Kara-Dag. Natural Reservation

Author: Stanislav BaranetsPhoto: InterMedia consulting

The natural reservation of Karadag is one of the youngest in the former USSR.

Telling reasons were necessary to organize this reservation 18 years ago. It was necessary to keep this natural forming, residues of the volcanic massive for geologists, biologists and zoologists.

In the end of seventies up to 10 thousand camped wild here. Twice more came here for short terms. Flora and fauna of this place were affected with this sort of rest, mineral and geological resources were robbed.

Karadag is wild, chaotic, severe and impressive. Dark high precipices look into azure gulfs and their walls rise like giant footsteps to the very sky.

Strange silhouettes are carved by the winds, rains and rays of the sun into volcanic stones.

They have their names: Beacon, Shaytan (Devil), Toy-Horse, Falcon, Pyramid, and Sphinx - you don't need a lot of imagination to revive them all.

For chains - Karagach, Khoba-Tepe, Magnetic and Kok Kaya - come to the sea. Round Saint Mountain (577 m) is behind them.

They remind fortresses, human silhouettes, animals and fantastic monsters. Every stone has its name here, and this name is bright and comprehensive: Ivan the Robber, Sphinx, Golden Gate, Toy-Horse...

There is a big sculptured group at the Karagach Chain - the King, Queen, Throne and Suite Rocks.

Bank is very different here. Sometimes it is a vertical wall of stone, sometimes mountains step back leaving space for small gulfs and narrow beaches.

Names of gulfs are strange too: Gulf of Robbers, Boundary Gulf, Lion Gulf, Frog Gulf, Barakhta...

There are grottos and small caves here. One can see dark volcanic stones at the background of white limestone of the Crimea.

Green trass revives severe landscape. Gems of Karadag are well known very far from the Crimea.

The territory of the reservation is divided into two zones, a zone opened for tourists and another - closed and guarded.

They make excursions for tourists along ecological paths and marine excursions, natural museum, aquarium and dolphinarium are opened here. The most interesting and picturesque spots of Karadag can be seen but they are closed from intervention. First the pathway brings you along pistachio garden and an oak wood, then you climb up and enter to opened to all winds Karadag chain. You can admire the most part of rocks and chains from there.

Some of the big rocks, the Toy Horse, Pyramid and Falcone are situated at the pathway. The main pearle of the walk is the Golden Gate Rock. It is the real gate of Karadag.

This material is prepared within the framework of the "Malovidoma Ukraina" project.