The unique nature of the Crimean peninsula needs protection and protection. For this, many protected areas have been organized on this earth.
Reserved territories of Crimea
Protected areas make up more than five percent of the peninsula's land. Their basis is the natural reserves of the Crimea. These include six state institutions, on the territory of which economic activity is completely excluded. The main reserves of Crimea (list):
- Crimean State Reserve.
- Swan Islands.
- Y alta.
- Kazantipskiy.
- Karadag.
- Opuksky.
- Cape Martyan.
This is not all the reserves of the Crimea. The list of territories under state protection is continued by 33 more state reserves.
There are nine protected natural boundaries in the Crimea. These are small plots of land on which some object of interest to scientists is located. In addition, there are 30 magnificent parks and 73 nature reserves in Crimea.
Today all Crimean reserves are available for visiting. Some parks and reserves charge a nominal fee for entry.
Crimean Nature Reserve
This is the oldest reserveCrimea. It was founded in 1923. In addition, it occupies the largest area. It stretched from Y alta to Alushta. This land is full of interesting natural attractions.
Excursion groups regularly come to this unique reserve of Crimea. The bus takes them along the Romanovsky highway - a mountain serpentine. The first stop is at a trout farm. Further, the road goes around the ancient Cosmo-Damianovsky Monastery. Today it has been revived, and every year on July 14, on the day of Damian and Cosmas, pilgrims from all over the Earth try to get here.
After the monastery, the road rushes even higher up the mountain. Stops are provided near all interesting and memorable places along the route of the bus. For example, near viewing platforms, where tourists enjoy beautiful views of the coast. At the Kebit-Bogaz pass, all tourists stop to honor the memory of the partisans who fought in 1941-1944 against the Nazi invaders on the land of the Crimean Reserve. There is a monument to them here.
On the Chuchelsky pass (1150 m) you can see Mount Roman-Kosh (1545 m) - the highest on the peninsula. Then the road will lead travelers to the Gazebo of the Winds. From this place, extraordinary views of the mountainous Crimea and its South Coast open up. At the "Red Stone" from a height you can admire the beauty - Y alta, breathe in perfectly clean air, filled with the smell of pine needles that exude a pine forest.
Swan Islands
Reserves of Crimea are very different, each of them is unique. Swan Islands onSpecialists call the peninsula an ornithological reserve. It is of international importance and is part of the Crimean nature reserve.
These are six separate islands that stretch along Karkinitsky Bay for eight kilometers. The largest of them is the fourth. Its length is 3.5 kilometers, with a width of 350 meters. A protected zone is designated on the shore and on the water around the reserve.
These islands are the result of sand and shell deposition, so their number and overall appearance may change over time. Above the surface of the water, they rise equally - no more than two meters.
Diverse world of birds
Reserves of the Crimea and the Lebyazhy Islands in particular are the largest nesting and wintering grounds for waterfowl and wading birds on the peninsula. This unique protected complex is located on the path along which birds annually migrate from Europe to Asia and Africa for the winter.
Black-headed gulls, herring gulls, gull gulls, gray and white herons, waders, flamingos, pelicans and other representatives of birds have chosen these places. But the main pride of the Swan Islands is mute swans. During the summer season, more than 6,000 individuals gather here. In the Karkinitsky Gulf, on the islands, mute swans are found during molting, when the birds are very vulnerable. And at the end of autumn, whooper swans gather on the islands, which stop to rest before a long flight to the wintering place.
Sea dwellers
Reserves of the Crimea are holding a bigwork to protect not only birds. In the Swan Lakes, dolphins living in the Black Sea found protection - bottlenose dolphins and common dolphins, a large jerboa and a white polecat, porpoises. Reptiles also live here - steppe viper, yellow-bellied snake and many fish. The Black Sea salmon, which is quite rare these days, is especially valued.
Crimea - Opuk Reserve
On Cape Opuk, located on the coast of the Kerch Strait, there is a mountain with the same name, which is a bright landmark of the Crimea. In its vicinity, in 1998, the Opuksky Reserve was opened. Boundless steppes stretch across an area of more than one and a half thousand hectares. They are inhabited by rare animals, birds, inhabitants of the marine area and various plants.
All the reserves of the Crimea have their own characteristic feature. In spring, the Opuksky Reserve impresses with an abundance of white, yellow, crimson, black and purple tulips. And at night, from the caves where the stone has been mined for many years, countless numbers of bats fly out to forage for food.
Mount Opuk
It is only 183 meters high. It is oblong in shape, lush vegetation does not differ. Mount Opuk is located on a wide base, which has a gentle slope in the north and is steep with rocks and stepped scree in the south.
This reserve is recognized as an archaeological landmark of the Crimea. When excavations were carried out at the foot of the mountain, scientists discovered the remains of ancient structures, the foundations of buildings, the ruins of the walls of the village of Kimmerik. In the 5th century BC, it waspart of the Bosporus kingdom.
Pink Starlings
This place is also famous for the fact that pink starlings nest only here in the Crimea. These birds have an amazingly developed genetic memory. For several millennia, these beautiful birds have flocked to the reserve, to the slopes of Mount Opuk overgrown with blackthorn, hawthorn and wild rose. Today, the population of the pink starling colony has doubled.
Rocks-Ships
At a distance of four kilometers from Cape Opuk, in the Black Sea, there are four small islands. They are called Rock-Ships. This group of islands is composed of fairly dense reef limestones with high strength. The largest stone "ship" rises 20 meters above the water. These rocks got their name because of their resemblance to sailboats. Today they are inhabited by crested gulls, rock doves, black swifts, cormorants. They hatch chicks here in pre-twisted nests.
Park Lviv
In 2006, on the territory of the former military base overgrown with weeds, where there were only dilapidated buildings without communications, with the efforts of animal lovers, with the help and support of government officials, a unique Park of Lions was created in the Crimea, not far from Belogorsk.
This is an extraordinary lion reserve in the Crimea, which has no equal in Europe. The territory of the park stretches for 20 hectares, over which metal platforms are laid, raised six meters above the ground. Their length is several kilometers.
In safari-Today, more than 50 lions live in the park - this is the largest population in Europe. Animals were collected from zoos in Russia, South Africa, Europe, Ukraine, etc. In a very large enclosure, in conditions as close as possible to the natural environment, several prides live - families of lions.
Animals, as befits kings of beasts, roam freely in the park. In addition to the safari park, the reserve has its own zoo, equipped with large, clean and animal-friendly enclosures that fit perfectly into the surroundings landscape. In total, two thousand animals live in the safari park.
It should be noted that the Taigan park differs from many similar establishments in that the animals here are well-fed, well-groomed and peaceful. In the zoo, animals are allowed to be fed, but only with food that can be purchased in the pavilions located on the territory.
In the summer heat, lions and bears are given a refreshing shower. Near most of the enclosures there are benches surrounded by dense trees that create a pleasant shade. Here, roosters, quails, chickens and other living creatures run freely, which can be heard, but not always seen because of the foliage. The territory of the Lion Park is beautifully decorated - numerous walking paths, sculptures of animals, a lot of shrubs and flowers planted in picturesque flower beds.
Museum-Reserves of Crimea
This category of reserved places of the peninsula in our article will be presented by the Museum-Reserve "Tauric Chersonese"
This ancient city on the Crimean coast livedover two thousand years. It was founded by the Heracliots - natives of the city of Heraclea in 422-421. BC e. A hundred years later, it was already the largest city-state in the Northern Black Sea region.
It was a slave-owning republic, characterized by a democratic form of government, was a center of crafts, trade and culture. Its population was over twenty thousand people.
Starting from the 5th c. n. e. Chersonese became part of the Byzantine Empire. After a nine-month siege in 988, the city was taken by the Russian prince Vladimir. Here the Grand Duke converted to Christianity. Ancient Tauric Chersonese suffered twice from the Tatar hordes in the XII-XIV centuries. By the middle of the XV century. the city is gone.
Reserves of the Crimea, photos of which you can see in our article, are of great interest to historians and archaeologists. That is why now the land of ancient Chersonesos is always crowded. Excavations are still underway here, in which international expeditions also take part.
Visiting this museum-reserve, you can see the ruins of the ancient theater, quarters of the ancient city, defensive walls with Zeno's tower and other architectural structures.
Today we presented you only some of the Crimean reserves. We were not able to tell about most of them. So come to the peninsula to see the beauty of this land with your own eyes.
