The largest mountain in Crimea. Crimean mountains

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It is difficult to calculate how much time it will take to see all the sights that abound on the Crimean peninsula. There are many wonderful places created by human hands and nature itself. Here you can admire the endless expanses of the sea, beautiful beaches, and amazing nature reserves. The majestic mountains spread out on the peninsula are also striking in their beauty, one of which contains the highest point of Crimea. Most tourists try to visit this place, which offers magnificent views of the local area.

The top of Mount Roman-Kosh is the highest point in Crimea

Mount Roman-Kosh is part of the Babugan-Yayla massif, which runs through the Crimean Peninsula. It rises 1545 above sea level. The highest point of Crimea is located on it. At first, it was difficult to reliably determine its exact location, since the top of the mountain has a significant area. Amateur climbers helped to establish it more accurately, who did not forget to take a small stone with them when setting out to conquer the mountain. Over time, the brought stones formed a hill, which is now considered the highest point in Crimea.

Historical facts

Mount Roman-Kosh does not have steep slopes, so it is often conquered by locals and tourists. There is no reliable information about who was the first to reach the summit. The most massive visit to the highest point of the Crimean peninsula was recorded in 1996. It was carried out by pioneers who were at that time on vacation in the most popular camp in the Soviet Union, Artek. This marked the beginning of the XV Komsomol Congress. More than 1,200 children simultaneously reached the summit. In honor of this event, a pedestal was erected on the mountain, on which a bust of Lenin was placed.

After some time, local authorities decided to dismantle the monument to the leader of the October Revolution. This was due to the vandalism of some tourists who, when visiting the highest point of Crimea, simply knocked off parts of the bust in order to take them with them as a souvenir and evidence that they had conquered Mount Roman-Kosh. Instead of a monument, a cross was erected on the top, about which various stories quickly began to be told. Many claimed that there was a burial place at the top and it was marked with a corresponding sign. To dispel such rumors, a sign was erected on the mountain indicating that the cross is the designation of the highest point in Crimea.

Visit to the highest point of the Crimean Peninsula

Tourists often visit Mount Roman-Kosh to find themselves at the highest point in Crimea. The ascent does not require any special knowledge of mountaineering, so anyone can do it. The road to the top passes through a picturesque area where you can admire stunning scenery and rare animals. At the foot of the mountain there are wooded areas. According to local residents, there are many springs with clean and healing water. Closer to the top there are lonely trees, and the surface is covered with grass resistant to harsh climates.

Nowadays it is difficult to officially conquer the peak of Roman-Kosh. The mountain is located on the territory of the Crimean Nature Reserve, so it is carefully guarded by forestry workers. There is a hefty fine for unauthorized entry into this area. But the most avid tourists claim that it is always possible to negotiate with foresters, and for a certain amount they still allow you to climb Mount Roman-Kosh and visit the highest point of Crimea.

Better than mountains can be mountains that you have never been to before. I think even those who have never been a hiker have heard this expression. But it seems to me that there is a mistake in this sentence. There are peaks that captivate you at first sight and you want to return there again and again. Come back to see a sunrise or sunset, visit different times of the year, find a blanket of clouds under your feet, beautiful fogs, herbs and even snow.

The mountains in Crimea are low. As I wrote earlier, by the standards of experienced tourists and climbers, these are hills or even mounds. The highest point on the peninsula is Roman-Kosh. It rises 1545 meters above sea level. But the highest mountains will not always be the most beautiful. My list of five peaks includes the most interesting and breathtaking. If you do not agree with my opinion, write your top 5 in the comments. If you agree, then tell us where you have already climbed and where you are going.

Roman-Kosh (1545 m)

Roman-Kosh is the highest mountain in Crimea. It is part of the Babugan-yayla massif, which is now part of the Crimean Nature Reserve. According to some geologists, Roman-Kosh is a volcano that was never fully formed.

The name of the highest mountain in Crimea is translated differently. According to one version, it means “upper rest stop” and has Indo-Aryan roots. The other version is much simpler. Translated from Crimean Tatar as “forest pasture”.

Roman-Kosh was not always number one among the high mountains of the peninsula. Back in the 19th century, first place was given to Eklizi-Burun.

Climbing Roman-Kosh now is a difficult task. But not because the climb is difficult, but because the peak is located in the Crimean Nature Reserve, where an ordinary unaccompanied tourist is prohibited (officially, only car and bus excursions with a ranger are possible). Foresters are especially fierce in the summer; they catch travelers on the trails and send them back, not forgetting to issue an administrative fine in Alushta. One way or another, the risk is justified, since Roman-Kosha offers stunning views in all directions.

The largest group ascent of Mount Roman-Kosh was made by Artek members in 1966. 1200 people climbed to the top at once. In honor of the opening of the 15th Congress of the Young Communist League, they erected a bust of Lenin on the mountain.

Even creative people were not spared Roman-Kosh. There is a song by Krylatov to the words of Entin, which is called “The First Peak”.

How to get there: By car or public transport to the village of Krasnokamenka (in the second case, by minibus “Krasnokamenka-Gurzuf” from the Yalta bus station), go up the street, walk past a well-maintained quarry and start climbing through the forest. The ascent takes 3 hours.

Eklizi-Burun (1527 m)

Photo by Maxim Kutashev Photo by Maxim Kutashev Photo by Victoria Stupina Photo by Maxim Kutashev

Eklizi-Burun is the highest point of Mount Chatyr-Dag. It is located on the western cape and delights beginners and seasoned travelers with incredible views of the sea, mountains and the Crimean Nature Reserve. In good weather you can even see Sevastopol!

The name of the mountain peak is translated as “church cape”. In the Middle Ages, the Greek church of Panagia, which means “All Holy One,” stood here. Every year the Greeks climbed the mountain for common prayer. The temple fell into disrepair after the annexation of Crimea to Russia in the 18th century, when all Christians were evicted from the peninsula.

The climb up Mount Chatyr-Dag to the top of Eklizi-Burun is not very difficult, but long, which will require endurance and patience. But you will have to walk through picturesque places - through a beech grove and alpine meadows. You need to take water with you, as there are no springs on the mountain. It is worth considering that it can be much colder at the top. Eklizi-Burun is also famous for its winds, which can be so strong that they blow away tents and even people.

How to get there: From Yalta or Simferopol, take bus or trolleybus No. 1 to the “Angarsky Pass” stop, get off and walk along the road to the base of the same name. Then you need to go through a beech forest and a beech clearing; there will be markings along the entire route. Motorists can leave their car next to the Angarsky Pass tourist center.

Northern and Southern Demerdzhi (1356 and 1239 m)

Demerdzhi is a huge mountain range near Alushta. It has two peaks - North and South. The first is higher, the second is about 100 meters lower, but is more popular among tourists. Southern Demerdzhi is made of limestone, which has been exposed to wind and rain for thousands of years. The rocks at the foot and on the mountain itself have taken on the most incredible shapes and resemble animals and people at different times of the day.

The name is translated from Crimean Tatar as “blacksmith”, but even earlier the mountain was known as Funa, which means “smoking”. The first name remains with the fortress that was built at the foot. Near Demerdzhi there is the village of Luchistoye. Until the mid-20th century, the settlement bore the same name as the mountain and was located next to it. But after a strong collapse, it was decided to move it further away.

South Demerdzhi attracts tourists with its Valley of Ghosts, the Moonlight Glade, similar to Stonehenge, and, of course, views of Chatyr-Dag, the reservoir, the sea and mountains all the way to Sudak. This is also my favorite mountain, although I have not yet visited Chatyr-Dag or climbed Roman-Kosh.

A touching legend is associated with Mount Demerdzhi near Alushta. It tells how nomads captured the Funa fortress, set up a huge forge on the mountain, and forced the men from the village to work in it. A tall blacksmith with a black beard supervised the work. One day, the girl Maria decided to stand up for the men, went to the mountain and asked to release the workers. The blacksmith agreed, but on the condition that Maria would become his wife. The girl refused, then the blacksmith became angry and killed her. At that moment, the mountain came to life, shuddered and turned everyone who was on it into stone statues.

You can watch a video from the autumn hike to Demerdzhi.

How to get there: The Ghost Valley trailhead is easily accessible by car. There are two ways: from the Yalta-Simferopol highway, turn onto Luchistoye, drive to the beginning of the village, leave the car in a small area near a public transport stop and climb along the path past a small pond and the Golden Horseshoe ranch to the beginning of the trail. Second option: drive through Alushta to the village of Luchistoye and leave the car at the exit.

To get to Demerdzhi by public transport, you must first get to Alushta. At the stop opposite the bus station, take minibus No. 107 and get off at the beginning of Luchistoye.

You can also climb South Demerdzhi by excursion jeep, but then you will not see either the Valley of Ghosts or the Moonlight Glade.

Kush-Kaya (1338 m)

Three mountains in Crimea bear the name Kush-Kaya, but only the one in Babugan-yayla is one of the highest. Kush-Kaya is translated as “bird rock”. But it looks more like an elongated ear.

You can climb Kush-Kaya along two trails. Both go from the Ak-Chokrak and Tolma springs past Mount Paragilmen. The views, as from the previous high mountains, will be stunning.

As for two more mountains with the name Kush-Kaya, one is located between Laspi and Cape Aya, and the second is between Sudak and the New World and is better known as Mount Sokol. They are much lower, but climbing them is more difficult, since you have to walk at an angle of 45 and 50 degrees, and on Mount Sokol you also have to climb over rocks. But all efforts will not be in vain.

How to get there: Travel by car or public transport from Yalta or Alushta to Kiparisny, climb to Mount Paragilmeni past it to Kush-Kaya.

Ai-Petri (1234 m)

Rounding out the top five highest and most beautiful Crimean mountains is Ai-Petri, known, perhaps, to almost every tourist who has visited the peninsula. The height of the Main Peak is 1234 meters, which is very convenient to remember. This is where tourists get when they disembark from the cable car cabin. Construction of the cable car began in 1967 and lasted 20 years. The Miskhor – Ai-Petri cable car is known for its one of the longest unsupported spans in Europe.

Ai-Petri is translated as “Saint Peter”. The name is associated with a legend about a young man named Peter and his girlfriend. The lovers' parents were against the marriage, so the young people decided to commit double suicide and climbed the mountain. But there was not a single platform there that could accommodate two people. Therefore, the young man jumped off first, the girl at that moment screamed “St. Peter!”, and then changed her mind about taking her own life.

A must-see when visiting Ai-Petri is a walk to the Zubtsy observation deck. The Zubtsy rocks have been a natural monument since 1947, and from the observation deck you can see the entire southern coast of Crimea.

Even in summer, Ai-Petri can be cool and windy, so you should take a windbreaker or sweatshirt with you. In addition, there are three caves at the top: Trekhglazka, Geofizicheskaya and Yalta, where the air temperature does not rise above +10-12 degrees.

How to get there: You can climb Ai-Petri in three ways: by cable car from Miskhor (350 rubles one way), by car or minibus along the Yalta - Bakhchisarai road (turn right immediately after the “Sanatorium Uzbekistan” stop), on foot along the Miskhor (Koreiz) trail or along the Taraktash trail.

If you choose the walking option along the Miskhor trail, then you need to take the Yalta – Sevastopol bus and get off at the “Koreiz” stop, walk a little forward and start climbing along a dirt road through a pine forest. The ascent will take 2.5 or 3.5 hours depending on the level of preparation and walking pace. The first third of the path will be easy and almost without hills, after the spring there will be a section with a sharp rise along a loose path, after the observation deck it will become easier.

The ascent along the Taraktash trail begins from the Yalta-Bakhchisarai road immediately after the turn to the Uchan-Su waterfall (you can get there by car or taxi). The trail is marked, so it's quite difficult to get lost. The first half of the path will go through the forest, then along the serpentine road and along the stairs to the Taraktashsky ridge. After reaching the plateau, you need to go straight along the path, then left along the dirt road to the village of Okhotnichye and then straight to the cable car station. The climb to Taraktash will take about 3 hours, and to the Main Peak of Ai-Petri it will take about another hour.

If you want to go on a one-day hike in Crimea, but don’t dare go on your own, then I offer my company. You can choose the trip you like and book it for any day convenient for you. A day that will definitely be remembered for a long time.

Do you like independent travel? Do you want to see something unusual? I will compose for you, which will contain only what is really interesting to you.

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If you have been to Crimea at least once, then Crimean mountains leave a lasting impression, especially if you see them for the first time. And when you start conquering the Crimean mountains, you simply fall in love with them!

The southern coast of Crimea is a mountain kaleidoscope. The mountains separate the coast from the northern part of the peninsula and attract with a wide variety of ridges, peaks, cliffs, and plateaus to everyone who loves a mountain holiday in Crimea.

If you fly over the entire Crimean mountain range in a helicopter, you can see how it “grows” from its edges to the center. The low Baydar plateau gives way to the Ai-Petrinsky plateau with a maximum height of 1320 meters, passing into the Yalta yayla (up to 1406 meters). Even higher is Nikitskaya yayla (up to 1470 meters), adjacent to it is Gurzufskaya yayla (up to 1540 meters), then Babugan-yayla with the peak of Roman-Kosh (1545 meters). This is the center of the Main Ridge, and below it, between Gurzuf and Alushta, is the very middle of the South Coast region.

"Yayla" means "summer pasture" in Turkic. This everyday word entered into geographical science, since for most of the year the local population grazed cattle on the plateaus.

Further to the east, the ridge breaks and retreats from the coast, forming the Chatyr-Dag mountain ranges separated by rocks with the peaks of Eklizi-Burun (1527 meters) and Demerdzhi (1356 meters). A natural bridge - Mount Tyrke - connects the Demerdzhinsky plateau with the largest area, Karabi-yayla. Its height is smaller - 1258 meters. In the eastern part of the peninsula there are the mountains of the Outer Ridge, the Kerch Hills, the steppe, and the sandy coast of the Azov Sea.

Western Crimea is everything west of the Salgir River, which divides the capital of Crimea itself in two. The Crimean steppe begins from Simferopol towards Tarkhankut and Evpatoria. The road through Bakhchisaray to Sevastopol is mainly the Crimean foothills (land at the foot of the northern slope of the mountains). It's cooler here, there's more moisture, better soil. Rivers flow through the valleys and orchards grow.

The western coast from Sevastopol to Tarkhankut is not at all similar to the southern coastal mountains - these are steep shores of sand and clay, with large sections of sandy beaches in the Evpatoria region, on the embankments of estuaries and salt lakes.

How the mountainous Crimea was formed

How and when they appeared Crimean mountains- this is the question asked by everyone who saw them. The earth's crust is in constant motion. In the history of the planet, sea and land could change places many times: the bottom rose - the waters subsided, mountains began to grow, then the restless firmament sank - and again the ocean flooded these aged cliffs, peaks, abysses... So in the place of Crimea there was once an ancient Tethys Ocean. At its bottom, about 200 million years ago, the rocks of our future Crimean Mountains began to be deposited, but the age of the oldest rocks is no less than a billion years. These rocks can be seen on the southern cliffs and in the river valleys of the northern slope. At the base of the Crimean mountains, deep underground, lies a dark “Tauride platform”, crumpled into random folds. On top of it, rocks of different ages are captured by natural cement and compressed into conglomerates (they can best be seen on Mount South Demerdzhi), and even higher lies marble-like limestone - the most common sedimentary rock in Crimea. But this is only a general outline: the true composition of the Crimean subsoil is rich, diverse and not yet fully understood.

Scientists believe that during the Mesozoic era Crimean peninsula was a group of volcanic islands - it was then that the main geological structures of the mountainous Crimea were formed. The land rose and fell, the ocean came and went for a long time, for thousands of years. This complex dramatic history of the Crimean mountains can be read in their folded floors.

Gradually, starting from the Cretaceous period (137-67 million years ago) and until the Miocene era of the Cenozoic era (25 million years ago), the Crimean mountains grew through a single basin of the Black and Caspian seas. The formation of the mountainous Crimea began 10-13 million years ago, after another powerful uplift of the earth's surface. However, the current mountains are much younger. After all the uplifts, subsidences, tectonic movements, collapses and landslides, they took on their modern appearance only 1.5-2 million years ago. The Crimean mountains were exposed, rose “from the bosom of the waters”, and settled down in long ridges - Home(first) Internal(second) and very low External(third).

Three ridges of the Crimean mountains

The main ridge of the Crimean mountains, gently sloping from the north and steeply sloping to the south, with large plateaus, separated and fenced off the southern coast of Crimea from the north, gave rise to short rivers on the southern slope, almost drying up by summer, and relatively long rivers flowing to the west and north. The length of the main ridge of the Crimean Mountains is about 110 kilometers (from Feodosia to Balaklava), the maximum height of the Crimean Mountains is 1545 meters, this is Mount Roman-Kosh.

In the distant past, alien mountains separated from the Main Ridge and slid down to the coast - the Adalary rocks, Krestovaya rock, Ai-Nikola, Mount Koshka. The highest outlier is Mount Paragilmen, its height is 857 meters. Under the steep cliffs of the Main Ridge, blocks of destroyed mountains - “chaos” - were piled up. Some of them are declared natural monuments.

Much lower than Main. Its maximum height is 750 meters. These soft limestone mountains, also with plateaus, gave shelter to the inhabitants of the Middle Ages - people began to dig caves and settle in them. Cave cities are built one after another. Some scientists are inclined to see this as the implementation of a plan - the creation of a single defensive line.

Outer ridge of the Crimean mountains even further to the north and even lower - its height is no more than three hundred meters. Behind it, the entire Crimea, right up to Sivash, appears as a flat steppe - fields, vineyards, sunflower and corn plantations, separated by forest belts, and recently there has also been a lot of uncultivated land, again turned into “virgin land”.

All three ridges of the Crimean mountains converge in the area of ​​​​Sevastopol, built on the Heracles peninsula, dotted with bays.

Peaks of the Main Ridge of the Crimean Mountains Now they rise by 3-4 millimeters per year, but in fact they do not grow, because the destruction of rock under the influence of water, wind, frost (weathering) and atmospheric moisture with carbon dioxide dissolved in it (karsting) is faster than growth. In Crimea there are 8,500 large karst sinkholes that can eventually turn into caves, and 870 real caves. The longest of them (20.5 kilometers) is Kizil-Koba on Dolgorukovskaya Yayla, the deepest (517 meters) is the Soldatskaya mine on Karabi-Yayla, and the most beautiful of the equipped ones and therefore the most visited is the Marble Cave on Chatyr-Dag.

There are fossil reefs among the limestone mountains. This is everyone's favorite mountain Ai-Petri. Its age is approximately 150 million years. There are laccoliths of the Mesozoic era - “failed volcanoes” of the domed shape of Ayu-Da g and Kastel, and pointed ones - Mount Ay-Yuri.

Three ridges of the Crimean mountains The main ridge of the Crimean mountains, gently sloping from the north and steeply sloping to the south, with large plateaus, separated and fenced off the southern coast of Crimea from the north, gave rise to short rivers on the southern slope, almost drying up by summer, and relatively long rivers flowing to the west and north. The length of the main ridge of the Crimean Mountains is about 110 kilometers (from Feodosia to Balaklava), the maximum height of the Crimean Mountains is 1545 meters, this is Mount Roman-Kosh. In the distant past, alien mountains separated from the Main Ridge and slid down to the coast - the Adalary rocks, Krestovaya rock, Ai-Nikola, Mount Koshka. The highest outlier is Mount Paragilmen, its height is 857 meters. Under the steep cliffs of the Main Ridge, blocks of destroyed mountains - “chaos” - were piled up. Some of them are declared natural monuments. Inner ridge of the Crimean mountains much lower than the main one. Its maximum height is 750 meters. These soft limestone mountains, also with plateaus, gave shelter to the inhabitants of the Middle Ages - people began to dig caves and settle in them. Cave cities are built one after another. Some scientists are inclined to see this as the implementation of a plan - the creation of a single defensive line. Outer ridge of the Crimean mountains even further to the north and even lower - its height is no more than three hundred meters. Behind it, the entire Crimea, right up to Sivash, appears as a flat steppe - fields, vineyards, sunflower and corn plantations, separated by forest belts, and recently there has also been a lot of uncultivated land, again turned into “virgin land”. All three ridges of the Crimean mountains converge in the area of ​​​​Sevastopol, built on the Heraclean Peninsula, dotted with bays. The peaks of the Main Range of the Crimean Mountains are now rising by 3-4 millimeters per year, but in fact they are not growing, because the destruction of rock under the influence of water, wind, frost (weathering) and atmospheric moisture with carbon dioxide dissolved in it (karsting) is faster than growth. In Crimea there are 8,500 large karst sinkholes that can eventually turn into caves, and 870 real caves. The longest of them (20.5 kilometers) is Kizil-Koba on Dolgorukovskaya Yayla, the deepest (517 meters) is the Soldatskaya mine on Karabi-Yayla, and the most beautiful of the equipped ones and therefore the most visited is the Marble Cave on Chatyr-Dag. There are fossil reefs among the limestone mountains. This is everyone’s favorite Mount Ai-Petri. Its age is approximately 150 million years. There are laccoliths of the Mesozoic era - “failed volcanoes” of the dome-shaped Ayu-Dag and Kastel, and pointed ones - Mount Ay-Yuri.

The Crimean Mountains in the south stretch in three parallel ridges from Sevastopol to Feodosia for 150 kilometers. Their southern slopes are almost vertical, while the northern slopes gently turn into interridge depressions or plains.
Two low ridges (External and Internal) in the north make up the Crimean foothills, cut into separate massifs by picturesque river valleys. In the western part there are a dozen famous cave cities and monasteries, many of which are depicted in fairy tales and action films, and in the east, the Ak-kaya (White Rock) massif with a typical chalk prairie has become simply a classic of Soviet westerns.
The abundance of grottoes and rock overhangs in the limestone cliffs of the Foothills, as well as the favorable microclimate, determined their decisive role in the culture of the ancient Stone Age.
In the most severe climatic era, when almost all of Europe was covered with a glacial shell, the valleys of the Foothills became a refuge for animals of all climatic zones of Europe from the tundra to the tropics. As the glacier melted, the tribes of ancient people who survived in the Crimea (as well as in the Northern Adriatic and the Cote d'Azur) eventually repopulated Europe. This is probably why for most Europeans the landscapes of the foothills of Crimea are perceived as comfortable, pleasant, and native at the genetic level.
During the early Iron Age, the Foothills (for example, the Snake Grotto southwest of Simferopol) became the ancestral sanctuaries of the Tauri, where they sacrificed captured Hellenes to their goddess the Virgin. With the adoption of Christianity, and then Islam, the grottoes became sacred places of these religions, and the same places had only slight differences in legends.
The heights of the Inner Ridge in the west reach 583 m above sea level - the Mangup massif, and in the east Ak-kaya has a mark of only 343 m, but its vertical cliff makes a grandiose impression. In the vicinity of Bakhchisarai, the Inner Ridge consists of two steps of cuestas, among which there are also separate massifs like Mangup or. We can say that it was the local landscapes and especially the cave cities that created a special memorable image of the mountainous Crimea.
In the east, near the town of Stary Krym, the Inner Ridge loses its cuesta character and consists of several cone-shaped massifs of impressive height. They are no longer composed of limestones. Kubalach between Bogatovka and Stary Krym is the record holder of the Inner Ridge with an elevation of 766 m. Officially, this is botanical, the high altitude and the change of several plant belts determine the richness of plant species and zones on the slopes of the mountain. In addition, Kubalach is also interesting because of the oldest geological rocks in Crimea. Closer to the Old Crimea there is a powerful completion of the Inner Ridge - the Maly and Bolshoi Agarmysh massifs, also exceeding 700 meters, but the Bolshoi Agarmysh was practically destroyed by stone mining.
The outer ridge only enlivens the relief from the north of the Sevastopol-Simferopol highway (and a little further to the east) with separate massifs ranging in height from 140 to 362 meters with dark green spots of pine forests, mostly artificial. It is interesting only for those who vacation on the West Coast (Uchkuevki, Peschany, Nikolaevka) to ride a horse or mountain bike or paraglide and taste other “sublime” delights. Perhaps only the Weeping Rock and the adjacent Pozharsky reserve of medicinal herbs, as well as the deltadrome and hippodrome near Kolchugino can be considered advantages of the Outer Ridge.
In general, the best part for tourism are the valleys and massifs between the Inner Ridge of the Foothills and the Main Ridge. In ancient times, due to private raids of steppe nomads, all transport communications between settlements were carried out in this strip, now almost deserted, untouched by asphalt civilization.
The main ridge, or Yayla (in Crimean Tatar - summer pastures) stands as an almost continuous barrier, the height of which right off the coast in the western part (at Cape Aya or at Bear Mountain) is more than 500 meters, and in the central part, already moved away from the coast for several kilometers exceeds a thousand meters. The ridge hides a narrow strip of land from the cold winds near its southern steep cliff - the famous Southern Coast of Crimea (SC). Scattered hills and peaks rise above Yayla, a hilly plateau. Six of them exceed 1500 meters, most of them are located on the Babugan-yayla plateau, including Roman-kosh, the highest point of Crimea - 1545 m, as well as the most spectacular peak, with the richest view - Eklizi-burun (Church Cape) on Chatyr -dage, with an elevation of 1527 m. For all these peaks, the best starting point is Alushta.
There is much more rainfall on the Main Ridge, so the luxurious greenery of the alpine meadows and soft lines of the hills take us to the center of Europe, moreover, a romantic, medieval one. The absence of asphalt and power lines allows filmmakers from many countries to shoot adventure films here.
Several birch groves, preserved from the Ice Age, will remind you of Russia. The most famous of them is located near the weather station on Ai-Petri, it is also the most popular among tourists and the most accessible (by minibus from the Yalta bus station).
At the southern foot of the Main Ridge, the beaches are good not only for their clear water, but also for the opportunity to practice (or admire) rock climbing on vertical or even negative rock walls hundreds of meters high. And the beaches facing the sun are almost everywhere to the south. The sun's rays reflected from the sea are focused by the rocks, which also protect the bays from the wind. You can always find “pans” for tanning during the “February windows” - periods of warming characteristic of Crimea, or extend the velvet season until the end of November.
The game of changing altitude zones also has its charms. After the snowy expanses of Ai-Petri, in just 15 minutes you find yourself in gentle Miskhor. You splash in the outdoor pool with heated sea water, admiring the luxurious flowers and winter butterflies (there are many of these in Crimea!).
Yayla is divided by the Alushta Valley into western and eastern massifs. The western yailas - Baydarskaya, Ai-Petrinskaya, Yalta, Nikitskaya, Gurzufskoe Sedlo and Babugan - are separated from each other by small depressions, and their upper parts have a slight variation in height.
Yayly east of Alushta is separated by vast valleys and has a “two-story” structure. The lower Chatyr-Dag plateau has elevations of about 1000-1100 meters, and the Upper - 1400-1500 m. The Southern (1249 m) and Northern Demerdzhi (1359 m) yailas are adjoined from the north by the Tyrke yaila (1283 m) and the extensive Dolgorukovskaya yaila with elevations about 1000 m. Orta-Syrt with altitudes of about 900 meters adjoins Yayla (the highest point of Kara-tau 1209 m) from the north-west.
From Alushta to Sudak, Yayla is cut through by spacious valleys, not so protected from the winter cold, but with huge pleasant beaches - this is the South-Eastern Coast of Crimea (SEBC). Bizarre rocky capes and small islands in front of them serve as wonderful settings for films about sea adventures, pirates and treasures. By the way, divers regularly lift real treasures from the bottom.
In the Sudak region, the tops of the mountains are already cone-shaped, the plateaus give way to mountain ranges, the most interesting of which is Echki-Dag with wonderful forests, springs, lakes and the bright red slopes of Fox Bay by the sea, as well as the ancient volcanic massif Kara-Dag.
The Yailas mainly consist of limestone and are penetrated by thousands of large karst cavities. These are multi-tiered (up to 6 floors) caves, vertical wells and shafts, frightening gaps with crystal clear lakes, never-melting snowfields and glaciers, wonderful decorations made of crystals and calcite deposits and incredibly majestic arches tens of meters high.

Even in the mountains, the nature of Crimea remains friendly to humans, leaving among its hundreds of dangerous trials, accessible only to desperate and experienced adventurers, a few, as if specially invented, comfortable and pleasant places that even the disabled or elderly can enjoy. And, of course, the Crimean Mountains are especially good for children, with whom they simply play, providing education through adventure. Geology, botany, zoology, geography, history can be learned easily, fascinatingly and clearly, simply at every step.
In Crimea, almost all classic types of mountain tourism are possible all year round, as well as a significant part of extreme entertainment.
At the same time, nature itself provides the opportunity to learn, methodically, psychologically and physiologically effectively distribute loads and skills from simple to complex.

All researchers of Crimea note that the Crimean Mountains form three parallel ridges, directed from northeast to southwest, separated by two longitudinal valleys. All three ridges have the same type of slopes: they are gentle from the north and steep from the south. If we take into account the age of the rocks, then the beginning of the first ridge should be considered Cape Fiolent, since the same rocks that make up the first ridge predominate here. The outer ridge stretches to the city of Old Crimea, the height of the ridge ranges from 149 m to 350 m. The inner ridge begins near Sevastopol () and also ends near the city of Old Crimea, the height is from 490 m to 750 m. The main ridge in the west begins near Balaklava and ends with Mount Agarmysh, near the city of Old Crimea. The top surface of the main ridge is a wavy plateau and is called yayla.

The plate-shaped massifs are stretched in a chain from southwest to northeast of the Main Ridge in the following order: Baydarskaya Yayla, located at an altitude of up to 739 m from sea level; (up to 1320 m), Yalta yayla (up to 1406 m), Nikitskaya yayla (up to 1470 m), Gurzuf yayla (up to 1540 m) and Babugan-yayla (with the highest point of Crimea, Mount Roman-Kosh - 1545 m). All these yaylas are interconnected and form a closed peak of the western chain of the Main Ridge. In contrast, the yaylas located to the east are isolated massifs, separated from each other by deep mountain passes or passes (bogaz). The Kebit Pass separates the Babugan-Yayla massif and Chatyr-Dag located to the east (height - up to 1527 m above sea level). Behind the next Angarsk pass are the massifs of Demerdzhi-yayla (highest point - 1356 m) and Dolgorukovskaya (Subatkan) yayla (up to 1000 m). Even further, also behind the pass, at an altitude of up to 1259 m, the most extensive Karabi-yayla stretches. In the eastern part of the Crimean Mountains, instead of yayls, small ridges and short ridges with individual peaks and peaks, including those of volcanic origin, like the Kara-Dag massif, were formed.

The main ridge is the most ancient part of Crimea, with a total area of ​​1565 km². All yaylas cover an area of ​​34.6 thousand hectares. The southern slopes of the main ridge steeply fall over a long distance towards the Black Sea, creating sheer walls (of limestone and reef origin) up to 500 m high, widely explored by climbers. In the crevices and couloirs of the slopes and edges of most yailas there are many passes, many of which are described and categorized in tourist literature.

The main ridge of the Crimean Mountains is an elevated block, bounded from the north by a number of faults. This structure arose already in the Early Cretaceous after the residual synclinal troughs of the southern part of Crimea closed and a general uplift of the surface occurred. In the geological history of the Crimean Mountains, two stages can be distinguished: Precambrian-Paleozoic and Mesozoic-Cenozoic (Alpine).

During the early stage of geosynclinal development (Late Triassic - end of the Middle Jurassic) in the south of Crimea, the formation of a geosynclinal trough and the accumulation of thick sedimentary and effusive complexes took place with the simultaneous formation of folded structures of various orders. In the Late Jurassic - Early Cretaceous period, separate troughs and uplifts were formed, into which the previously unified geosynclinal trough was divided. By the end of this time, the internal structure of the Crimean megaanticlinorium was formed. At the end of the Early Cretaceous, in the Late Cretaceous and Paleogene, the Crimean megaanticlinorium was formed as a large single uplift, complicated by individual troughs and faults.

The rise of the Crimean Mountains, first in the form of an island, occurred at the end of the Cretaceous and Eocene. In the middle of the Neogene, the leveled surface of Yayla formed. Before the Neogene, the mountains spread 20-30 km south of the modern Black Sea coastline. In the Neogene they acquired the features of a modern asymmetrical structure. During the orogenic (molasse) stage (end of the Paleogene - Neogene), the increased uplift of the megaanticlinorium of the mountainous Crimea continued and, probably, the subsidence of its southern wing began. In the Neogene and Anthropocene, the formation of the modern relief of the mountainous Crimea took place. In the Pliocene, the Inner and Outer foothill ridges received the orographic expression, and at the end of the Neogene - Anthropocene, differentiated neotectonic movements appeared. Erosion activity intensified in the Anthropocene, and the destructive and creative work of the sea contributed to the formation of the coastline. As a result of a complex of these processes, the Crimean Mountains acquired their modern shape.

Unique natural phenomena - the Crimean Mountains. They are one of the hallmarks of the peninsula and a favorite place for tourists. The Crimean mountains are a complex structure of mountain ranges, each element of which is completely unique and has its own historical significance.

Even those who do not show much interest in the mountainous Crimea are probably familiar with such names as Ai-Petri, Demerdzhi or Chatyrdag. Ai-Petri is famous for one of the best cable cars and views of the Black Sea and Yalta from its slopes and top. Demerdzhi is remembered by tourists for its Valley of Ghosts, and Chatyrdag for its amazing miraculous caves. However, in Crimea there are many other interesting mountain peaks that are not bypassed by tourist routes.

Interesting fact:
The mountains of Crimea cannot be called very high; they are lower than the Caucasus, Altai and the Alps. The height of the largest mountain, Roman-Kosh, is only 1545 m.

Origin of the Crimean Mountains

200 million years ago, a huge Tethys ocean existed in this place. The Crimean mountain ranges are mainly of sedimentary origin. But sometimes their formation was accompanied by the rise of hot magma to the surface. One of the most noticeable evidence of volcanic activity is Mount Karadag. Sometimes the magma froze inside the massifs, which is how the famous Mount Ayu-Dag (Bear Mountain) was formed. But most of the Crimean peaks are composed of calcareous rocks, which are easily weathered to form bizarre shapes.

Diversity of the Crimean Mountains

The Crimean mountains consist of three main parts:

• the first (southern, or main) ridge;
• second (middle, or inner) ridge;
• third (outer) ridge.

The first ridge of the Crimean mountains

The southernmost and highest part of the Crimean Mountains, with steep slopes approaching directly to the waters of the Black Sea. Most of the peaks are mountain plateaus covered with flowering alpine meadows, here they are called yayla. The main ridge consists of several massifs: Ai-Petrinskaya yayla, Yalta, Gurzuf and others.

The most interesting natural objects are located here: the Chatyrdag caves, the bizarre outlier figures of Demerdzhi, the one and a half thousand-meter peaks led by Roman-Kosh. On the periphery of the Ai-Petrinskaya Yayla there is a stunning natural monument - the Grand Canyon of Crimea.

The mountains create a unique climate for Yalta, protecting it from harsh northern winds. Pine forests covering the foothills of the mountains have long been a favorite place for walks. And the peaks surrounding the city make it possible to make exciting hikes every day.

Second ridge of the Crimean Mountains

The second, or internal, ridge begins with the Mekenziev Mountains on the outskirts of Sevastopol and stretches to the Old Crimea. The average height of the mountains is 400-500 m, the maximum is 739 m.

The third ridge of the Crimean mountains

These are low foothills, their maximum height is 352 m. The outer ridge is located on the border of the steppe and mountain ranges. It stretches from Cape Fiolent to Simferopol and further to the northeast. The third ridge includes the Sapun Mountain hill in the center of Sevastopol.

This ridge is famous for its many medieval cave cities. The most interesting: Chufut-Kale, Mangup and Tepe-Kermen. The White Rock (Ak-Kaya) in the vicinity of Belogorsk became the filming location for many Soviet films. And thousands of years ago this mountain sheltered primitive people in its caves.