lowlands (Prisivashskaya, North Crimean, Indolskaya and others) with altitudes not exceeding 30 meters above sea level.
In the west of the peninsula, the Tarkhankut Upland stands out sharply in the relief. However, its elevation can only be called a stretch. After all, the maximum point of Tarkankut is only 178 meters. Nevertheless, due to the coastal position, the elevation changes here are quite impressive. Some coastal cliffs rise 40-50 meters above sea waters.
The relief of the region contributes to residential construction, the construction of roads and railways, and active agricultural land development.
Climate and inland waters
The climate of the region is temperate continental, rather arid. Winters here are mild and snowy, with frequent thaws. Summer is hot, with minimal precipitation. The average air temperature in July is +24…27 degrees. The weather of the Steppe Crimea is changeable, especially during the transitional seasons of the year.
Even in the 19th century, Academician G. P. Gelmersen suggested that it was the climate of the northern part of the Crimean peninsula that would become the main cause of poverty in this region in the future. During the year, no more than 400 mm of precipitation falls here, which approximately corresponds to the level of moisture in the semi-desert zone. The North Crimean Canal plays an important role in supplying the peninsula with fresh water. The only relatively large river of the Steppe Crimea is the Salgir. In summer, many of its tributaries dry up completely or partially.
Flora and fauna
Summer steppe regions of Crimeareminiscent of a lifeless desert with grass burnt out from the hot sun. But in spring, the region comes alive with a colorful carpet of flowering plants. The main representatives of the flora of the Crimean steppes are feather grass, fescue, bluegrass, wormwood, wheatgrass and other cereals. In spring, irises, tulips, poppies and various ephemeroids bloom here.
The fauna of the Steppe Crimea is quite poor. It is dominated by small mammals living in burrows - ground squirrels, jerboas, ferrets, hamsters, voles. Hares and various birds are quite common - larks, partridges, cranes, quails, eagles and harriers.
Unfortunately, significant areas of the Steppe Crimea are now plowed up. Virgin, untouched areas of natural landscapes can be found today only in reserves and on the slopes of the beams.
Main attractions
A sophisticated tourist, along and across the outgoing mountain paths of the Crimean mountains, can be advised to go to the north of the peninsula. After all, there are also many interesting and beautiful objects. We have chosen ten sights of the Steppe Crimea, which are worth visiting in the first place. This is:
- Kalinovskiy Landscape Park.
- Tyup-Tarkhan peninsula ("bird paradise" of Crimea).
- The Magic Harbor National Park on Tarkhankut.
- Nizhnegorye estate with a park.
- Juma-Jami Mosque and Karaite Kenases in Evpatoria.
- Ancient Perekop shaft.
- Neo-Gothic church "Heart of Jesus" in Aleksandrovka.
- Tulip fields in Yantarnoye village.
- TractAbuzlar with mysterious petroglyphs.
- Arabat fortress.
Recreation in the Crimean steppes can be no less interesting and meaningful than in the mountains or on the South Coast. In the eastern part of the Steppe Crimea there are a number of excellent sea resorts. Among them are Evpatoria, Saki, Chernomorskoe, Nikolaevka, Olenevka, Mezhvodnoe and others.
