Crimea is a peninsula washed by the waters of the Azov and Black Seas and attached to the East European Plain by the narrow (8 km wide) Perekop Isthmus.
Crimea is a peninsula washed by the waters of the Azov and Black Seas and attached to the East European Plain by the narrow (8 km wide) Perekop Isthmus. In its western part, the Tarkhankut Peninsula juts deep into the sea, and in the east there is another peninsula - the Kerch Peninsula, separated from the Taman Peninsula by the Kerch Strait. The area of Crimea is 25,900 km2.
The nature of Crimea is extremely unique, which is explained by the southern geographical location(46 15" -44 23" N), surface structure and proximity to the sea.
According to the nature of the relief, Crimea is divided into two sharply different parts: mountainous, located south of conditional line Sevastopol - Simferopol - Feodosia, and flat, extending north of the specified line. The mountainous part of Crimea consists of a series of low parallel ridges. The southernmost and highest of them is called the Main Crimean Ridge. It consists of a series of table-shaped hills and individual small ridges. Its highest points are Roman-Kosh (1525 m), Chatyr-Dag (1525 m) and Ai-Petri (1200 m).
The southern slope of the Main Crimean Ridge drops steeply to the sea; only in some places there is a narrow coastal strip between the coast and the mountains.
The main Crimean ridge is basically composed of water-resistant clay shales. Above are sandstones and conglomerates, covered with fissured limestones. Due to its structure, karst phenomena have become widespread here, occurring as a result of weathering and chemical dissolution of limestones; This explains the presence of numerous craters, depressions, furrows, caves and underground rivers here.
To the north of the Main Crimean Ridge there are foothills, where two lower ridges can be traced - internal (Cretaceous) and external, separated from each other by a longitudinal depression.
The southern coast of Crimea is distinguished by rich Mediterranean vegetation; The mountain slopes are covered with beech and hornbeam forests.
To the north of the mountainous part of Crimea there are vast plains, gradually descending towards the Perekop Isthmus. These are feather-grass-forb steppes, turning into arid feather-grass-wormwood and wormwood steppes, and in some places into wormwood-saltgrass semi-desert; in the lowest northeastern part, solonetzes and solonchaks appear.
The climatic conditions of Crimea are formed under the influence of the interaction of marine and continental air masses. The Black Sea, which does not freeze in winter, has a great moderating effect on the climate of Crimea. The Crimean mountains play an important role in this; they prevent the penetration of cold winds from the north, due to which the southern coast has a warm and mild maritime climate, with a short warm winter and hot summer. The average annual air temperature here reaches 13. The average air temperature in July is 24, in January 5. Annual quantity precipitation 450-550 mm; Most of them fall in winter.
Although the Crimean mountains are not high, here, as everywhere else in the mountains, the phenomenon of vertical zoning is noticeable. For example, on Ai-Petri the average annual air temperature is 5.7, the average air temperature in July is 15.7, and in January -4.2. The amount of precipitation also increases noticeably with altitude. While, for example, in Yalta, on the seashore, about 550 mm of precipitation falls per year, on the tops of the Crimean mountains their annual amount increases to 1000-1200 mm.
The climate of the steppe part of Crimea is characterized by colder, although short, winters and very hot summers. The average annual air temperature here is 11.0. The average air temperature in July is 24-26, and in January -3, -4. There is little precipitation - 300-400 mm per year. Summer precipitation predominates and is of a torrential nature.
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The Crimean peninsula is widely known both within the post-Soviet space and far beyond its borders. And the resort status of the Crimean peninsula is ensured by its rich and generous nature.
One part of it is washed by the Black Sea, the other by the no less useful Azov Sea. There are high mountains and gentle plains here, the flora and fauna are rich and varied. animal world. It's interesting that in different places On the Crimean peninsula, climate features manifest themselves in different ways.
Diverse nature of Crimea, photos of eyewitnesses
Those who have already visited Crimea have recorded excellent climatic zones at different points. Numerous photographs of eyewitnesses depict not only natural beauty, but also various beauty throughout the vast territory of the Crimean peninsula. natural areas. Most of its lands are dominated by a mild temperate climate in the plains and humid in the mountainous regions.
On the coast itself there is already a climate close to the Mediterranean - very comfortable and pleasant, when even in winter the temperature is above zero, and snow is extremely rare. In summer the weather is always clear and not windy.
Sometimes short but heavy rains occur. The velvet season begins in autumn and lasts from early September to almost mid-October. And the weather these days is very warm and still warm. Cooling and precipitation begin only in November.
Each climatic zone has its own nature of Crimea and its features accurately reflect the difference in zone zones. There is an abundance of majestic mountain peaks covered with dense thickets of forests - coniferous and mixed, as well as neat alpine meadows.
Picturesque waterfalls and steep rocky ledges, endless steppes and beautiful comfortable beaches, amazingly beautiful and grandiose sea spaces are bright representatives of landscape formations. Amazing nature in Crimea competes well with the world's best holiday destinations.
Natural areas of Crimea
Only in these latitudes can one simultaneously observe various natural zones of Crimea. Variety of different vegetation climatic zones, different topography and soil composition are distributed across the peninsula in relative proximity to each other:
- Most of the territory is dominated by steppes;
- on the northeastern coast there are salt marshes and semi-deserts;
- the flat part of Crimea is fertile black soil;
- forest-steppe predominates in the foothills;
- The northern and southern slopes of the mountains are covered with deciduous forests.
The beautiful Crimean nature and its varied, but always mild and pleasant climate attracts many tourists and vacationers, and also guarantees complete comfortable rest and relaxation of the body.
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Nature of Crimea
In the distant past, 200 million years ago, on the site of the Crimean Peninsula there was the Tethys Ocean. The ancient ocean covered Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Italy, Greece in the west, and went far beyond the Caucasus in the east. Today, the remains of the Tethys Ocean represent the Black Sea, the Mediterranean and the Caspian, so the nature in Crimea is very diverse and differs depending on the place.
Crimean mountains - combined in their own way geological structure, located in the southern part of the peninsula. In the southwest, from Cape Fiolent in Sevastopol, they originate and extend 180 km to Cape Ilya in Feodosia. The Crimean mountains belong to the Alpine folded region, cut by transverse faults, the movements of which periodically cause minor earthquakes. Due to its complex geological structure, the peninsula is distinguished by the “Seven Geological Wonders of Crimea”: the Karadag massif, the reef mountains of Sudak and the New World, the stone chaos of South Demerdzhi, Mount Ayu-Dag, the Red Cave, the Grand Canyon and Sivash with the Arabat Spit.
The nature of Crimea changes from the south of Crimea to the north
The South Coast of Crimea or the Southern Coast of Crimea is an area from Alushta to Foros, including more than 30 coastal villages and cities. It is here that the resort capital of the peninsula is located - Yalta - the Pearl of Crimea. A warm sub-Mediterranean climate, clear aromatic air, unprecedented landscapes of the seashore, and the magnificent outlines of the Crimean Mountains have long attracted vacationers here. Since the middle of the 19th century, the southern coast of Crimea became a vacation spot for the aristocracy Russian Empire. The development and construction of the southern coast of Crimea began only after the signing of the Manifesto on the annexation of Crimea to Russia. And only after this, Crimea began to be developed by nobles, members of the royal family, who received land plots and real estate on the southern coast of Crimea. Summer residences began to be built, famous specialists laid out parks and alleys.
The most famous royal residences have survived to this day. These are the Vorontsov Palace in Alupka, the Livadia and Massandra Palaces, which now house museums, and anyone can immerse themselves in the atmosphere of that time. The southern coast of Crimea is generous with attractions. Here, along with historical monuments - the remains of fortifications, Orthodox monasteries, churches and palaces, there are natural ones - the Ai-Petri Mountains, Bear Mountain, Karadag Waterfalls, Nikitsky Botanical Garden, Yalta Zoo, Swallow's Nest, parks. The interweaving of the healing air of vegetation with the sea air is the main healing factor South Coast resorts. The swimming season begins in June and lasts the longest in Crimea, until October. Sometimes, several days a year during the swimming season, the cold “Nizovka” current approaches the shore, more often it occurs in June-July and it is simply impossible to enter the water, it is icy. The water temperature may drop below 15 degrees. During this period, many vacationers go on vacation to the western or eastern coast of Crimea.
The Feodosia Bay, a mass of bays, is the coast from Alushta to Feodosia. The mountains here are lower than on the South Coast, but no less picturesque. The abundance of sun, vegetation, and wonderful landscapes will not leave you unattended. Mount Demerdzhi, Aluston fortress, Genoese fortress. The Tsar's Path, Karadag, capes Meganom, Alchak. Attractions of the South-East coast, the strongest rival of the South Coast. The South-East coast is sandy and pebble beaches, separated by capes. Feodosia is richly rewarded with healing wealth: climate, mineral water, therapeutic mud and brine. On this coast of Crimea there are sandy beaches made of ground shells that stretch along the bay for many kilometers, stable sunny weather.
Nature of eastern Crimea
Eastern coast of Crimea. This is the Kerch Peninsula, stretching in the east of Crimea between two seas, the Black and Azov, beautiful and attractive. There are no expressive colors and colorful tones of the South Coast; the relief forms are not surprising in their volume. Here, the spaciousness and monuments of antiquity and the Middle Ages have an attractive force. Excavations of such cities as Nymphaeum, Tiritaka and Ilurat, the Royal Mound, the crypt of the goddess Demeter, Mount Midridat are all included in excursion tourist routes. Small bays of the coast, steep coastal ledges with deep niches and grottoes, open rocks and artistic piles of stones amaze everyone. The beaches here are called family beaches, because the water in the bays warms up to + 30 C and you don’t have to worry about the fact that your child splashes in the water for a long time, he won’t get hypothermic.
Western coast of Crimea. Kalamita Bay. These are tens of kilometers of excellent wide golden beaches. In the resort area of the western coast of Crimea there are Evpatoria, Saki, Peschanoye, Nikolaevka. The West Bank region is a steppe, with some cliffs along the coast. The sea here is shallow, warms up quickly, and the air is dry. Prices for holidays and food on the western coast of Crimea are low, they cannot be compared with prices in Alushta and Sudak, and even more so in Yalta.
The famous balneological resort Saki is located here. It is located a few kilometers from the seashore on the northeastern shore of the salty Saki Lake. There are many sanatoriums and recreation centers between Saki and Yevpatoria. The city of Evpatoria has the status of an All-Ukrainian children's health resort. Here you can visit the popular ancient Muslim attractions, Tekie (monastery) of the Dervishes, the Kerkinitida ancient settlement.
The northwestern coast of Crimea has vast sea and steppe horizons, endless velvety beaches, healing mud, mineral and thermal springs. This region includes the resorts of the Black Sea and Razdolnensky districts.
Tarkhankut - nature reserve
The Black Sea region is located on the territory of a natural site - the Tarkhankut Peninsula. Tarkhankut is the pearl of the western coast of the peninsula. The rocky coast - 30-40 meters high, amazes with its picturesque, wild beauty, there are a lot of bays and grottoes. The famous Big and Small Atlesh. Cape Bolshoy Atlesh is a forty-meter arch with caves and grottoes. A hundred-meter tunnel passes through Cape Malyy Atlesh, piercing the Cape right through. The films “Amphibian Man” and “Pirates of the 20th Century” were filmed in this area. Behind the Big Atlesh there is the “Bowl of Love”, a natural pool resembling a large jacuzzi. Brine and mud from salt lakes are suitable for use for medicinal purposes. The swimming season begins half a month earlier than on the South Coast, in May, because... The water in shallow bays is quickly warmed up by the sun. The western coast of Crimea is different low prices with the same quality level of relaxation.
Razdolnensky district - the coast of Karkinitsky Bay is attractive for parents with children. In this corner of Crimea there are mainly shallow-water bays, so the swimming season begins early, since the sea has already warmed up by May. An ideal area for accommodating motor tourists. The Karkiniti Gulf is distinguished by a mild climate, sea and steppe expanses, and extensive beautiful beaches.
NATURAL FEATURES OF CRIMEA The Crimean peninsula is surrounded by the sea on four sides, and only the seven-kilometer-wide Perekop Isthmus connects it to the mainland. The area of Crimea is 27,000 km2. It is smaller than Switzerland, but larger than Israel or Cyprus, and its coastline is 2,500 km long.
CLIMATE Spring in Crimea, especially on the coast, is usually long, wet and windy. The most unpleasant month is March, but rain and fog are not uncommon in May. But autumn here is dry and sunny, and in good seasons The sea water temperature does not drop below 18 °C until the end of October. Summer in Crimea is hot, in the steppe the temperature reaches 40 °C. The coast is a little cooler thanks to the sea breeze. The air warms up the most in July: on the coast the temperature rises to 36–38 °C, and on the mountain tops - to 27–32 °C. However, during the summer there are no more than 20 such hot days. Local residents call Big Yalta “oven”. Its valleys and beaches are covered by a mountain range that does not allow the cold wind to pass through. The warm breath of the sea and the evergreen vegetation of the southern coast make the local air fragrant and healing. Winter in Crimea is mild and with little snow: stable snow cover that lasts at least thirty days occurs only in the mountains, at least 400–600 m above sea level. The higher, the colder: every 100 m the temperature “lowers” by 0.6 °C. On the Ai-Petri plateau, the climate is similar to that of the Moscow region, except that the wind is stronger here, and on the northern slopes of Babugan and Chatyrdag it is usually cooler than in the Moscow region.
A characteristic landscape: once upon a time, the southern slopes of the mountains of the Crimean Peninsula were completely covered with subtropical forests. MOUNTAINS In Crimea, both slow mountain-building processes and sudden planetary cataclysms left their mark. There are solid volcanic rocks - gabbro-diabase, diorite, granite-porphyry and others, of which Karadag, Bear Mountain (Ayudag), Kastel are composed. Above Alupka you can see diabase “chaos” (a natural accumulation of diabase blocks). But South Demerdzhi above Alushta consists of fragile loose conglomerate - a mixture of sand, clay and crushed stone. However, the main material of the Crimean mountains is limestone of coral reefs (mountains Sokol, Orel, Karaul-Oba, Ai-Petri) and sedimentary rocks (most of the Crimean mountains). Limestone forms funnels, wells, shafts and multi-tiered, bizarrely shaped caves - there are more than a thousand of them in Crimea. The deepest such cave is the Soldatskaya mine on Karabi-yayla (517 m). The central, northern and western parts of the peninsula are steppe. In the east it turns into the Kerch hills, and near Feodosia the Main Mountain Range begins - a chain of ridges, peaks and plateaus, which are called yails here. The length of the ridge, which stretches from the southwest to the northeast of Crimea, is 180 km, and its average height- from 600 to 1000 m. To the north of the Main Ridge there is a Second (Internal) ridge with a height of about 600 m. Behind the Second there is also a Third Ridge, very low. Further - only the steppe. And the southern coast of Crimea, so beloved by vacationers, is a narrow, no wider than 12 km, strip of land between the sea and the foot of the Main mountain range.
Gurzuf and Ayudag in the evening COAST, BEACHES, ESTURES From the mainland we enter Crimea through Sivash - a shallow bay of the Azov Sea, the area of which is 2560 km². Its shores, indented by bays, form spits and peninsulas, and in the bay itself there are about 60 islands. The depth of Sivash for the most part does not exceed 1 m and only in rare places reaches 3 m, and its bottom is covered with a thick layer of silt. The water in the bay is much saltier than sea water. Warming up to 42 °C in summer, it emits a putrid odor, which is why Sivash is called the Rotten Sea. Sivash is separated from the Sea of Azov by a long narrow spit of pure yellow sand - the Arabat Spit. It starts from the Kerch Peninsula and ends in front of Genichesk. The Genichesky (Thin) Strait, 100 m wide, breaks off Arabatka, connecting Sivash with the Sea of Azov. From the northeast, Crimea is washed by the shallow - its depth does not exceed 14 m - and warm (water temperature can reach 30 ° C) Azov Sea, rich in plankton and fish. However, the most convenient shallow beaches with yellow sand for swimming are located on the eastern and western coasts of Crimea. This is Arabatka, the Kerch Peninsula, Feodosia Bay - and another 130 km of “golden” sands around Evpatoria. But on the southern coast and on both sides of it, from Koktebel to Sevastopol, the shores are covered with wave-broken, more or less rolled rock. The beaches there are rocky - only here and there there are small pebbles near the shore - and they are all separated by wave-resistant capes. And the most beautiful capes with bays are located among the ancient coral reefs of the New World. The best coarse sand beach on the South Coast is located in Sudak Bay. Further, to the west, among the wild rocks, here and there pebble bays with cozy beaches open up, but the closer the mountains are to the water, the fewer such places there are. Alushta still has wide natural beaches, but in Yalta they are mostly artificial. They are quite suitable for recreation, but they are not suitable for spearfishing, diving or snorkeling. All these joys can be found 20 km from Yalta, in the Blue Bay. The shores from Kastel to Fiolent are rocky, the sea here is deep. The coast of Western Crimea is steep and clayey in places (Kalamitsky Bay). Recently, visitors have appreciated the nature of Atlesh and Dzhangul on Cape Tarkhankut. These roughly broken rocks, sea-carved grottoes and underwater caves attract swimmers, scuba divers, and spearfishers. In Crimea there are about 50 salt lakes - estuaries, of which 26 are recognized as healing. At the bottom of them, fatty black silt accumulates - peloid, or healing mud. At balneological resorts it is used to treat patients. One of the most famous such resorts is Lake Saki (it is located near the town of Saki, 20 km from Yevpatoria), on the shores of which there are several sanatoriums. The first local mud bath opened here in 1827. Lake Saki is 13 times saltier than the sea; a person can lie on the water and read a newspaper.
Lake Sivash PLANT WORLD There are about 2,500 species of wild plants on the Crimean Peninsula higher plants(of which 240 are endemic, that is, growing only here), and about 30,000 species can be found in the botanical gardens and parks of Crimea. The Crimean plain is a dry steppe, wind, and lack of water. The plants are mostly low-growing, withered, hard, prickly - acacia, thuja, mackerel, and rarely poplar. Silver sucker is often found. It blooms in June, and for its amazing, intoxicating aroma, not a single wild Crimean plant can compare with it. Salt-tolerant grasses grow near the estuaries and Sivash. In May, tulips bloom, then poppies. The steppe is beautiful at this time. In the mountains grow juniper, hazel, dogwood, oak, hornbeam, alder, ash, rosehip, hold-tree, wild apple and pear, and cherry plum.
Dogwood in bloom. In the wild it is beautiful plant found in the mountains and along river banks. On the southern slope of the Main Ridge, above 600 m, a beech-hornbeam forest begins. Above Big Yalta, at an altitude of 400 to 700 m, there is a pine forest, and the Crimean beech grows higher up. Crimean pines have a thicker bark than ordinary pines, longer needles, and larger cones. And twice as much resin is produced. Therefore, the most healing air, the most saturated with phytoncides, is over Yalta. Plants are blooming on the South Shore all year round. In October-November, medlar blooms, roses bloom again, and in December wild daisies appear on the southern mountain slopes; pale purple colchicum, mullein and tansy, sometimes snowdrops. In January, hellebores bloom in gardens, and the corollas of almonds and galanthus may open. In February comes the time of jasmine, honeysuckle, winterflower, crocus, almonds, in March - wild almonds and dogwoods, gillyflower and milkweed, Japanese quince, scarlet and magnolia Soulange with its large, lonely, pinkish-white buds. In April, the gardens bloom, the main decoration of which is cherry plum, apricot and peach. In May - roses, tulips, crimson, wisteria, “golden shower”. In June, magnolia blooms, pink corollas of Lenkoran acacias, tekoma, oleander, resin seed, cherry laurel, yucca appear... And so on all year round.
Magnolia flowers are one of the symbols of a subtropical paradise. The further you go east from Alushta, the poorer nature becomes: many subtropical plants they just disappear. Along the road to Sudak, in addition to the usual oaks and hornbeams, there are poplars, blunt-leaved pistachios (wild, with inedible fruits), mackerel, hawthorn and rose hips, wild apple and pear trees, blackthorns and a tree with thorns similar to fishhooks. WILDLIFE 58 species of mammals and about 300 species of birds have been discovered in Crimea. Among small mammals, we mention field mice, gophers, jerboas, hamsters (in the steppe part), and wildly voracious shrews. Those hibernating in caves fly out to hunt in summer at night (mosquitoes, midges and small butterflies). the bats. A hedgehog, a teleut squirrel from Altai, a brown hare - everything is approximately the same as on the continent. There are steppe fox and mountain fox, stone marten, ferret, and weasel. But wolves are seen very rarely. The most common ungulates in the forest are roe deer; sometimes you can see Crimean red deer and wild boars.
Vulture chick. Crimea is one of the few regions of Europe where these rare birds are preserved. The most big birds Crimea - black vultures. In second place in size are griffon vultures. There are very few of both left in Crimea, not even a hundred. Woodpeckers, hawks, falcons, owls, black crows, noisy jays, and blackbirds live in mountain and lowland forests. In the steppe there are bustards and almost extinct little bustards. At one time, golden pheasants were brought to a nursery near Belogorsk, and the bird settled throughout the foothills. They fly over the sea herring gulls, laughing gulls, petrels, pochards, shelducks and cormorants dive under the water. Crimea is separated from the mainland by a narrow isthmus, inaccessible for migration, so there are many endemics here, for example, the Crimean granular ground beetle - a large, harmless purple beetle, up to 5 cm in size. But karakurts pose a danger to people. Small and inconspicuous, they are very poisonous. They live mainly in the steppe part of the peninsula, so in the western and east coasts It is better not to walk on the grass barefoot. Scolopendras live in damp basements. However, they may well crawl into the tent. This is a long creature, reaching 20 cm, similar to a huge centipede. Centipedes move along walls, floors and ceilings with frightening speed. It is advisable to avoid close acquaintance with them: after their bite, the temperature rises for several days. Of the Crimean snakes, only the steppe viper is poisonous. There are no vipers in the mountains and on the South Coast. The rarest and most beautiful of the local lizards is the Crimean gecko. He lives only on the southern coast, from Alushta to Chersonesus. From November to April, geckos hibernate, in the summer they are nocturnal, feeding on insects and spiders, and during the day they hide in crevices among stones.
The Crimean gecko can sometimes be found on the Southern Coast MARINE FLORA AND FAUNA 270 species of red, green and brown algae grow in the Black and Azov Seas. The Crimean coast has the largest number of phyllophores and cystoseira. In the water column there are two types of jellyfish - the safe flat aurelia and the stinging, nettle-like, bluish cornet. Small fish swim close to the shore: seahorse, pipefish, blennies, greenfinches. At the bottom there are sea cats (stalkers with poisonous spines) and foxes and flounders. On the rocks are sea ruffes (scorpionfish), also with poisonous spines. Red mullets, also known as red mullets, graze in the sand. The depths are inhabited by mullet, pilengas (Far Eastern mullet), croaker, and katran (Black Sea shark). This shark is not dangerous for humans: it never attacks him. The most dangerous of all is a small fish, similar to horse mackerel, but with three spines in the dorsal fin. These needles contain poison so strong that if you inject yourself, you can be sick for the entire vacation. The fishermen called this terrible fish the sea dragon. At night, crabs crawl out of rocky crevices onto the shore. Predatory rapana mollusks, which moved to the Black Sea from the southern seas, crawl onto the mussel in search of food, open its valves and gnaw out the contents. Three species of dolphins live in the Black Sea: the facena (porpoise), the common dolphin and the bottlenose dolphin. It is bottlenose dolphins that are usually shown in dolphinariums.
