“The word Baydar, meaning a rich gorge, clearly certifies that it was produced by people who realized the beauty and advantages of this valley on the Crimean peninsula. The Baydar valley is one of the most favorable areas in the Crimea for people and animals to live in. Distinguished by a healthy climate, it abounds in beautiful forests, water springs, excellent pastures..."

"Universal description of Crimea"

traveler V.Kh. Kondaraki, 1875

It would seem a thankless task: writing about the Baydar Valley, a valley that was described and praised by such titans as Pushkin and Mickiewicz. Griboyedov and Bunin, Vladimir Vernadsky and Alexei Tolstoy, Catherine the Second and our recent leaders Leonid Brezhnev and Nikita Khrushchev have been here, and others have lived for a long time. There is a lot of fiction and scientific literature about these places. I’ll try to say a few words after an excursion to the valley with a group of yoga comrades. I’ll tell you how we saw this place now, in the fall of 2012, especially since I also had questions related to geology.

Whatever epithets were awarded to the Baydar Valley: Crimean Switzerland, and the pearl of Crimea. Indeed, this place is amazing. A small valley 16*8 km, located near the coast, the slopes of the mountains are gentle, covered with forest. There are 16 rivers and many artificial lakes in the valley. The climate is mild; in summer there is no such sweltering heat as on the coast, because... the valley itself is at a level of 300-400 m above sea level, and the surrounding small mountains- at the level of 800 m. It would seem: life should be beautiful and carefree in this fabulous place. But it's not that simple. There are a lot of problems here today. In this regard, I recall the poems of Robert Rozhdestvensky:

“...The land is ours

heavily forested,

successful in the meadows,

abundant streams,

and it’s just a shame

that there is no order in it,

and people are tired of suffering pointlessly,

do not live according to the truth."

There are 12 villages in the valley. They all have two names: the old Tatar one and the new one, received in 1944. Then settlers from Voronezh region and gave their new villages Voronezh names: Rossoshanka, Novo-Bobrovka, although there are no beavers in the valley. Since the late 80s, Crimean Tatars have also been returning to their homeland. In some places even their pre-war houses have been preserved, but completely different people have lived in them for more than half a century. In 1986-87, settlers from the Chernobyl zone also appeared here. Under socialism, everyone was busy. They grew vegetables, tobacco, and engaged in livestock farming. Scattered throughout the valley are the remains of former farm buildings, vegetable stores, and tractor stations. Now all this has been destroyed, only the walls remain.

Previously, there were huge collective farm gardens here, but over time the gardens had to be uprooted. The fact is that after the construction of the Chernorechensky reservoir the climate changed, fogs became frequent. And fogs in the spring interfere with pollination. The trees are blooming, but there are no bees, and there is no harvest.


Today, all the land is parceled out and is privately owned, but its purpose - agriculture - has not changed. No one is cultivating the land, everyone is waiting for changes in the law when it will be possible to build hotels here. So the former collective farm fields stand, waiting in the wings. In some places a dense forest has already grown on them. Reservoirs, if the surface area is less than three hectares, can also be sold. Therefore, almost all lakes are also private. In villages, houses are for sale; “For Sale” signs hang across the house. Moreover, both new houses and very old ruins are sold. There is no gas in the valley, the heating is stove. There is no sewerage either. Yes, we live in strange times. Schools and hospitals were closed, but a church was built.

But the main thing that is missing in the valley is work. Everyone survives as best they can. Some go to work in the city, others try to make money from tourists: they lead excursions. A patron of the arts named Ulyanov also appeared in the valley. He is respected in the valley. He came from the Baltic states, set up a farm in an old cowshed, breeds horses, organized horseback riding, competitions, and training of athletes. Apparently, tourism is the future of this valley. There is where to relax and what to see. Tourists are shown a road laid by Roman legionnaires and perfectly preserved to this day. We also saw Skel menhirs: these are stones dug vertically into the ground. According to the guide Pavel, our menhir is the best in Europe. Firstly, it is the oldest, it is 5 thousand years old, and secondly, it stands in its original place and has not moved anywhere during its long life. It is 2.5 meters high, and the same amount underground. It looks really old, the stone itself is marble-like limestone. It was not possible to find out which tribes and peoples placed it, for what purpose.

No one will say how many peoples and tribes considered this land their homeland, and then disappeared, blown away by the wind of history. Even now, representatives of more than 20 nations live in the valley: Muslim women in headscarves, Slavic women in miniskirts. It’s rare that anyone remembers the cheerful collective farm past, as well as the troubled war years, when Germans were photographed at the menhirs, and local residents Some signed up to be partisans and some to join punitive forces. This too has passed. I wonder who will live here in a “ridiculously short time, well, say, a thousand years?”

In another part of the valley we were shown dolmens - stone boxes dug into the ground. Previously, they were covered with stone lids, but the lids did not survive the change of eras and civilizations, and the boxes themselves were very well preserved. If you believe Paul, then the ancient tribes put their elders in these boxes, they lived there for a long time and even gave advice to their fellow tribesmen.

Whether this was actually impossible to verify, but lovers of all kinds of esotericism and non-traditional energies really love this place. According to them, here they are recharged with energy and are cured of all diseases. The dolmens are made from local stone - pelitic limestone. Everything around is covered with forest, I didn’t see any outcrops. In the rubble on the road I found several pieces of milky vein quartz and pieces of siderite nodules. I also failed to find out anything about local mineralogy enthusiasts. But we managed to visit the Skelskaya Cave, again the best in Europe according to the same guide. The cave is equipped and illuminated, entrance fee is 60 hryvnia. They say that in a cave you lose the sense of time and space. And I fully experienced this myself. It seemed that we were there for 15 minutes at most, but it turned out that it was a whole hour. The height of one hall seemed to me to be 7-10 meters, but in fact it was 30 meters. In general, karst Crimean mountains- this is a huge topic, very interesting.

One of the most impressive places mountain Crimea, this is the Baydar Valley of Sevastopol, its attractions and natural beauties leave no one indifferent.

It is located at an altitude of 260 meters above sea level, about 16 km long, 8 km wide. Almost in its very center is the Chernorechenskoe reservoir, fed by the Chernaya River. It is a source of fresh water for and, therefore, their residents are always keenly interested in the water supply in this reservoir.

Swimming in the reservoir is prohibited; there are many signs along it reminding you that this is a water protection zone. But there are bets and lakes around where you can swim and fish. In any case, we recommend that you definitely drive around the perimeter of the Chernorechenskoye Reservoir - the road is good everywhere, and the views are magnificent!

The history of the Baydar Valley is no less complex and confusing than the entire Crimean Peninsula. People have lived here since time immemorial, as evidenced by numerous excavations carried out in these areas since the 19th century. The materials found show that in this fertile place lived the Tauri and the Romans, whose caravans they robbed more than once, the Scythians and Greeks, who constantly fought with each other, etc. and so on. Surely some other peoples settled here, as evidenced by the old names of the settlements in the valley. Scientists not only fail to translate Hayto, Sakhtik, Savatka, Ukrusta or Baga, but also to determine which people gave them.

Sights of the Baydar Valley

The former inhabitants of the region left behind some interesting sights. In addition to the picturesque mountains and lakes, nature has also created a lot here interesting places. If we list what to see in the Baydar Valley, then at a minimum it is worth visiting:

  1. Skel menhirs
  2. Skel cave.
  3. Dolmens in the village Novobobrovskoe.
  4. The Baydar Gate pass with a view of the Devil's Staircase, beloved by tourists.
  5. Spring in the village Orlin (formerly Baydary) from which, traveling to the South Coast, allegedly quenched the thirst of A.S. Pushkin.
  6. Roman roads.
  7. Canyons and Uzundzhi.
  8. Temple of the sun.

Skel menhirs(Tekli-Tash), this is the most ancient attraction of the Baydar Valley, it is more than 4 thousand years old. It is not known which people installed them and why, but it is clear that these large, heavy stones were brought here from afar. Archaeologists have excavated many burials, sites and settlements of the past in the valley, but the artifacts found there are kept in Crimean museums, and the Skel menhirs and Novoboor dolmens are something that you can touch with your hands.

Roman road. Once upon a time, all the roads from the main ancient city of Chersonesus and the western steppes to the valley passed through the valley. At first these were paths, then roads paved with stones. The most famous of them is the “Kalendskaya Trail”, which ran from the village of Podgornoye along the Devil’s Staircase (Shaitan-Merdvenu) to the Muholatki area. It connected in winter, when movement by sea was hampered by storms, the two Roman fortresses of Chersonesus on the Heraclean Peninsula in Western Crimea and Charax on its southern coast at Cape Ai-Todor. Now there is little left of the road, but there are still areas where the stonework has been preserved and there is a popular hiking trail there.

Baydar Gate pass, to which a serpentine road leads from the valley along a mountain covered with forest. The height of the pass above the sea is half a kilometer, so from its observation deck there are views of extraordinary beauty of the mountains that it separates - Chelebi and Chhu-Bair, and South coast Crimea, primarily to the Resurrection Church, hovering over Foros.

Here at the pass there is a restaurant with good cuisine and tents with Crimean souvenirs.

The impressive arch of the Baydar Gate itself with observation deck on the roof, is an architectural monument built in 1848 according to the design of the architect K.I. Eshliman in honor of the launch of the Yalta-Sevastopol highway, which reliably connected the Western and Southern parts of the peninsula.

Flowers of the Baydar Valley

From early spring to late autumn, something blooms in the Crimean mountains, and the Baydar Valley is no exception, the flowers of which can safely be called one of its attractions. In February-March these are snowdrops - galanthus, almost with them other primroses bloom - scillas, crocuses, primroses. In May, they pass the baton to daisies, daisies and dozens of species of other flowers and shrubs, including those listed in the Red Book. And flowering continues almost until the snow.

In general, 50 Red Book plants grow in the Baydar Valley, and the most famous of them is the Crimean orchid, orchis, of which there is quite a lot here.

If you decide to visit Crimea, be sure to find time to visit the Baydar Valley. This unusually beautiful place calms the nerves, pacifies the soul, and charges the body with energy for a long time.

The Baydar Valley, without exaggeration, is one of the largest, greenest, most fertile and most beautiful in Crimea. The beauty and fertility of the valley were appreciated by the first inhabitants of Crimea more than 4 thousand years ago.

Geographic coordinates of the Baydar Valley on the map of Crimea GPS N 44.473272 E 33.793890

Today the Baydar Valley is open to visitors, and its attractions are gaining well-deserved popularity among tourists. The Baydar Valley was formed back in the Jurassic period. During a tectonic shift, the Crimean Mountains were divided into two parts and the Baydar Basin was formed at the southern junction of the two ridges. The Baydar basin changed its shape and relief for several tens of thousands of years; in 1956, with the advent of the Chernorechensky reservoir, the valley acquired its current appearance. The appearance of the valley, today, is still changing, but not so significantly, mainly the changes concern the construction of boarding houses, hotels and private cottages. Due to their little popularity among tourists, these places still contain corners of the untouched, virgin nature of Crimea, with its unique juniper groves, coniferous and mixed forests, incomparable pastures and dozens of lakes, waterfalls and rivers.


Name Baydar Valley originated from the largest village in the Baydara valley. Now this is the village of Orlinoe, but the translation of the word baidara “baitar”, most likely, from the Turkic language is a herbalist or healer. This area is indeed famous for its medicinal herbs to this day. The Baydar Valley is located on the southern coast of Crimea, between Simeiz and Sevastopol, at a slight distance from the sea, in some places from 15 to 60 km. The area of ​​the Baydar Valley is about 28 thousand hectares, width (from north to south) - 15 km, length - (from west to east) 22 km. The valley is located at an altitude of 200-300 meters above sea level, but the mountains rise above the valley by an average of 550-680 meters.


It is surrounded by mountains on all sides, so the climate is quite mild, between temperate and sub-temperate. Summers are relatively hot, winters are relatively mild. Large temperature changes are quite rare, but fogs in autumn and spring are practically the norm. The main water artery of the valley is the Chernaya River and, as a result, the Chernorechenskoye Reservoir. The reservoir is of strategic importance for the Crimean peninsula, which is why it is the only place in the valley, which is closed to visitors and surrounded by a fence. The reservoir supplies drinking water such large settlements as Sevastopol, Inkerman, Balaklava, Foros and more than 30 smaller ones settlements, not counting the villages of the Baydar Valley.


The largest settlements in the Baydar Valley are: Orlinoe, Reservnoe, Tylovoe, Kizilovoe, Rodnikovoe, Novoborovskoe, Peredovoe and Shirokoe. These villages are located along the perimeter of the valley, around the Chernorechensky reservoir. The population of the Baydar Valley is about 8 thousand people and is growing every year by 3-5%, due to external and internal migration. The ecology here is one of the best in Crimea. There are no hazardous industries in the valley. The largest is a former state farm, today it is divided into several enterprises and a private brewery. The most common businesses in the valley are private farming, vegetable growing, cattle breeding, beekeeping and tourism business. If throughout the Crimean peninsula the tourist seasonality is pronounced, then in the Baydar Valley it is less noticeable. In winter, in the valley, it is practically impossible to find a free cottage during the New Year holidays. Reservations usually begin in September. By December, only the most expensive options or not the most comfortable conditions remain.


What attracts the Baydar Valley?

Rest in the Baydar Valley, conditionally, can be divided into two types and two seasons. Let's start with the seasons: In early spring and late autumn, almost the entire Baydar Valley turns into continuous cascades and waterfalls. Melting snow or heavy rains awaken dormant waterfalls. There are about 70 of them in the valley and mountain tourism begins during this period. In summer, the Baydar Valley is filled with tourists who come to relax by the sea, with small forays into the mountains. As a rule, this area is designed for those people who have their own or rented vehicles. Without transport it is very difficult, due to the relatively long distances and rather poorly organized public transport.


For example: by your own transport to the sea from 20 to 40 minutes, by bus from an hour to two. From the valley they most often go to the sea: to Foros, Balaklava and Laspi Bay. One of the advantages of such a holiday is the price tag. Even taking into account travel to the sea, a holiday in the valley is cheaper, but the apartments will definitely have beautiful views and excellent cuisine. In winter, the Baydar Valley turns into one of the most popular places to celebrate the New Year. Mostly cottages are rented by residents of central Crimea. But lately to the local population Mainlanders also began to compete.


Sights of the Baydar Valley

Foros Church - perhaps the most famous attraction of the Baydar Valley, is located on the descent from the Baydar Valley to Foros. Having climbed the slope several kilometers up, we find ourselves at the Baydar Gate. The Baydar Gate was erected in the mid-19th century, in honor of the end of the road connecting the southern coast of Crimea and Sevastopol. The idea of ​​connecting the southern coast of Crimea and Sevastopol was first realized by the Romans, in the middle of the first century BC. The road started from the Kharaks fortress (now the village of Gaspra) and ended in Tauride Chersonese (Sevastopol).


Most of this road passes through the Baydar Valley. Now it is called the Calenda Trail or the Roman Road. The easiest way to get on the trail is either from the village of Podgornoye or from the village of Rodnikovoe. The village of Rodnikovoe was formerly called Skelskoye (Skelya means mountain in Greek). That is why one of the most famous attractions of the Baydar Valley was named Skelskaya Cave. Skelskaya Cave is one of the most unique in Crimea, because as usual, all caves go either down or horizontally, but to walk through, you will have to climb almost to the height of a 4-story building. Not far from the cave is located. In the village of Rodnikovoe itself there is one of the most ancient attractions of the Baydar Valley, and of the whole Crimea -. Their age is over 4 thousand years. You can also highlight such attractions of the Baydar Valley as the Kozyrek waterfall, the Chernorechensky canyon, the Chernorechensky reservoir and others.


How to get to the Baydar Valley

You can get to the Baydar Valley in 4 ways. The most picturesque option is through central Crimea, from Bakhchisarai. From the city of Bakhchisarai we move along the highway to Sevastopol, after 5.8 km there will be a large fork to Sevastopol and the village of Tankovoe. We turn onto Tankovoe and move towards the villages of Tankovoe, Kuibyshevo and Glubinka. Behind the village of Glubinka, we turn following the signs towards Mangup-Kale, to the villages: Polyana and Peredovoe. The village of Peredovoe is the beginning of the Baydar Valley. The remaining three races will be from the Sevastopol - Yalta route. The first will be near the village of Goncharnoye. It is closest to Sevastopol. The second one is near the village of Tylovoe, but the third exit will be quite interesting.


The last entry into the Baydar Valley lies through Foros. The serpentine road rises upward and rises above the sea, climbs higher and higher and reaches one of the most delightful churches in Crimea - the Foros Church, the pearl of Crimea, standing on a huge cliff above a bottomless abyss. Above the church is the Baydarsky Pass, with a small portico - the Baydarsky Gate. Behind the Baydar Gate the descent into the Baydar Valley begins. If you go public transport, then any bus to the village of Orlinoe is suitable. Practically, regular buses run here from all major settlements of the southern coast of Crimea and Sevastopol.


If you are planning to visit Crimean peninsula, then among the places recommended for visiting should be the Baydar Valley. It has everything: mountain and hiking tourism, places for cave lovers and speleologists, incomparable waterfalls and endless mountains, stunning views of the mountains and the sea, horseback riding and ATV and jeep rides, extreme tours and much more. Holidays in the Baydar Valley are rightfully considered one of the best in Crimea.

Baydarskaya Valley on the map of Crimea 97

One of the most beautiful places and lies away from tourist routes, at least far from the paths of lovers beach holiday. Lovers know this place hiking and connoisseurs pristine nature. It is called the Baydar Valley.

A little history

It was named after the old name of the largest village - Baydar (now called Orlinoe). People have always lived here: archaeological finds claim that the first settlements here arose more than 5 thousand years ago. The old names of the villages - Sakhtik, Savatka, Khaito - still cannot explain anything to scientists, because they do not belong to any currently known language. Perhaps the Tauri were the first to live here - scientists know their ancient burials. Many people left their traces: cave sites of the most ancient people, remains of ancient Scythian settlements, Skel menhirs, ancient dolmens, roads paved by Roman legionnaires, ancient burial grounds of the Greeks and Goths.

In ancient times, hunting trails passed through the valley, then they gave way to paved roads; this was the only way from the Crimean steppes to its southern coast. The Kalendska trail, which once connected Chersonesus and the same one, still remains ancient fortress Kharaks on Cape Ai-Todor.

To see the true beauty of the Baydar Valley, you need to climb the mountains. From Mount Sandyk-Kaya and from Kara-Dag a sea of ​​greenery and the blue surface of the Chernorechensky reservoir opens up. The forests and meadows of the valley are still full of birds, animals and lush vegetation. The Baydar Valley in Crimea is surrounded by mountains, so it has its own microclimate: often the clouds cannot cross the mountains, and then they rain on the valley floor, which is why everyone has always chosen this place to live.


What to admire in the Baydar Valley?

Many natural beauties of the Baydar Valley can be called natural monuments. There are amazingly beautiful gorges-canyons, rivers and lakes here: the longest - Chernorechensky and the smallest - Uzundzhinsky, Ai-Todorsky and Sukhorechensky; waterfalls "Kozyrek", "Thorn Dew" and "Fatma", the Baga River, Mulovskoye Lake and the Chernorechenskoye Reservoir.

The historical sights of the Baydar Valley are also interesting:

  • Skel menhirs- An astronomical structure of the ancients. Such places are called places of Power, they say that they heal;
  • Skelskaya cave. Located at the foot of the Kara-Dag. Equipped with stairs and illuminated, you can see well-preserved sinter formations;
  • Tash-Koy– ancient Taurus burial ground;
  • Foros Church. Built on the sheer Red Rock in 1892 in honor of miraculous salvation imperial family;


  • Roman military road. It led from Chersonesos along the pass to the southern shore, paved areas and retaining walls are still preserved;
  • Baydar Gate. Built on the pass in honor of the opening of the Yalta-Sevastopol highway, which connected the western and southern parts of Crimea;
  • The Baydar Valley in Crimea is also famous for the spring in the village of Orlin. According to legend, A. Pushkin drank water from it when he traveled along the South Coast.

New times have brought the ancient Baydar valley in Crimea a new name, now for its wonderful climate and unique nature also called Crimean Switzerland.

Related Posts


Baydarskaya Valley (Crimea)

5 (100%) 1 vote

In the southwestern part of the Crimean peninsula, on the territory of the Balaklava region, in a ring of mountains and forests, the Baydar Valley is located - a picturesque natural depression with a flat bottom, the length of which is 16 km, width - 8 km. The name of this place comes from large settlement Baydary (since 1945 - the village of Orlinoe) and is translated from the Crimean Tatar language as “rich ravine”.

Historical perspective: from time immemorial

The appearance of people in the territory now occupied by the Baydar Valley dates back to the 2nd century BC. e. This is evidenced by the Skel menhirs - limestone structures whose age is 4 thousand years. Excavations carried out in the region showed that the first tribes to develop the territory of the modern intermountain basin were the Tauri.

Later constructions include the military-trade Kalendskaya trail, connecting the Roman fortress of Charax and Chersonesus. Historians agree that the road is about 2,000 years old. During the Russian-Turkish wars of the 18th-19th centuries. this route was used by both the Russian and Ottoman sides. The first modern highway connecting Yalta and Sevastopol was built in 1837-1848. In 1991, the Baydar Valley became part of the Baydarsky protected landscape reserve.

Geographical and climatic features

The Baydar Valley owes its origin to a tectonic shift that divided the Crimean Mountains into two parts. Over the course of thousands of years, the resulting depression changed the relief. The current appearance of the basin became unwell after the construction of the Chernorechensky reservoir in 1956.

The terrain in which the valley lies is heterogeneous. The height of the central part is 300-350 m, closer to the mountain ranges it rises to 400 m. More than half the area of ​​the natural amphitheater is occupied by steppes, diluted with small areas of forest and groves of bushes.

Lakes

In the center of the valley at an altitude of 251 m above sea level is the largest on the peninsula artificial lake- Chernorechenskoe reservoir with an area of ​​6 sq. km. It is fed by the rivers Chernaya, Bosaya, Urkusta, Armanka and Varnutka. The man-made reservoir serves as a source of fresh water for Sevastopol and the surrounding area. Swimming and fishing in the water area are prohibited.

In addition to the Chernorechensky reservoir, the landscape of the Baydar valley is decorated with several fresh water bodies, the largest of which are:

  1. Upper Lake. It is located in the north of the valley and is surrounded by forest and a mountain range 500 m high. The coast is suitable for lovers of outdoor recreation: nearby - tourist base"Advanced".
  2. Lower Lake. It lies between Peredovoy and the western massif of the Crimean Mountains. The “donor” of the reservoir is the Kobalar-Su stream. Due to the fact that the lake is flowing, the water here is crystal clear. A favorite place for swimming and fishing.
  3. Mulovskoye Lake. It is located above the village of Peredovoye. The coast is equipped with tables, awnings, barbecues and bridges for fishing. Those who wish have the opportunity to rent gear and pay for fishing. A hundred meters from the lake, the Kozyrek waterfall cascades down from a rocky ledge.

Climate

The Baydar Valley is often called “Crimean Switzerland”. It received this name not only for the features of the landscape, but also for weather. The territory is dominated by a humid temperate continental climate. Since the valley is located at an altitude of 300-400 m above sea level, it is cooler here throughout the year than on the peninsula. Precipitation amount - 250-400 mm/year.

Winter is short and mild. The coldest month is January - the average air temperature is +5 °C. Light snow cover in some places persists for up to 20 days. Dry summer lasts from May to the end of September. In the warm season, the air warms up to an average of +25 °C, which is 5 ° lower than on the coast.

Trails of the Baydar Valley

Route "Rodnikovskoe- Mount At-Bash" originates in the village of Rodnikovskoye and goes along the side of the gorge - the Roman road connecting Chersonesos and Charax. The trail then passes through a beech forest. On the way you will meet the Karadag lakes, next to them there is a clearing with a monument dedicated to the partisans of the Great Patriotic War.

Then tourists will have to climb the slope of Mount Spirada, from which a panorama of the Ai-Petrinskaya Yayla opens. The next stage is the descent from Spirada and the passage along a poorly readable path to the Besh-Tekne basin. In its center there is a road leading to the pass and further to the top of Mount At-Bash.

Route "Advanced"- Native” begins on Prudovaya Street in the village of Peredovoy. Then, crossing the stream, the road leads along the bank of Urkusta and ends at wooden bridge across the river and Kobalar waterfall. Then the trail rises to the Kobalar-Su stream. In its upper reaches there are caves where traces of primitive man were found.

The journey continues along the picturesque Kobalar-Dere canyon. The path leads to a construction site, so here you need to cross to the other side of the stream and continue moving. Along the route, tourists will get acquainted with natural attractions such as the Fatma-Koba grotto, Sliding, Ryzhik and Merdven-Tubyu waterfalls. The journey ends at the Koba-Chair grotto near the village of Rodnoy.

The Baydar Gate is located on the old highway leading from Yalta to Sevastopol, and is a mountain pass. In 1848, a structure was installed here, designed to serve as the “central entrance” to South coast peninsula.

The gate is made in the form of a massive portico, the basis of which is made of limestone blocks. To the right and left there are pedestals, giving the architectural monument a single classic look. There are two on the roof observation platforms. They offer views of, as well as a panorama of the Baydar Valley and open sea.

Skelskaya cave

Skelskaya Cave, which is several million years old, is located near the village of Rodnikovsky. According to scientists, the impetus for the formation of the cave was a tectonic fault and the action groundwater. The temperature of the upper tiers does not exceed +13 °C, and below, where lakes and labyrinths are hidden, - +9 °C. The height of the dungeon varies from 272 to 337 m above sea level, its length is 670 m.