Baidarskaya valley. The largest reserve in Crimea

What to do when you come to Baidarskiy zakaznik? It is almost impossible to unequivocally answer this question. Although one can say with certainty: here for each there is an occupation to your liking. Some climbed up in the Crimean mountains in this place like to just relax from the city bustle, lying in the tall grass and watching birds scurrying back and forth. There are also those who climb mountains for fascinating panoramic shots. But especially practical and conscious people are starting to search for medicinal plants, preparing for tea, for example, thyme, chicory, yarrow or melissus.

Baidarskaya valley. general information

As already mentioned above, this area is very famous for its medicinal herbs. Even in antiquity, it received special glory thanks to the rich forests and miraculous springs.

Many people mistakenly believe that the Baydarskaya valley, which is magnificent at any time of the year, got such a name thanks to kayak boats. Nothing like this! Historians say that once there was an ancient Tatar settlement of Baidary on the site of the nearby village of Orlinoy, named after one of the local leaders. And more recently, the valley has another name - Crimean Switzerland. And this is not surprising, because it is surrounded by mountains, has a soft comfortable climate and a wonderful, we can say, a unique nature.

In the valley there are a lot of attractions: historical monuments, ancient buildings and religious buildings. Gulf meadows, waterfalls, rocky mountains, canyons, lakes, mountain rivers and juniper groves, forests of yew and beech, thickets of hazelnuts and cornel are a truly magnificent sight.

Flora and fauna of the Baydar Valley are represented by more than 50 plant species and 40 species of animals listed in the Red Book. Wild boars, hares, roe deer and foxes inhabit the area, eagles and falcons are hovering over the sky, fish are swimming in pools, ducks are swimming, and house horses, cows, goats and sheep are walking peacefully in the meadows.

What are the Baidar Gate of the Crimea?

Strictly speaking, nothing special. Many will say that the Baidar Gate is another comfortable mountain pass, the Crimean mountains have many identical ones.

However, not everything is so simple in the historical plan. Here, for example, the stone portico once served as an important stronghold. And they built it in the middle of the 19th century.

Now this is only one of the attractions of the Crimea, but during the war, in 1941, in this place, a detachment of border guards held the fascist army for over 24 hours, preventing her from getting to Sevastopol.

Now from this place you can see a picturesque panorama. The dense forest, the blue sea, the church on the rock, the wonderful Baidar valley, Sevastopol, seen below, and the boundless sky delight the eye of any, even the most experienced traveler.

Foros Church

The villages of the Baydar Valley look great against the backdrop of a unique, high built temple in the mountains. And from any corner the view opens magnificent, and if you want to take a picture for memory without going high, you do not have to search for the right angle for a long time. Exquisite Church of the Resurrection of Christ over Foros, as if specially posing on the Red Rock at a distance of almost half a kilometer above sea level.

It was built as early as 1892 by the tea tycoon Kuznetsov as a farmer, because only the royal family was engaged in the cultivation and sale of tea. The temple was built in memory of the accident in 1888, when a tragic wreck of the train of the royal family occurred.

Originally a magnificent two-tiered church with nine domes, a patterned porch with a bell tower aimed upwards, gilded crosses, columns with carved capitals, marble window-sills and panels represented all the beauty of the Russian style. Inside the church there was a carved oak iconostasis and painted Byzantine ornamentation walls.

Unfortunately, in 1924 the church was closed, and all of its property was taken away. Once again the church blessing was shed only after the restoration in 1990. The churches put new copper domes, gilded crosses, painted the altar and domes of the church, and the windows now have colored stained-glass windows. Especially beautiful it began to look like it was at night, illuminated by searchlights, against the background of the starry sky.

Bold? Prove it! Famous Devil's Ladder of Baidar Gate

The devil's staircase, or Shaitan-Merdveden, is a former reliable and convenient mountain pass in the Crimean mountains. It connects the foothills and the Southern shore with each other. The stairs were used up to the last century, and up to now, on the flat bends of limestone, pairs of tracks, carved out by carriages, have been preserved. Indeed, the Baydarskaya Valley is fraught with a lot of surprises.

How did this steep mountain descent come up with such an unusual name? Experts argue that the devil's staircase got its name because of the limestone outcrops in the form of huge slabs, still reminiscent of the steps. This name was received not only by the stone staircase itself, but also by the whole 1.5 meter wide pass, which is at a level of more than 500 m. Cliffs and limestone blocks, steep valleys, roadside fastenings, remains of side walls and stone marches are scattered all over the pass.

The path along the Devil's Stairs is very winding and steep. The length of all the marches is about 250 meters, and the slope in some places is 30 degrees. The stairs of the stairs are covered with a stone slab on the bottom of the gorge, shelves and cornices of the mountains.

Up to now, only three turns of the road have survived. In vain, many consider flat and safe such a corner of the peninsula, as the Baidar valley. The Crimea, or rather, the southernmost part of it, often becomes a place for holding rallies of climbers and climbers. Here, in fact, it can be dangerous.

Unique natural monument - Uzunji Canyon

The most beautiful place of the western Crimea, Uzundzhi Canyon, is a deep meandering gorge with the same river at the bottom. Over the canyon hangs almost kilometer tops. The river takes its source on Mount Ai-Petri at an altitude of more than 750 m. It flows along the Uzudzhinsky depression, then abruptly changes the direction of the current, runs along the Skelsk depression and flows into the Chernorechensk reservoir. The length of the river is only 11 km.

If you are lucky to find yourself in such an amazing place as Baidarskaya Valley, Crimea will not cease to amaze you for a minute. Take the opportunity and take a walk along the canyon. The journey will take place along a picturesque narrow mountain road, starting from Skelskaya cave. Then the path will pass along the dirt path in the forest, and finally it will come out to the walls of the old dilapidated fortress.

By the way, it should be noted that Uzundzhi is the largest freshwater source of the Crimea.

What you did not know about exactly

Many, even very experienced travelers are surprised when they learn that the Baidarskaya valley, or rather, its gates, is also a real gateway to southern Crimea. Going on a tour, you should be prepared for the fact that the panorama opening through the arch of the gate, in fact, will make a stunning impression on you.

Skel'skaya cave in 1904 was opened by the teacher F. Kirillov. For today it is established that it consists of several halls, the length of the largest one is 80 m, the height is 25 m, and the width in some places reaches 18 m.

In 2003, on the Laspin Pass in honor of the onset of the second millennium from the Nativity of Christ, a chapel was built, to visit which stands without fail.

Miracles of Skelskaya Cave

Skelskaya cave, consisting mainly of stalactites, is located in the south-west of the Crimea. Its age is several million years. First of all, it is distinguished by its impressive size and the preservation of calcite formations. Note that the cave is divided into halls, each of the rooms has its own characteristics. For example, the Fireplace room actually resembles the design of the same name, the Knight's Hall is considered the most beautiful and large. Be sure to also visit the Hall of Ghosts and the Dolphin Hall.

The highlight of the cave is a seven-meter stalagmite called "Knight with a spear", fabulous waterfalls in the form of a waterfall, a dragon's skull with eyes and fangs, a figure of a phoenix bird and others.

The walls of the cave are decorated with niches-tubs, sash curtains and ribs. This stone miracle has not been completely investigated yet, but the length of the known part is about 670 meters. It should be mentioned that since 1964 this place is a monument of nature.

Skelsky menhirs

If you are going to explore such a stunning corner of the Crimea, as Baidarskaya valley, the map will definitely come in handy. Why? The thing is that excursions are not organized in all places, and there really is something to see here. Here, for example, why not go to Skelsky menhirs?

Note that in general under menhirs it is necessary to understand the once created obelisks and stelae. Skel menhirs are the first known example of architecture. There are two monolithic blocks in the form of obelisks, put upright. They are at the entrance to the village of Rodnikovskoe. The first menhir has a height of about three meters and weighs about six tons, and the second - only one and a half meters in height. He is more squat and massive.

Historians note the cult of these monuments and claim that their age is 4-5 thousand years.

Kozyrek Waterfall

Not far from the tourist parking "Mulovskoe Lake" is located the Kozyrek waterfall. Unfortunately, its historical name has not survived to this day. Although there are legends and the girl who died here and the mighty wolf, who saved the village from the enemies.

And with the visor it is compared because of the overhanging rocky ledge above the grotto, from which the fast and cool water runs down in the summer months.