Reserves of Crimea: list, photo

The unique nature of the Crimea peninsula needs protection and protection. For this purpose, many protected areas are organized on this land.

Protected areas of the Crimea

Protected areas account for more than five percent of the lands of the peninsula. Their basis is the nature reserves of the Crimea. These include six government agencies in whose territories economic activities are completely excluded. The main reserves of the Crimea (list):

• Crimean State Reserve.
• Swan's Isles.
• Yalta.
• Kazantipsky.
• The Karadag.
• Opuksky.
• Cape Martyan.

This is not all the reserves of the Crimea. The list of territories under the protection of the state is continued by 33 state reserves.

In the Crimea there are nine reserved tracts. These are small plots of land on which there is some interesting object for scientists. In addition, there are 30 magnificent parks in the Crimea, 73 nature reserves.

Today all the reserves of the Crimea are available for visiting. In some parks and sanctuaries, a nominal fee is charged for entry.

Crimean nature reserve

This is the oldest reserve in the Crimea. It was founded in 1923. In addition, it occupies the largest territory. It stretched from Yalta to Alushta. This land is full of interesting natural attractions.

Excursions groups regularly come to this unique reserve of the Crimea. The bus takes them along the Romanovskoye Highway - a serpentine mountain road. The first stop takes place in the farm for trout breeding. Then the road goes around the ancient Kosmo-Damianovsky Monastery. Today it is reborn, and every year on July 14, on the day of Damian and Kosma, pilgrims from all over the world try to get here.

After the monastery the road rushes even higher up the hill. Near all interesting and memorable places along the bus route there are stops. For example, at the sites where the tourists enjoy the beautiful views of the coast. On the pass Kebit-Bogaz all tourists stop to pay tribute to the memory of partisans who fought in 1941-1944 with fascist invaders on the land of the Crimean reserve. Here he erected a monument.

On the Chuchelski pass (1150 m) you can see the Roman-Kosh mountain (1545 m) - the highest on the peninsula. Then the road will lead the travelers to the Gazebo of winds. From this place, there are extraordinary views of the mountainous Crimea and its South Shore. At the "Red Stone" from the height you can admire the beautiful - Yalta, breathe perfectly clean air, filled with the smells of pine needles, which exude the pine forest.

Swan's Isles

The nature reserves of Crimea are very different, each of them is unique. Lebyazhyi islands on the peninsula experts call ornithological reserve. It has international significance and is part of the Crimean reserve.

These are six separate islets that stretch along the Karkinitsky Bay for eight kilometers. The largest of them is the fourth one. Its length is 3.5 kilometers, with a width of 350 meters. On the shore and on the water around the reserve is designated a security zone.

These islands appeared as a result of the deposition of sand and seashells, so their number and general appearance may change with time. Above the surface of the water they rise equally - no more than two meters.

Diverse world of birds

The Crimean and Lebyazhye islands in particular are the largest nesting and wintering place for waterfowl and wading birds on the peninsula. This unique protected complex is on the way by which birds fly every year, going to wintering from Europe to the countries of Asia and Africa.

These places were chosen by black-headed gulls, silver gulls, gull-gulls, gray and white herons, waders, flamingos, pelicans and other representatives of birds. But the main pride of the Swan Islands is the swan-swans. During the summer season, more than 6,000 individuals gather here. In the Karkinitsky Bay, on islands, swans-fishes are during moulting, when birds are very vulnerable. And at the end of autumn, swan-swans gather on the islands, stopping to rest before a long flight to the wintering site.

Inhabitants of the sea

The nature reserves of the Crimea do a great job of protecting not only the birds. In the Swan Lake , dolphins found in the Black Sea, such as bottlenose dolphins and white-tailed beaks, large jerboa and white polecat, sea pigs, have found protection. Here reptiles live as well - the steppe adder, the yellow-belly skid and many fish. Especially appreciated is the rather rare Black Sea salmon these days.

Crimea - Opuk reserve

At 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 the surrounding area in 1998, the Opuk Reserve was opened. Over an area of more than one and a half thousand hectares stretched endless steppes. They are inhabited by rare animals, birds, inhabitants of the marine aquatory and various plants.

All the reserves of the Crimea have their own characteristic feature. In spring, the Opuk reserve is full of white, yellow, crimson, black and purple tulips. And at night, out of the caves where stone was mined for many years, countless numbers of bats fly out to catch food.

Mount Opuk

Its height is only 183 meters. It is oblong in shape, lush vegetation is no different. Mount Opuk is on a wide base, which has a gentle slope in the north and steep cliffs and stepped screes in the south.

This reserve is recognized as an archaeological site of the Crimea. When excavations were carried out at the foot of the mountain, scientists discovered the remains of ancient structures, foundations of buildings, the ruins of the walls of the village of Kimmeric. In the 5th century BC it was part of the Bosporus kingdom.

Pink starlings

This place is also famous for the fact that only here in the nest are pink starlings. These birds have an amazingly developed genetic memory. For several millennia these beautiful birds fly into the reserve, the slopes of Mount Opuk, overgrown with thorns, hawthorn and dog-rose. Today the population of the colony of pink starlings has doubled.

Rocks-Ships

At a distance of four kilometers from Cape Opuk, in the Black Sea, there are four small islets. They are called Rocks-Ships. This group of islands is composed of fairly dense reef limestones with high strength. The largest stone "ship" rises above the water for 20 meters. These rocks got their name because of the similarity with the sailboats. Today they are inhabited by crested gulls, blue doves, black swifts, cormorants. They are hatching chicks in pre-built nests.

Park Lviv

In 2006, on the forested area of the former military base, where there were only dilapidated buildings without communications, efforts of animal lovers, with the help and support of the authorities, a unique Lviv Park was created in the Crimea, not far from Belogorsk.

This is an extraordinary reserve of lions in the Crimea, which is not equal in Europe. The territory of the park stretches for 20 hectares, over which are laid metal platforms, raised six meters above the ground. Their length is several kilometers.

In the safari park today there are more than 50 lions - this is the largest population in Europe. The animals were collected by zoos in Russia, South Africa, Europe, Ukraine, etc. In a very large enclosure, in conditions as close as possible to the natural environment, there live several prides - families of lions.

Animals, as befits the kings of animals, freely walk around the park.
In addition to the safari park, the reserve has its own zoo, equipped with large, clean and animal-friendly enclosures that perfectly fit into the surrounding landscape. In total, two thousand animals live in the safari park.

It should be noted that the park "Taigan" differs from many similar establishments in that the animals here are well-fed, well-groomed and peaceful. An animal zoo is allowed to feed, but only those that can be purchased in pavilions located on the territory.

In summer heat for lions and bears arrange a refreshing shower. Near the majority of enclosures there are benches surrounded by dense trees, creating a pleasant shadow. Cocks, quails, chickens and other animals are running freely here, which is audible, but not always visible due to foliage. The territory of the park of lions is beautifully decorated - numerous footpaths, sculptures of animals, lots of bushes and flowers planted in picturesque flower beds.

Museums-Reserves of Crimea

This category of protected places of the peninsula in our article will be presented by the Museum-Reserve "Chersonese Taurian"

This ancient city on the Crimean coast has lived more than two thousand years. Founded by his Heracles - the natives of the city of Herakleia in 422-421 gg. BC. E. A hundred years later it was already the largest city-state of the Northern Black Sea Coast.

It was a slave-owning republic, distinguished by a democratic form of government, it was the center of crafts, trade and culture. Its population was more than twenty thousand people.

Since the V century. 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 took Christianity. The ancient Tauric Chersonese suffered twice from the Tatar hordes in the 12th-14th centuries. By the middle of the XV century. The city was gone.

The nature reserves of the Crimea, photos of which you can see in our article, are of great interest for scientists of historians, archaeologists. That is why now on the land of ancient Chersonese is always crowded. Here excavations are still conducted, in which international expeditions take part.

Visiting this museum-reserve, you can see the ruins of the ancient theater, the quarters of the ancient city, the defensive walls with the tower of Zeno and other architectural structures.

Today we have presented to you only some of the reserves of the Crimea. About most of them we could not tell. Therefore, come to the peninsula to see the beauty of this land with your own eyes.