Crimea, Alushta, Dolphinarium - these words bring us back to childhood. The Crimean peninsula, especially the southern coast, has always been a favorite vacation spot for many generations of our compatriots. The royal family and the first persons of the Russian Empire always rested here. Children's sanatoriums and recreation camps have always welcomed young guests from all over the country. Picturesque mountain landscapes, endless beaches still attract vacationers who are tired of the bustle of the city and the long winter. This place is unique not only for its climate and beauty: the very atmosphere of these places is conducive to relaxation. Alushta, dolphinarium, work schedule, price and duration of the performance - these are the questions that will interest you during your holidays in the Crimea. Where to go and what to see, where is the best beach and the most delicious baklava.… It's a pity that vacation time flies by.
A bit of history
Crimea has always been a tasty morsel in the struggle for dominance in the Black Sea. This peninsula was important for the Tatar-Mongols, and for the Ottoman Turks, and for the British, and for the Russian emperors. Coastal cities still keep the imprints of past centuries on their streets and innearby surroundings. Alushta is considered one of the oldest cities in Crimea.
Mentions of Alushta can be found in sources dating back to the VI century. It is also known that Tauri tribes lived in this territory. The remains of their villages can still be found in the vicinity of the city.
In the era of Catherine the Great, Alushta was a small village on the way to Y alta, and the title of the city was awarded to it only in 1902. At first it was a very small settlement, later its infrastructure developed, neighboring villages joined, hotels and boarding houses were built, and later, at the beginning of the 2000s, the first dolphinarium was opened in Alushta.
Black Sea basin
The climate of the southern coast of the peninsula differs from the climate of Turkey and Montenegro. It is not so hot, with moderate humidity. The mountains surrounding the coast protect the cities from piercing winds. A mixture of sea air and ozone, which is rich in mountain forests, heals the body, energizing for a long time.
These places are rich in various living creatures. Along with a huge number of fish, dolphins are also found in the waters of the Black Sea. It is here, while walking on a ship or swimming, that you can see their backs shining in the sun. Indeed, warm waters are excellent for the life and reproduction of these mammals. Two species of dolphins live in the Black Sea: common dolphins and bottlenose dolphins. It is they who delight vacationers with their beauty and dexterity during boat trips. According to beliefs, the dolphin is the king of the sea, the savior of sailors and drowning people. Hecombines two elements - water and air. It is a symbol of goodness, love and balance in nature. A dolphin is considered a friend of a person, but sometimes such friendship can be scary. Dolphins are very emotional and sociable animals. They can easily swim up to you while swimming and start playing with you. The main thing in this case is not to be afraid, but simply turn around and head towards the shore. Dolphin will be happy to accompany you.
A piece of the sea on land
Of course, it's great to watch dolphins in the open sea! But you must admit, it is much better to see this beautiful animal up close, and even being on land. And not only to see, but also to touch and play. Taking into account the wishes of vacationers, a dolphinarium was opened in Alushta.
Convenient location, prominent facade of the building and the original design of the dolphinarium itself attract a large number of guests of the Crimea. It is built 200 meters from the central city beach, it will be quite difficult not to notice it.
Dolphinarium "Watercolor" Alushta can rightfully be called its pride. The new modern building with a transparent hemispherical dome and a huge auditorium that can accommodate 700 spectators met its first visitors at the end of August 2013 and immediately gained regular customers. The name was not chosen by chance, because everyone knows the ability of dolphins not only for circus art, but also for painting. The dolphinarium exhibits several works painted by dolphins in watercolorpaints.
Theater Stars
Here, in "Watercolor", you can see the talented performances of bottlenose dolphins and fur seals. Judging by the reviews, an interesting and rich entertainment program is liked not only by children, but also by adults. In addition to acrobatic tricks, dolphins demonstrate the ability to “sing” and draw, perform various tasks on logic, and guess objects.
Entertainment includes boating and swimming with dolphins. For such an unusual communication with brothers in mind, it is undoubtedly worth visiting the Dolphinarium in Alushta. Ticket prices need to be clarified, especially at the height of the holiday season. On average, the cost of a ticket ranges from 250-300 rubles, but the pleasure received from visiting the performance cannot be measured in money. On the territory of the dolphinarium there are playgrounds and cozy cafes where you can eat tasty and relatively inexpensive food.
The day when the Nemo Dolphinarium opens, Alushta has been impatiently waiting for several years. This is not just a dolphinarium, it is a huge he alth and entertainment complex with outdoor and indoor pools, where, like in Aquarel, you can not only play with dolphins, admire their performances, but also receive one of the drawings as a gift. On the territory of the dolphinarium, courses of dolphin therapy are held, which anyone can visit. The cost of one course of therapy ranges from 5,000 to 50,000 rubles.
Dolphin therapy
To keep the dolphinarium in Alushta all year round in absolute order, one resortthe season is not enough.
Besides performances, which last mainly from May to October, the administration of Aquareli, like other dolphinariums, offers dolphin therapy courses.
This method of treating disorders of the nervous system was first tested about 35 years ago by American psychotherapists. It helps even in the most seemingly hopeless cases. The best result of treatment is achieved in the early stages of the disease, this method of therapy is most useful for children from 6 months to 16 years.
What diseases does it treat?
Dolphin therapy is indicated not only for children, but also for adults. It can be used to treat depression, enuresis, Down syndrome, mental and emotional retardation in children, and cerebral palsy of any severity. The course of treatment lasts from 5 to 10 days, depending on the stage of the disease and the condition of the patient's body. The course includes both swimming with a dolphin in a separate pool and ultrasound treatment, which is emitted by a dolphin. Communication with marine life helps to socialize, cheers up, gives inspiration. It was noticed that after such sessions, children's appetite improved, a desire to engage in creativity appeared, and fears passed.
It cannot be said that such procedures are useful for dolphins: after a session that lasts no more than 15 minutes, the animals go to rest. Sometimes the rest can last 40-50 minutes. In the process of working with a patient, dolphins give off a lot of energy, so they need time to recover.
Dolphinarium "Watercolor" (Alushta) offers twotype of dolphin therapy:
- Communication between a dolphin and a human (the patient communicates with the animal without the help of a specialist, relationships are built, contact is established).
- Communication between a doctor and a patient, in which the dolphin is present as a "background".
Based on the results observed in the patient after the treatment, it is recommended to repeat it either after 12 months or after 6, depending on the stage of the disease.
Project goal
The main task of dolphinariums, in addition to attracting tourists, is to take care of dolphins and preserve their population. At the beginning of the last century, marine mammals were mercilessly exterminated. This led to the fact that the Black Sea dolphins were almost on the verge of extinction. Employees who came to work at the Dolphinarium in Alushta understand the importance of this issue and fully devote themselves to their favorite work. They hold classes for their young visitors, where they learn to love and protect nature and dolphins, documentaries about the life of marine life are offered to the audience, quizzes and competitions are held for the most attentive and active. Children enjoy taking part in the entertainment program and taking pictures with their pets.
Join us
Our life is so arranged that we all, in fact, need dolphin therapy. The pace of life, accelerating every day, an excess of information and stress lead to prolonged depression, even for those people who, it would seem, would be a sin to complain about life. We all want rest, warmth andsun. Idle lying on the beach will give rest only to the body, communication with nature will balance emotions. All that is needed for this is to visit the dolphinarium in Alushta. Winter timetable: Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, show starts at 15.00. During the fifty-minute performance, you will get a huge boost of positive energy from these beautiful, affectionate animals! Agree, it's hard not to smile in response to the smile of a dolphin!
