Geography of Crimea

It would be a mountainous task to describe all of the ins and outs of the geography of Crimea. The region is small, but extremely diverse.

Crimea is located just south of the mainland of Ukraine, and juts out deep into the Black Sea. Its Southern tip is only 250 kilometres from the coastline of Northern Turkey. Crimea is about the size of Wales, and has a population of 2 million. The capital is called Simferopol, with a population of about 400,000.

Crimea is almost an island; only a few thin strands of land connect it to the mainland of Ukraine. Accordingly, it is surrounded on all sides by the sea; on the south, west and east by the infamous Black Sea, and on the northeast by the much smaller Azov Sea.

Northern Crimea consists of flat steppe land, but Southern Crimea is mountainous; the main range shooting up with extraordinary abruptness from the Black sea to an altitude of 1500 meters. This range is called the Yalta mountains, but is also know as the Crimea range.

In the far south-west of Crimea, giant towering cliffs over 500 meters high rise up from the sea around Balaklava. This is one of the most picturesque parts of the peninsula, and it contains many coves and beaches accessible only by boat. From Foros a little further east, to Alushta, the cliffs and mountains are located a few kilometres back from the shoreline. It is here that the mountains reach a height of 1500 meters, with the highest peak in Crimea being Roman-Kosh at 1,545 meters. The narrow strip of land between them and the sea is classified as sub-tropical; as these mountains act as an effective barrier from the harsh Northern winds.

Yalta is located in this sub-tropical zone, and is the main tourist resort of Ukraine. As can be seen in the centre of Yalta, in this region palm trees grow in the open air, and the flora is very lush. This region is also blessed with an abundance of vineyards and orchards.

From Alushta, which is located in the middle of the Southern coast of Crimea, going eastwards along the coast, the mountains are a little lower. The flora here is considerably different too, not just because it's colder here (as the smaller mountains provide less protection from the Northern winds), but because the climate is drier than the Western half of Crimea.

Some of the most interesting geography - that is scenery - in Crimea, is to be found between Sudak and Feodosia. The Kara-Dag nature reserve is located here - a moon scape like national park which contains incredible rock formations. It should be noted that one of the main features of the geography of Crimea is its multitude of fantastic rock formations. They are fantastic to look at, and provide wonderful recreational opportunities. Crimea is as yet an undiscovered paradise for rock climbers.

Further east from Feodosia, plains take the place of mountains. From the far Eastern tip of Crimea at Kerch the Russian mainland is visible, and is only a short boat ride away.

Happily, at various point around the Southern coast of Crimea, the geography is such that the coastline cannot be developed. Some of these places have beaches that cannot be reached by car or even by foot, but which you can get to by hiring a boatman for a small fee. More accessible beaches are a plenty too. They tend to be pebbly on the Southern coast, and are often serviced by seasonal bars and shops. In the resorts of Alushta and Yalta the beaches are somewhat over-developed. There are many pleasant sandy beaches in Crimea too, but to find these you have to go to the West coast or to the Azov sea.

Behind the high coastal chain of mountains the geography of Crimea changes again. These mountains are backed by secondary, smaller parallel ranges. Here you can find expansive forests, undulating hills, tall cliff faces, deep canyons, and crisp, clear waterfalls. This part of Crimea is pretty much untouched and pristine, and you can find yourself alone in dramatically beautiful and peaceful locations. This is where the famous 'Big Canyon' is located; an impressive work of nature reaching 320 meters in depth. If hiking and camping is your thing...there's something for you in Crimea.

Whether you are in Crimea to explore the coastline, visit the mountains, or whatever else; you will find that Crimea is geographically bountiful, and offers a great diversity of scenery and terrain. Crimea's number one tourist agency AccessCrimea, invites you to take a trip with us to see with your own eyes this dazzling, and as yet undiscovered part of the world. To find out more about our services, please go to http://www.accesscrimea.com