Natural wonders in Crimea

Crimea’s landscape is defined by its geological diversity, featuring the dramatic limestone cliffs of Belaya Skala and the volcanic formations of the Kara Dag Nature Reserve. The peninsula is home to unique saltwater lakes like the pink-hued Koyashskoye and therapeutic Moinakskoye. Key landmarks include the Cape Tarkhankut sea caves, the high-altitude Uzun-Syrt ridge known for its unique aerodynamic currents, and several multi-tiered waterfalls nestled within the Crimean Mountains' dense forests.

Crimea's Natural Wonders — Map

A

Vid s Beloj Skaly

Panoramic viewpoint overlooking the White Rock (Belaya Skala), a 100-meter-high limestone formation frequently used as a filming location for Soviet-era adventure movies.

B

Vid na Koasskoe ozero

Viewpoint overlooking a pink saltwater lake within the Opuk Nature Reserve. The distinctive color is caused by the presence of Dunaliella salina algae.

C

Aj-Todor

A three-pronged cape on the southern coast, home to the Aurora Cliff and the ruins of the Roman fortress Charax. It marks the western boundary of Yalta Bay.

Дождь / Public domain

D

Tarkhankut Peninsula

The Tarkhankut Peninsula is the peninsula which constitutes the western extremity of Crimea into the Black Sea.

Швидкий Олександр / CC BY-SA 3.0

E

Opuk

Opuk is a mountain 183 meters high, located on Opuk cape, on the southern tip of the Kerch Peninsula, in Crimea, the highest point in the…

F

Belaa skala

Also known as Aq Qaya, this vertical white limestone cliff rises 100 meters above the Biyuk-Karasu valley. It is an archaeological site containing Neanderthal remains and Scythian burials.

Insider / CC BY-SA 4.0

G

Devil's Gate

The Devil's Gate or Golden Gate is an arch-like cliff near the Kara Dag Mountain in the Crimea.

H

Skvoznoj grot

A natural 77-meter-long through-cave located on Cape Kapchik, connecting the Blue and Blue-Green bays near the village of Novyi Svit.

Aleksander Kaasik / CC BY-SA 4.0

I

Mojnakskoe ozero

A shallow, highly saline liman lake in Yevpatoriya known for its therapeutic black mud and mineralized brine used for medicinal purposes since the 19th century.

Solundir / CC BY-SA 3.0

J

Cape Fonar

Cape Fonar is the easternmost point of the Crimean peninsula. The cape is located on the western shore of Kerch Strait near the exit to Azov…

K

Korovij grot

A large natural grotto located in the cliffs of the Belbek Canyon, historically used by local shepherds to shelter livestock during storms.

L

Scastlivenskoe vodohranilise

A mountain reservoir on the Managotra River that supplies fresh water to Yalta via a 7-kilometer hydro-tunnel bored through the Crimean Mountains.

Yokki / CC BY-SA 3.0

M

Mys Zuk

The northernmost point of the Kerch Peninsula, featuring jagged limestone formations and the archaeological remains of the ancient Greek settlement Zenon Chersonesos.

17Rising17 / CC BY-SA 3.0

N

Konrad

A small, hypersaline lake on the western coast near Yevpatoriya, part of the larger Sasyk-Sivash lake system.

Investigatio / CC BY-SA 3.0

O

Bolsoe Aly-Mojnakskoe

A saltwater lake on the outskirts of Yevpatoriya, separated from the Black Sea by a narrow sandspit.

Roma glock / CC BY-SA 4.0

P

Evpatorijskij mys

A low-lying cape on the western shore of Kalamita Bay, marking the western entrance to the port of Yevpatoriya.

Властарь / CC BY-SA 3.0

Q

Agarmys

A karst mountain massif at the eastern end of the Inner Ridge of the Crimean Mountains, known for its numerous caves and dense beech forests.

Дар Ветер / CC BY-SA 3.0

R

Klementeva

Also known as Uzun-Syrt, this 7-kilometer-long ridge is famous for its unique upward air currents, making it a historic center for gliding and aviation.

Yuriy Zhilovets / CC BY-SA 3.0

S

Mount Mithridat

Mount Mithridat is a large hill located in the center of Kerch, a city on the eastern Kerch Peninsula of Crimea.

T

Aqtas Lake

Aqtas Lake or Aktashskoye is a drying salt lake at the Kerch peninsula in the Lenine Raion, Crimea.

U

Goluboj vodopad

A seasonal waterfall in the Uzundzha River canyon, known for the striking blue tint of its pools during the spring snowmelt.

V

Serebranye strui

A waterfall in the Grand Canyon of Crimea where thin streams of water fall over a moss-covered tufa rock formation.

W

Geysier

A waterfall in the Sotera River valley where water strikes a specific rock ledge, creating an upward spray effect similar to a geyser.

X

Trehkaskadnyj

A multi-tiered waterfall located in the upper reaches of the Belbek River valley, featuring three distinct drops over limestone ledges.

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