Excursions to the Chatyr-Dag caves in the Crimea

In the Crimean mountains, which in the past were called Taurian mountains, about eighty caves were discovered. And what panoramas are open to those who rise to the upper plateau: forests and valleys covered with lavender, the sea and the vast expanse of the sky, where it seems that birds can be reached by the hand!

Especially popular among tourists are mountains and caves. Chatir-dag is a mountain massif in the south of the peninsula. The title is translated as "Shater-Mountain". It is also known the more ancient Greek name "Trapezunt", or "Table Mountain". They are on a wavy plateau (yayla), which is located at an altitude of about one and a half km above sea level in the protected forest. As you climb, unforgettable views of the mountain peaks will be opened. Then follows the descent into their depths - the caves. Chatyr-dag formed them from clay-like rocks, which do not dissolve in water; Hard rocks with an admixture of quartz and sandstones. Marble, oddly enough, they are not. It was not enough for several million years to form. Mysterious and impressive caves. Chatyr-dag and without marble is incredibly beautiful.

Lower Plateau Chatyr-Dag

In the fifth century BC hunters and cattle-breeders settled in the grottoes. Now it is a popular tourist site. In particular, such caves as the Marble, which entered the 5 most beautiful caves of the Earth, Emine-Bair-Khosar (Mamontovaya, or funnel at the Emine Hill), Emine-Bair-Koba (red-brown funnel Emine), Thousand-headed. Two first caves are fully adapted to the needs of tourists. Chatyr-dag with magnificent stone icicles flowing down from the ceiling, and growing cones and pillars from the bottom will delight even an experienced tourist.

Magic caves

A complex system of halls and galleries was opened by speleologists in 1987. A year later, a tourist center was established, which is also active until now - "Onix-Tour". This center was made available for visiting Chatyr-Dag. The marble cave is equipped with paths with handrails, lighting, music. It employs experienced and novice guides. In the Marble Cave are several rooms in which it is cool, so the tourist needs to be stocked with warm clothes and shoes. The route "Caves of Chatyr-Dag" is very interesting. The tour is thought out so that it is suitable for any age. Chatir-dag now begins to tell his tales, having spent tourists on a 10-meter passage. The mystery begins from the entrance: here there is silence, cold and dusk.

First Hall

Meeting: before the tourists the owner of the Marble Cave. Huge head, nose crochet, hanging eyebrows, toothless mouth. Can he pass all the charm of the Chatyr-Dag cave picture? They should be placed not one, but a dozen. Stone formations took the most unexpected forms, which the rich imagination did not even expect.

Millions of years of water sculpted surreal sculptures. All tourists descended into the magical realm: The Tales Gallery opens a journey into the unknown. Stalagmites growing from the floor, and stalactites hanging from the ceiling, as well as streaks on the walls that skirt the path, resemble fantastic fantasy heroes. Here is Shrek, and next to him is the Frog Princess with a crown on his head. Watch carefully, do not miss Santa Claus with the Snow Maiden.

Not far from the fairy-tale world are Pearl Lakes. Here you can wander around a little if you do not want to get behind the tour.

Cave beast

The walk continues in the passage to the side Tiger's turn. Here, at the bottom of the lake, a predator skeleton was found and assumed that it belongs to the saber-toothed tiger. After careful examination of the remains, it was found out that it was a cave lion, and then decided that perhaps it was a bear. But the name behind the hall is already fixed. The view, worthy of the painter's brush, opens onto columns and curtains, baths with water and "stone flowers".

The Ballroom

Otherwise it is called the perestroika hall. Its dimensions are grandiose. Imagine a stadium with a hundred meter track. And its height will calmly accommodate a building of nine floors. The walls and floor are decorated with intricate stalactites and stalagmites, which at times merge into a single whole - stalagnata. Their outlines are so capricious that they can be looked at for hours. From here you can see the next, the Palace Hall, where the "King" and "Queen" are located. They are accompanied by a suite of stalagmites.

Road to the lower world

From the Fallen Hall begins the descent between the stone blocks and along the aisles through narrow cracks into the Pink Hall. In this grotto there is everything: streaks on the walls, flowers on the ceiling, skeletons of unknown animals under the stones. Below there are five more caves built for viewing.

Crimea, caves Chatyr-Dag

Not only the Marble Cave is famous for the Chatyr-Dag mountains. The Emine-Bair-Khosar cave has preserved its natural appearance in many respects. It is divided into three floors. Tourists can visit only the first, but that's enough. In it are the skeletons of prehistoric animals that fell into it. The photo shows the skeleton of a mammoth, which is in a cave from the Ice Age. Inside there is a lake full of pure water, as well as a Hall of idols. This is an incredibly expanded stalagmite (10 m). One of the stalactites is similar to Monomakh's hat. There is also a room of the Dead Sea - a lake with waves without water.

The thousand-headed, or Binbash-Koba cave, thanks to the barbarians, was not very well preserved. The entrance to the cave is narrow and narrow. Then it turns into a small hall, bypassing which one can get big.

A sad local legend is associated with it. According to the legend, when the enemies came, all the people here hid. Girls went out at a later time for water. She spilled, and along the path rose beautiful flowers. On them for peaceful inhabitants came the enemy and all destroyed. The story is more truthful. Here for centuries, ritual burials were arranged. Hence the set of skeletons and skulls. They can not be found now. Even in the century before last, their sale for souvenirs began.

Here came "lovers" with axes and cut down exotic stalagmites, and that they could not carry away, then they fell down. But the removal of stalagmites did not bring them any benefit. They are retained only at a certain humidity and temperature, and under normal conditions they are rapidly destroyed.

In all Crimean caves it is forbidden to build bonfires and leave behind garbage and inscriptions. Do not be like vandals. It is impossible to restore natural monuments.