Baidarskaya valley. The largest reserve in Crimea

What to do when you come to Baidarskiy zakaznik? It is almost impossible to unequivocally answer this question. Although one can say with certainty: here for each there is an occupation to your liking. Some climbed up in the Crimean mountains in this place like to just relax from the city bustle, lying in the tall grass and watching birds scurrying back and forth. There are also those who climb mountains for fascinating panoramic shots. But especially practical and conscious people are starting to search for medicinal plants, preparing for tea, for example, thyme, chicory, yarrow or melissus.

Baidarskaya valley. general information

As already mentioned above, this area is very famous for its medicinal herbs. Even in antiquity, it received special glory thanks to the rich forests and miraculous springs.

Many people mistakenly believe that the Baidarskaya Valley,the rest on which is magnificent at any time of year, has received such name thanks to kayak boats. Nothing like this! Historians say that once there was an ancient Tatar settlement of Baidary on the site of the nearby village of Orlinoy, named after one of the local leaders. And more recently at a valley there was one more name - the Crimean Switzerland. And this is not surprising, because it is surrounded by mountains, has a soft comfortable climate and a wonderful, we can say, a unique nature.

There is a lot in the valleysights: historical monuments, ancient buildings and religious buildings. Gulf meadows, waterfalls, rocky mountains, canyons, lakes, mountain rivers and juniper groves, forests of yew and beech, thickets of hazelnuts and cornel are a truly magnificent sight.

Flora and fauna of the Baydar valley are represented bymore than 50 species of plants and 40 species of animals listed in the Red Book. Wild boars, hares, roe deer and foxes are widely inhabited, eagles and falcons are hovering over the sky, fish are swimming in water, ducks are swimming, and house horses, cows, goats and sheep are quietly walking around in the meadows.

What are the Baidar Gate of the Crimea?

Strictly speaking, nothing special. Many will say that the Baydar Gate is another comfortable mountain pass, the Crimean mountains have many identical ones.

However, not everything is so simple in the historical plan. Here, for example, a stone portico once served as an important stronghold. And they built it in the middle of the 19th century.

Now this is only one of the attractionsCrimea, but during the war, in 1941, in this place a detachment of frontier guards held the fascist army for over 24 hours, preventing her from getting to Sevastopol.

Now from this place you can see the picturesquepanorama. The thick forest, the blue sea, the church on the rock, the wonderful Baidar valley, Sevastopol, seen below, and the boundless sky delight the eye of any, even the most experienced traveler.

Foros Church

The villages of the Baydar Valley look great onbackground of a unique, high built in the mountains of the temple. And from any corner of the view is magnificent, and if you want to take a picture for memory without going high, you do not have to search for the right angle for a long time. Exquisite Church of the Resurrection of Christ over Foros, as if specially posing on the Red Rock at a distance of almost half a kilometer above sea level.

It was built in 1892. tea tycoon Kuznetsov as a buyer, because the cultivation and sale of tea at that time engaged only in the royal family. The temple was erected in memory of the accident of 1888, when the tragic wreck of the train of the royal family occurred.

Originally a magnificent two-tiered church withnine domes, a patterned porch with an upwardly directed bell tower, gilded crosses, columns with carved capitals, marble window-sills and panels represented all the beauty of the Russian style. Inside the church there was a carved oak iconostasis and painted Byzantine ornamentation walls.

Unfortunately, in 1924 the church was closed, and allher property is taken away. Once again the church blessing was shed only after the restoration in 1990. The churches put new copper domes, gilded crosses, painted the altar and domes of the temple, and the windows now have colored stained-glass windows. Especially beautiful it began to look like it was at night, illuminated by searchlights, against the background of the starry sky.

Bold? Prove it! Famous Devil's Ladder of Baidar Gate

The Devil's Staircase, or Shaitan-Merdveden, isa former reliable and convenient mountain pass in the Crimean mountains. It connects the foothills and the Southern shore with each other. The stairs were used up to the last century, and up to now, on the flat bends of limestone, pairs of tracks, carved out by carriages, have been preserved. Indeed, the Baydarskaya Valley is fraught with a lot of surprises.

How did this steep mountain descent originatedis that an unusual name? Experts argue that the devil's staircase got its name because of the limestone outcrops in the form of huge slabs, still reminiscent of the steps. This name was received not only by the stone staircase itself, but also by the entire 1.5 meter wide pass, which is at a level of more than 500 m. Cliffs and limestone blocks, steep valleys, roadside fastenings, remains of side walls and stone marches are scattered all over the pass.

The path along the Devil's Stairs is very tortuous andsteep. The length of all the marches is about 250 meters, and the slope in some places is 30 degrees. The stairs of the stairs are covered with a stone slab on the bottom of the gorge, shelves and cornices of the mountains.

Up to now, only three turns have survivedways. In vain, many consider flat and safe such a corner of the peninsula as Baidarskaya valley. The Crimea, or rather, its southernmost part, often becomes a place for holding rallies of climbers and climbers. Here, in fact, it can be dangerous.

Unique natural monument - Uzunji Canyon

The most beautiful place of the western Crimea, the canyonUzundzhi, is a deep meandering gorge with the same creek at the bottom. Over the canyon hangs almost kilometer tops. The river takes its source on Mount Ai-Petri at an altitude of more than 750 m. It flows along the Usudzhinsk depression, then abruptly changes the direction of the current, runs along the Skelsk depression and flows into the Chernorechensky reservoir. The length of the river is only 11 km.

If you are lucky to find yourself in such an amazinga place like Baidar valley, Crimea will not cease to amaze you for a minute. Take the opportunity and take a walk along the canyon. The journey will take place along a picturesque narrow mountain road, starting from the Skelskaya cave. Then the way will pass along the dirt path in the forest, and finally it will come out to the walls of the old dilapidated fortress.

By the way, it should be noted that Uzundzhi is the largest freshwater source of the Crimea.

What you did not know about exactly

Many, even very experienced travelersare surprised when they learn that the Baydarskaya valley, or rather, its gates, is also a real gateway to southern Crimea. Going here on a tour, you should be prepared for the fact that the panorama opening through the arch of the gate, in fact, will make a stunning impression on you.

Skelskaya cave in 1904 was opened by the teacher F. Kirillov. For today it is established that it consists of several halls, the length of the largest one is 80 m, the height is 25 m, and the width in some places reaches 18 m.

In 2003, at the Laspin Pass in honor of the onset of the second millennium from the Nativity of Christ, a chapel was built, to visit which stands without fail.

Miracles of Skelskaya Cave

Skelskaya cave, consisting mainly ofstalactites, is located in the south-west of the Crimea. Its age is several million years. First of all, it is distinguished by its impressive size and the preservation of calcite formations. Note that the cave is divided into halls, each of the rooms has its own characteristics. For example, the Fireplace room actually resembles the design of the same name, the most beautiful and large considered Knight's Hall. Be sure to also visit the Hall of Ghosts and the Dolphin Hall.

The highlight of the cave is a seven-meter stalagmite called "Knight with a spear", fabulous waterfalls in the shape of a waterfall, a dragon's skull with eyes and fangs, a figure of a phoenix bird and others.

The walls of the cave are decorated with niches,sash curtains and ribs. This stone miracle has not yet been fully investigated, but the length of the known part is about 670 meters. It is impossible not to mention that since 1964 this place is a monument of nature.

Skelsky menhirs

If you are going to explore such a terrifica corner of the Crimea, like Baidarskaya valley, the map will definitely come in handy. Why? The thing is, excursions are not organized in all places, and there really is something to see here. Here, for example, why not go to Skelsky menhirs?

Note that in general under menhirs it follows thatto understand the once created obelisks and steles. Skel menhirs are the first known example of architecture. There are two monolithic blocks in the form of obelisks, put upright. They are at the entrance to the village of Rodnikovskoe. The first menhir has a height of about three meters and weighs about six tons, and the second - only one and a half meters in height. He is more squat and massive.

Historians note the religious affiliation of these monuments and argue that their age is 4-5 thousand years.

Kozyrek Waterfall

Near the tourist parking "Mulovskoye"lake "is located Kozyrek waterfall. Unfortunately, its historical name has not survived to the present day. Although there are legends and the girl who died here and the mighty wolf who saved the village from the enemies.

And with the visor he is compared because of the overhanging rocky ledge above the grotto, from which the fast and cool water runs downwards even in the summer months.