Crimean caves (Crimea, Russia) - detailed description, location, reviews, photos and videos.
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Crimea is so rich the most interesting caves that many consider it to be the birthplace of Russian speleology in its modern form. Peak research works in the Crimean caves fell on the 50s. 20th century, and at this time scientists discovered and studied at least a thousand large Crimean caves and a myriad of small ones. And there is no doubt that many Crimean caves remain hidden from human eyes and unexplored.
It must be said that those Crimean caves that are most accessible for visiting, alas, today are the most littered and spoiled by numerous crowds of tourists. And those that are not easy to reach, on the contrary, can be pristine and beautiful, but there is nothing for a person to do in them without special training and the skills of a speleologist. In any case, do not neglect the services of a guide and do not forget to take warm clothes with you when heading to the caves.
Most of the Crimean caves are located in one of four regions: Chatyr-Dag, Ai-Petri, Dolgorukovsky massif and Karabi-Yaila. The most famous caves picturesque mountain Chatyr-Dag, one of the symbols of Crimea, is Marble, the entrance to which is located at an altitude of 900 m above sea level (according to some estimates, this cave is one of the five most beautiful equipped caves on the planet) and Emine-Bair-Khosar, which is included v common complex Marble and famous for the legend associated with it. On Ai-Petri, the Black Flooded Cave and Ayu-Teshik are famous. Famous caves Dolgorukovsky massif is the Red Cave (Kizil-Koba) and Yeni-Sala. In this massif there are generally leading caves in the sense of underground lakes and siphons. Karabi-Yayla is famous for the Big Buzuluk ice cave.
Mountain caves of Crimea are often hidden inside a lake or river. The largest gallery filled with water is located in the Yeni-Sala-3 cave, its length exceeds 110 m. And the largest of the completely flooded caves is Chernaya, its length is 1300 m. Another option is when the cave is filled not with water, but with snow or ice , and the whole year. There are about forty such caves, and the most famous of them is Bolshoy Buzluk, where the oldest ice deposits can be preserved for half a century, and picturesque ice icicles hang from the vault. Also well known are Vodopoynaya Cave and Three-Eyes on Ai-Petri.
Other caves are not so interesting purely outwardly, but they surprise with the mysteries and legends associated with them. For example, in the Kaplu-Kaya cave, they say, a cradle of pure gold was once buried.
And in the Thousand-Headed Cave, a huge number of human remains period of the Middle Ages.
Emine-Bair-Khosar cave.
Many people in Crimea are only interested in the record-breaking caves. For example, the largest on the entire peninsula is the Red Cave, 16 km long, where you can also see the maximum number of tiers - six floors. It is considered the most studied in the Crimea, because more than one and a half hundred scientific papers have been published about this cave. Or the deepest is the Soldier's Mine, more than half a kilometer deep. The highest in Crimea is the Crack Cave, whose height above sea level is almost 1500 m. The largest rocky hall can be seen in the Marble Cave, its floor area is about five thousand square meters. m. This same cave is also the most visited.
Those who are not looking for easy ways may be interested in the most difficult caves in Crimea - such statistics are also available. The most difficult thing to pass, not surprisingly, is the famous Red, as well as the Soldier. The routes along these caves were assigned category 4B. And the most dangerous cave according to the statistics of accidents is Kaskadnaya on Ai-Petri: over 30 years, five tourists have suffered here, two of whom have died.
V Lately Skelskaya takes the first place among the rest of the Crimean caves.
Many travel agencies specially organize trips here and this is why: the speleo complex in Skelskaya was created relatively recently, and so far it is clean, beautiful and not a lot of people compared to the same, for example, Marble. Skelskaya cave is located near Sevastopol, and it's easy to get here. At the beginning of the 21st century, the cave was equipped for tourist purposes, and in 2011, the latest electrical equipment was installed here, creating the first precedent of its kind in Crimea. With the help of colored lighting, the bizarre calcite outgrowths of Skelskaya look very beautiful, and you can guess different figures in them: there is definitely a knight and a monk, a monkey and a dolphin, a dragon and a phoenix, as well as, what is especially curious, Crimean sights such as the Foros Church ...
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Rest in Crimea will be incomplete without visiting amazing caves... Since the 50s of the XX century, cavers have been exploring Crimean peninsula rich in underground spaces created in earth crust.
On the peninsula, there are many natural karst cavities that have appeared in limestone rocks. Rainwater slowly but surely destroyed rocks, and mines appeared. Nature has been creating the underworld for millions of years.
Today in Crimea there are more than 900 caves, wells and mines. Most of them are sports, not excursion, i.e. only people with special training and special equipment can visit them. But there are also caves equipped for visiting. Cavers have developed safe ones, equipped them with paths, ladders, viewing platforms. All conditions have been created so that tourists can see all the beauty of underground life. Some of the caves are included in the Crimean Guinness Book of Records.
Marble cave
The Chatyr-Dag massif stands out among the Crimean mountains. This is in Turkic, and in Russian - "tent-mountain". The mountain is dotted with karst formations, caves, mines and wells, for which it was nicknamed Swiss cheese. not only the most popular, but also world famous. And relatively young, it was researched and discovered in 1987.
Over the centuries, the water has eroded the marble-like limestone rocks to form a cave. It's always cold here, like in the Snow Kingdom. The temperature, equal to 9 degrees, is constantly kept at the same level. Due to the almost absolute humidity, it is always damp here.
At the entrance, tourists are waited by the "Boss", as cavers politely call a huge stalagmite. Small stalactites grow above it. They increase by several microns per year. Someday they will unite and become a stalagnate, but this will not happen very soon.
The drip formations in the cave are the centuries-old "works" of calcium carbonate, creating bizarre stone sculptures on the walls. The names of the cave halls are self-explanatory. The landslide was so named because the ceilings separating the halls once collapsed. The King and Queen are seated in the Palace Hall, as well as their retinue. The clay hall is notable for the fact that its floor is covered with clay. You can get from Simferopol to the village. Marble towards Alushta. The cost of admission is 450 rubles for an adult ticket and 225 rubles. for children.
Kizil-Koba or Red Cave
Kizil Koba or Red Cave is the largest cave system of the Crimean peninsula. More than 2.5 million years ago, it was formed by the Kizilkobinka River, which passes through the cave and turns into the Su-Uchkhan waterfall. The cave is named Red because the rocks contain iron oxide. That is why reddish tones prevail in the area.
- these are 6 tiers, galleries with a depth of 135 m and a volume of 230 mі. The length of the cave is 26 km, and this is not the limit, because the river tirelessly washes away new ponors, as a result of which galleries, mines, narrow corridors and spacious halls appear. Nine water siphons block the way, and only experienced speleologists can get here.
In 1989, the first excursion was held in the Red Cave, and since then everyone can visit it and overcome the half-kilometer route. Indian, Chinese, Argentinean and Academic halls are striking in their grandeur.
Once in the cave, A.S. Griboyedov, and in honor of this, the main route was named the Griboyedov Gallery. The path is dotted with cascades, lakes and waterfalls, which are formed by an underground river. Stalactites, stalagmites, columns and draperies adorn the underground galleries, creating a unique ambiance. There is a special route for extreme tourists. They are offered to put on their equipment and overcome the distance from 2 to 5 km through the galleries flooded with water. Those who dare to embark on such a journey will find many halls and passages unattainable for ordinary tourists. You can get there by trolleybus from Simferopol to the village of Perevalnoye. The cost of visiting the cave is 300 rubles for an adult ticket and 150 rubles. for children.
Cave "Emine-Bair-Khosar"
On the slope of the Chatyr-Dag mountain there is the most beautiful cave Emine-Bair-Khosar. If you translate the name, you get "a well on the slope of an oak tree."
The cave is more than 10 million years old, but for a long time tourists did not have the opportunity to get there, since the entrance was not equipped. Then only specially trained people could go down the vertical well. In 1994, cavers made a convenient horizontal route in the form of a tunnel, and since then the cave has been opened to the public. The tunnel leads to dozens of galleries and halls. The underworld opens to the eye with luxurious decoration... Incidental columns of amazing shape, beautiful crystals and carolite flowers, niche baths, wells and even a waterfall made of stone.
The Main Hall has a stunning underground lake. The Hall of Idols is "inhabited" fairytale heroes formed by stalagmites. The walls are decorated with drips of different shades. In the "Treasury" hall, you can find "jewels" if you look closely. Hall "Kecskemet" is notable for the fact that it is equipped with an acoustic system, and the music sounds very melodic and mysterious. In the hall of Victor Dublyansky (karst scientist) there is a two-story dehydrated calcite lake. The walls and vault of the Pink Grotto have a pleasant pink color due to the iron salts contained in the water. These and many more halls are available for visiting. The cost of visiting the cave is 450 for an adult ticket and 225 rubles. for children.
Thousand-headed cave (Chatyr-Dag)
Binbash-Koba - Thousand-headed cave, if translated from the Turkic language. Its location is Yayla Nizhniy Chatyr-Dag. The length of the cave is just over a hundred meters. The first people who visited the cave, and this was in the middle of the 19th century, found many human bones and skulls in it. These finds turned into souvenirs that tourists were eagerly snapping up. Where did so many remains in the cave come from?
According to the nomads attacked local residents, and they took refuge from the Vikings in a long-discovered cave. They took food and essentials with them, but there was no water. At night, a girl from the tribe went with jugs to fetch water. Water, splashing, irrigated the path, and soon flowers grew on it. The nomads instantly realized where the fugitives were hiding, and wanted to take them prisoner. But locals did not give up. Then the nomads lit a large fire at the entrance, and the people inside died, because they could not get out.
There is another explanation for the name, and it is easier to believe in it. The horizontal portal-portal of the cave leads to a wide area, then it narrows and turns into a huge hall, where stalactites and stalagmites are abundant. Quiet place for the burial of the dead. It is possible that people from local tribes were buried here earlier. The skulls of mature adults were found in the cave.
Iograf cave (Ai-Petrinskaya yayla)
Crimean mountains stretched for 160 km, occupying the southern and southeastern part of the peninsula. Among them there is the Ai-Petrinskaya yayla, and in its slope there is the Iograf cave. Once it did not exist, but there was a natural mine where groundwater flowed down. The rock, unable to withstand the load, cracked. The water rushed out in a powerful stream and formed a small entrance on the mountain slope. This is how the Iograf cave appeared. It consists of large hall and several winding passages. The cave entrance is camouflaged by limestone cliffs.
In the VIII-IX centuries, Crimean Christians hid in the cave, persecuted by the Turks. Believers built small churches in the mountains. One was at Iograf. Many centuries later, researchers found in the cave fragments of an ancient icon with the Face of Jesus Christ, glass and copper decorations, lamps, and a cross. When the temple lost its use, the altar was dismantled, and the cave was abandoned, but later they remembered about it again. In 1947, the cave was included in the list of Crimean natural monuments. After another 50 years, the temple reopened in the cave. In 2000, the Poklonniy Cross was erected next to the cave.
Three-Eyed Cave (Ai-Petri)
Soars up, and you find yourself at its upper Ai-Petri station. Then 700 meters on foot, and here it is - the cave "". And it immediately becomes clear why it has such a name. The entrance is divided into 3 parts resembling eye sockets. Whichever entrance you enter, you will find yourself in a fairy tale.
Inside - a real ice kingdom. Snow cone in the middle of the cave as a symbol of eternal cold. Tourists are surprised when they see him. Snow does not melt even in summer. Even if the heat is sweltering outside, it does not penetrate here. The contrast between temperatures in the cave and outside is impressive. In a snowy cone-shaped snowdrift, tourists leave coins, this has already become a local tradition. For luck.
In ancient times, Crimean hunters kept their prey in a cave, lowering it down on ropes. Since the cave is constantly cold, the prey did not deteriorate for a long time. Ice was transported to Count Vorontsov in the estate, and he used it to cool wines and food. Ice was delivered to noble people too. was not to match the usual, therefore, was highly valued among wealthy people.
The sad thing is that the miracles performed by nature are mercilessly destroyed by man. The Three-Eyed Cave suffered the same fate. Please, treat nature more carefully!
Topsyus-khosar (bottomless well)
The cave looks like a deep well, which is why its name is “Bottomless Well”. It is also called a mine, which is more like the truth. There is no entrance here for ordinary tourists. But people with special equipment are welcome. And then on condition that if there is an experienced speleologist or a trained athlete nearby. A staircase with a length of 17 meters leads to the mouth of the shaft. It is gradually expanding. You need to go down to the very bottom of the mine. Snow sometimes lies here in winter, and glaciers form in spring. It's cold here even in summer. Snow sometimes does not fall in an even layer, but forms a snow cone up to 10 meters high.
At the bottom of the mine, the journey has just begun. Three tunnels run from here. The southern one is rapidly going up 30 meters. There are several halls in the north aisle, which are separated by arches. The passage in the southwest is an ancient channel where an underground stream once ran. Over time, it dried up, and its place was taken by rubble and clay. The cavers considered this site to be the most convenient for the formation of the passage. From here you can go to the well, as well as to small halls.
Altyn-Teshik (Golden Burrow)
White Rock notable for the fact that on its western slope there is a grotto cave Altyn-Teshik. And if you translate this name, you get "Golden hole". Archaeologists assure that our ancestors have been here. This is indicated by the found skeleton of a Neanderthal woman with a child who lived in the Golden Burrow 150 thousand years ago. Also, the tribes of the Sarmatians lived here, leaving behind tamgas - generic signs. The ancient people took refuge in the cave from the weather, used it as a pen for animals, which was discovered during excavations in the 1960s.
Legend has it that a snake lived in the cave in ancient times. And inside the Golden Burrow there was a long tunnel through which one could get to Feodosia.
Archaeologists have discovered mammoth bones and ancient tools in the cave. That the Golden Hole was inhabited is beyond doubt. The cave is located at a height of over half a meter, and it is not easy to get to it. A narrow crumbling path leads to it, on which it is difficult to maneuver. So the cave in the old days could serve as a protective structure.
Skelskaya cave can be found in the southwestern part of Crimea, namely in Sevastopol, nearby is the village of Rodnikovoye. For a long time, underground waters underwent limestone rocks, and the upper part of the vault, unable to withstand the load, collapsed. A spacious hall was formed, and calcite dripstone formations eventually split it into several rooms.
Skelskaya Cave is divided into several sites. The first of them is “Fireplace Hall”. The influx formed the shape of the fireplace, so there was no need to think about the name for a long time. If you climb the stairs to the second platform, you will see the magnificent Knights' Hall. It is named after a huge 7-meter stalagmite "Knight with a spear". Slugs and influxes form interesting patterns, as if the frost was painting on the windows. Here you can see a waterfall, a dragon's skull with eyes and fangs, a phoenix. Nature works wonders.
Stalactites and stalagmites, joining together, formed columns that adorn the hall. There are also drip curtains and ribs, niche-baths. It takes many centuries to create such beauty. Just think: over a hundred years, only 1 cm of drips is formed! There is even a castle in the cave. Not real, of course, but educated by influxes, but how great they look! In the Dolphin Hall there is a stone silhouette of a dolphin that jumps out of the water.
Only 670 meters of the cave have been explored, it is difficult to penetrate beyond them due to the large amount of water. Cavers believe they will be able to advance further in the future. It is difficult to determine the age of the Skelskaya cave, but we can safely say that it is several million years old.
According to the official version, the Serpent Cave is so called because it has many winding passages that look like snake holes. Legend has it that in ancient times the cave was the abode of a dragon. Local tribes threw down the defeated enemies to eat him. Historians Ancient Greece and it is true that the wild tribes of the Taurus appear, but they made sacrifices as a gift to the goddess Virgo. The cave, 350 meters long, is located in the valley of the Salgir and Alma rivers.
There are no stalactites and stalagmites in the lower floor of the cave, but the walls are covered with numerous disseminations of calcites. From the rays of light, they explode with a riot of colors. As if in a kaleidoscope, only in reality. Indescribable beauty! The interconnecting passages form halls through which you can walk.
Archaeologists, exploring the cave, found in its depths piles of skulls and bones of animals, which the ancient tribes sacrificed to the gods. Fragments of pottery were found, which also indicates the presence of a person. It still remains a mystery whether dragons and snakes lived here or not. Scientists give negative answers, but who knows, who knows ...
Emine-Bair-Koba - the ancient Chatyr-Dag cave
Emine-Bair-Koba cave is located near the famous Crimean village of Mramornoye. Sometimes you can hear the name Three-eye, which arose due to three outputs, 2 of which resemble a nostril in shape, which gave life to another name. The grotto gained wide popularity in 1927, when a scientific article about it appeared in the journal "Crimea".
It is proved that the Emine-Bair-Koba cave was formed thanks to mountain river, which flowed along Chatyr-Dag more than 10 million years ago. Now only cavities are left of it, thoroughly washed out by powerful water flows.
For excursion groups and individual visitors, access is possible only 70 meters deep into the cave. Professionals can go further and see another 140 meters of underground beauty, but special equipment is required. Apart from safety rods, rope handrails and low lighting, there is nothing there.
Usually tourists are shown 2 halls, which are located near the main entrance on 2 levels. Fluid formations are similar to corals. Pebbles can be seen here and there. Cavers are still trying to figure out how she got there.
Below is a catalog where you can choose and book excursions to the caves of Crimea
Red caves - Kizil-Koba
The Kizil-Koba cave offers more than 27 kilometers of beauty. It was formed about 2.5 million years ago. During this time, an ancient man even managed to settle there. Historians have proven that this happened 70 thousand years ago. You can also find the name "Red Caves". It appeared due to the reddish tinge of the deposits and several entrances giving access to each of the 6 levels.
The Kizil-Koba cave is located near the village of Perevalnoye, Simferopol region. Inside you can see the mountain river Kizilkobinka, whose waters serve to fill the Su-Uchkhan waterfall. The miraculous sculptures-stalagmites are impressive: the Master, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Dwarf.
It's never hot in the cave labyrinths: the temperature is +10 degrees, so you need to dress warmly, because the excursion usually lasts an hour. Tourists are guided along a half-kilometer long route. It is also possible to order an extreme tour, which will take about 6 hours. To overcome this path, you will need special suits and equipment.
Skelskaya - four-level cave
At the beginning of the last century, not far from the village of Skela near Sevastopol, a grandiose discovery was made: a local teacher accidentally discovered a huge underground cavity, which later received the name Skelskaya Cave. Access to its bowels was not opened immediately, but only after half a century. During this time, smooth paths, steps and lighting appeared there, which was a prerequisite for receiving tourists.
The length of the passages is almost 700 meters, while total area the cave is 1500 sq. m. The halls and galleries are located on 4 tiers. Their height is so great that it made it possible to make 3 viewing platforms. From there you can admire the general picture, which is made up of dripstone formations and huge stalagmites. Particularly impressive is the "Knight", which is over 7 meters high. Watch an interesting video tour of the attraction:
If you are going to visit the Skelskaya cave in Crimea, you should prepare for the fact that it is very damp and cold inside. The temperature is kept at around 12 degrees all year round. Tours here last about 50 minutes, so you need to take warm clothes with you.
Geophysical - a cave with a fluorescent glow
On the territory of the Yalta mountain-forestry nature reserve on Mount Ai-Petri there is a Geophysical Cave, which was opened to tourists only in 2009. It was here that the luminescence of the formations was first noted: due to the fact that they contain manganese and copper, when light from a flash hits, the growths and nodules begin to glow with shades of green, yellow and blue.
To get to the halls of the cave, you will have to climb a 28-meter spiral staircase, which is located in a vertical shaft 60 m deep. The grotto is 140 meters long. You need to be prepared for the temperature inside to be about 10 degrees.
Downstairs, complex galleries and halls open in front of the tourist. Pearl surprises with numerous pointed formations on the walls and vault, which have a pleasant green color. The geophysical cave in Crimea attracts travelers who want to look at the 6-meter stalactite. That's great rarity. Also in one of the halls there is a fancy drip formation, very similar to a multi-tiered wedding cake.
Many stalactites, united with stalagmites, turned into stalagnates. Due to the peculiarities of the breed, they acquired a yellow-mustard color. There is even a small lake with clear water at the bottom of the cave.
Yalta - a cave with stone jellyfish
The Ai-Petri mountain range contains many cavities, but not every one of them has been fully explored. Most recently, at the end of the 20th century, the Yalta Cave was discovered. And the first tourist came there only in 2007, when conditions were created for receiving visitors. There are 2 halls inside. For ordinary people, there is only access to the main gallery. The second one, which is located on the lower level, requires special training and equipment.
The entrance to the dungeon is very convenient: the steps go very shallow. Usually the excursion lasts 25 minutes: the area of the equipped area is only 180 meters, so this time is enough to take a close look at everything. The vault is decorated with stalactites-pasta of various lengths and thicknesses, and stone jellyfish flaunts on the walls. The special illumination creates a sense of magic.
Three Eyes - Ice Cave
There are many different grottoes and cavities on Mount Ai-Petri. The Trekhglazka Cave is among the most famous and visited. It is named so because of the presence of three cavities that resemble the eye sockets, however, empty. To get inside, you have to overcome long staircase leading to the bottom.
You can also find the name Ice Cave. It was given because of the huge snowdrift that formed in the main hall. Over the years, the snow turned into ice, some of which was taken out for use as a cold accumulator. With its help, food and wine in the cellars of Count Vorontsov was cooled.
The main hall of the Trekhglazka cave occupies 150 sq. m. The walls and vaults are composed of layers of rocks and sand-colored sinter formations. There are also ice stalactites growing at great speed. The grotto is equipped for tourists. There are lighting and comfortable handrails. The only peculiarity is that it is very cold there. Going on an excursion to Ice cave you should take warm clothes with you.
Iograf - cave-temple
The southern side of Mount Ai-Petri is known for the Crimean natural monument located there. The Iograf Cave has long been used for Christian services. In a spacious hall measuring 18x10 meters, a temple was equipped with an altar, icons and icon lamps, where believers gathered.
Nearest locality- Yalta, therefore, tourists heading to the Ai-Petrinsky plateau have the opportunity to visit this attraction. Not far from the entrance stands the Worship Cross. There was a time when the grotto fell into disrepair - an accumulation of garbage appeared there and even livestock was brought in to wait out the midday heat. But in the 90s of the last century, a group of caring people put the cave in order - the rubbish was taken out, icons appeared on the walls.
Iograf Cave in Crimea belongs to karst formations. Initially, water accumulated in the cavity, but then the rock parted. So the entrance appeared, and the liquid left the reservoir. Inside there are recesses where cave pearls were found. The walls are decorated with stalactites, and in one drip formation, the outlines of a human face are clearly visible.
Bottomless well - Tipsuz-Khosar cave
Not far from the village of Mramornoye, which is located between Simferopol and Alushta, there is an amazing underground cavity in the Chatyr-Dag mountain. It attracts those wishing to penetrate into hard-to-reach places and discover something new in Crimea. The Bottomless Well Cave is a real treasure trove with natural pearls and 10-meter high icicles on the walls.
Grotto Tyupsuz-Khosar (this is his middle name) is available only for people with special training and equipment. And even though you can go down the stairs a little there, you won't be able to reach the bottom without protective equipment. The lowest point of the cave is at a depth of 195 meters. There are 3 horizontal tunnels from the main shaft. At the end of the last century, a well with 2 halls was found there.
The Bottomless Well cave is shaped like a jug expanding towards the bottom. Its "walls" are dotted with various cavities-pockets. All year round snow drifts can be seen there. Snow, getting inside, is perfectly preserved. At the lowest point, a 15-meter snowdrift even formed.
The grotto is famous for the abundance of cave pearls. And although visually it looks like a sea one, it is formed with the help of ordinary calcite, which is layered on grains of sand. Its diameter can reach 3 cm. Once speleologists managed to find more than 15 thousand of these pearls.
Serpentine - cave of sacrifices
Not far from Simferopol, near the village of Chistenkoye, there is an unusual karst formation - the Snake Cave. Its name is rather symbolic, because there are no reptiles in these places. And they called it that because of the long, narrow and winding passages, which have some resemblance to snake holes.
This is a three-storey cave, more than 300 meters long. The lower tier is rich in crystalline calcites, which begin to play with different colors in the light of lanterns. Unlike the rest of the caves, you cannot find a single dripstone here - stalactites and other growths cannot form here. Too dry and warm.
During the study of the cave, fragments of dishes and many animal bones were found. Due to this, it was concluded that the Serpent Cave in Crimea was used as a place where sacrificial rites were performed.
It's pretty quiet there now. And if you bring some powerful lanterns with you, you can admire the unusual tunnels and bends. You just need to be prepared for the fact that a tiny bat with a loud name - a big horseshoe bats - may meet on the way. Fortunately, it does not pose a threat.
Big Buzluk - Ice well
The east of Crimea is famous for its most interesting and huge area mountain range Karabi-Yayla. It arouses interest due to the huge number of different karst formations... One of them is the Big Buzluk cave. The nearest settlement is the Generalskoe settlement, from where excursions usually start.
The grotto is a vertical 20-meter funnel that descends 81 meters. You can't get there without equipment. Its length is no more than 160 meters. The second name of the cave is the Ice Well. Inside you can see ice build-ups, stalactites and columns. The temperature is kept around 0 degrees.
A couple of centuries ago, the Big Buzluk cave in Crimea was used as a refrigerating chamber. Livestock breeders stored sheep carcasses there for sale to Europe. Researchers have shown that ice in certain places is more than 50 years old. For Crimea, this is a rarity.
Despite the abundance of ice and snow, at the bottom of the cave, in a kind of well, you can see a small underground river... Thanks to the constant movement, the water in it never freezes.
Binbash-Koba - Thousand-headed cave
The Binbash-Koba cave is one of the not most visited places in Crimea - many human bones and skulls were discovered there 2 centuries ago. This fact contributed to the emergence of another name - Thousand-Headed. Now there is no trace of the remains. They were barbarously taken away. People did not hesitate to take with them cave stalactites, which were cut down with a special hatchet. And for the legacy they left "memorable" graffiti on the walls.
The Binbash-Koba cave is located in the lower part of the Chatyrdag plateau, not far from the village of Mramornoye. The entrance to this grotto is rather inconspicuous and resembles an ordinary crevice. But, having passed a little inside, you can get into a huge hall 7 meters high. The total length of the passages is just over 100 meters. Anyone can go there - admission is free.
The peculiarity of this grotto is in a special shade of drip formations. In appearance, it resembles carbon deposits that are obtained after a fire. It is still not known whether the cave was actually set on fire, according to legend, or if it was a special reaction of the rock to oxygen. Black stalactites and influxes look gloomy, but you should not be afraid - this is just a special, unlike other karst cavity.
Shaitan-Koba grotto - the dwelling of an ancient man
Not far from the village of Skalistoye, Bakhchisarai region, the Bodrak river flows, on the right bank of which there is the mysterious Shaitan-Koba cave. In Crimea, it is of particular value: in the 30s of the last century, a parking lot was discovered there. ancient man... Upon detailed study, it became clear that people lived there in the Paleolithic era.
The dimensions of the cave are small. It goes into the rock by 4 meters, gradually narrowing. The height is only 2 meters, and the total area does not exceed 28 sq. m. Archaeological excavations have yielded colossal results: the cultural layer 30 cm deep contained tens of thousands of things valuable for science, which were used by primitive people in their time. These were flint tools (about 25 thousand) and the bones of birds and animals, which were hunted in those days - magpies, donkeys, mammoths, bison, polar foxes and others.
The Shaitan-Koba cave is translated from the Crimean Tatar as "devilish", but there is nothing frightening or mystical in it. The picturesque surroundings attract no less than the ancient grotto, so tourist groups accompanied by guides often come here.
What impressions will the excursions to the caves give?
After getting to know wonderful world, which are carefully preserved in the caves of the Crimea, unforgettable pictures created by the forces of nature will remain in your memory. Stone flowers, jellyfish, stalagmites impress with different shapes and sizes, unusual colors and age. In some of the caves, tourists return more than once to more carefully examine every corner.
Many Crimean caves can be accessed throughout the year. According to statistics, in the off-season there is a slight decline in tourist activity and you can walk through the underground labyrinths as part of a small excursion group. But there are also grottoes that are closed for the winter. Therefore, before visiting, it is advisable to clarify the opening hours of the ticket office and tour guides.
Fortunately, for the opportunity to watch many Crimean caves no need to pay. The main thing is to try to keep natural resources and leave no traces of being in them, so as not to disrupt the natural course of events.
Crimea is famous for its many interesting places... Among them, caves deserve special attention. In this territory, their a large number of, each of them is unique and has its own characteristics. Since ancient times, people have settled in them and used them for their needs. In this article we will tell you about the Crimean caves, open to the public.
Caves and cave monasteries of Crimea on the map:
Three-eyed or Vorontsovskaya cave
The mountainous Crimea hides a large number of caves. But not everything can be visited by non-specialists. The most accessible is Three-Eyed.
Three-eye cave inside
It has existed for more than 3 million years, the depth is -30 meters. Occupies over 600 sq. meters. You can get inside it through 3 mines - dips, reminiscent of three eyes on a ladder. Through one of them, located almost vertically, sunlight penetrates into the cave; in the cold period - snow flies. It's always cold inside. The snow does not melt completely, even in summer there is ice on the floor. Ancient hunters kept the meat of killed animals here. When filming the film "Prisoner of the Castle of If", they drew eyes.
Important! Before you go on an excursion, you need to take warm clothes with you, inside the air temperature does not rise to 10 degrees. Three-eyed is closed in winter.
Yalta cave on the Ai-Petri plateau
The smallest but incredibly beautiful cave. Here are found traces of the life of people of the Neolithic era.
During the warm season, tourists can contemplate the numerous long stalactites that hang from the vaults, like pasta. On the floor of the large hall, there are many stalagmites of incredibly insane shapes. The walls are inundated. The light from small electric bulbs creates an unimaginable play of light and shadow.
It is famous for its vertical well, 40 meters long, through which you can go down to the lower hall. Not every tourist is capable of doing this: only daredevils, in the company of a climbing guide, donning special equipment, will go down.
Marble cave
The most visited cave in Crimea is located on the Ceadir-dag plateau, not far from the village of the same name. It was formed in marble-like limestones, therefore it got its name. It is located at a depth of 60 meters, its length is just over 2 km.
Red cave Kizil-Koba
The largest is 20 km long. Red, because iron impurities predominate in the rock. Ordinary tourists have access to only half a kilometer. It will be convenient to get there by a fabulous train, especially in the rain.
There is the possibility of an extreme excursion: put on scuba gear and see with your own eyes the flooded passages and halls. Underground passages located in six levels, with a drop of more than 250 meters.
Inside the cave there are numerous lakes, wells, waterfalls, huge halls, as well as the largest stalactite in Europe, 8 thousand years old. Full information about the Red Cave (Kizil Koba) in Crimea can be found.
Cave monastery near Sudak
The ruins of a monastery lie near Mount Sokol. At the beginning of our millennium, Byzantine monks lived here - icon-worshipers. Subsequently, the Turks ruined it. But people have not forgotten about him.
In one of three caves there is a carved cross on the wall, and next to it is a bench. In the other, only the front wall and several cells have been preserved. You can get there by following a path along a steep mountainside. From above you can see the sea. The place is also notable for the fact that it was discovered nearby healing source.
Holy Assumption Cave Monastery in Bakhchisarai
This monastery was also founded by Byzantine monks. It is carved into a sheer cliff. At this holy monastery interesting story.
When the Crimean Khanate gained independence and Russia received Crimean fortresses, local Christians, due to oppression from the Muslim population, left these places. Russian commander Alexander Suvorov took an active part in the event. But three years later, the monastery began to hold services again.
During the revolution, the monastery was plundered, and the servants were shot. During the Great Patriotic War, a hospital was located within these walls. The monastery was revived again after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The parishioners restored the Holy Place with joint efforts. They carried out a titanic work: they restored the stone staircase, the Assumption Church, restored rock paintings, erected a bell tower and much more.
Tepe Kermen - a cave city in Bakhchisarai
A purely strategic building, arose on a cone-shaped mountain, at an altitude of more than 500 meters. In the rock were built casemates, quarters for guards, cisterns for collecting rainwater. The city has more than 200 rooms of various shapes and sizes, located on six levels.
At the top were living quarters and water tanks, at the bottom - outbuildings. The northeastern slope of the cliff is decorated with a rock church. A stone staircase leads from it to the very bottom of the cliff. At the sixth level is the tomb, covered by stone slab, on the fifth - the sacristy and the refectory, on the fourth there is a crypt with a niche for the icon. There is also a chapel.
The second name - Emine Bair Khosar - translates as a well on a mountain slope. At the bottom of the sinkhole, a large karst cavity was discovered - now it is the main hall.
Location - Ceadir dag, lower plateau. The length is 1.5 kilometers, the depth is about 100. The halls and passages are illuminated, equipped with staircases with handrails.
The bones of extinct animals were found here, even a mammoth, after which the cave is named.
Stalactites form outlandish figures: Monomakh's hat, Stone flower, fairy gods. The two-level lake is of particular interest. The cave is deservedly considered one of the most unusual in Europe.
Shuldan cave monastery
Located near the village of Ternovka, it includes two temples and twenty rooms in two tiers. The main temple is made in the form of an elongated rectangular room. The altar is in the shape of a horseshoe.
Shuldan cave monastery inside
In ancient times, the walls of the temples were decorated with frescoes, but they have not survived to our times. Recently, a chapel tower was erected, the dome of which is clearly visible from afar.
The observation deck of the tower offers a wonderful view of the valley. The attraction is announced not only by tourists, but also by pilgrims. They are provided with cells for guests, where it is possible to spend the night.
Backla cave city
The northern city of Crimea is a once open medieval settlement. To date, it has hardly survived.
In the sixth century, a castle was built here from large pieces of limestone, which was destroyed by the Tatar-Mongols. On the shore there are graves carved in stone, grape presses, depressions for waste, artificial caves.
Inkerman cave city
Ancient fortress Kalamita, consisting of more than three hundred fortifications - business card cities.
Fortress Kalamita cave city Inkerman
The fortress itself did not last long, but the caves under it have survived. Today the largest wine-making enterprise of Crimea is located here. Its underground cellars occupy 55 thousand square meters. Along with a local history excursion, tourists are offered to visit wine tasting rooms. Also in the city there is an operating male monastery... We tell more about the cave city of Inkerman in.
Kalamita fortress of the cave city of Inkerman in Crimea, a male monastery at the foot of the Kalamita fortress
We also offer you to watch a video about the most popular and beautiful Crimean Marble cave:
Crimea is often called an open-air museum, but the Crimean caves are of great interest and admiration for tourists.
You should definitely visit the labyrinths of the Red Cave, which is the largest cave in Crimea. This cave is made up of a complex system of labyrinths spread over six floors. Here you can see beautiful halls, underground lakes, rivers, interesting corridors and galleries, waterfalls and magnificent wells. For tourists, 500 meters of this cave are available, in the rest of the halls archaeological excavations... The cave is open every day from 9:00 to 19:00, the excursion lasts an hour and a half, the ticket costs 250 rubles. You can get to the cave by trolleybuses 1 and 52, or by minibus you need to go to the bus stop in the village of Perevalnoye.
The Marble Cave is often called the Ice Tale of the Crimea. In this cave, it seems that everything here was created The Snow Queen... This cave is one of the most beautiful beautiful caves the world. Here you will see a deep underground lake, a kingdom of galleries and various halls. In the Pink Grotto hall, everything is colored with flowers created by a high iron content, in the Hall of Idols you will see frozen stone figures, and the vaults of the Treasury hall are strewn with jewels made of helictites made of water and salt. The whole tourist route equipped with spectacular lighting and everything around looks like a fairy tale. The cave is open every day and can only be visited with a guide. The cost of the visit will depend on the route you have chosen, and there are only 5 of them. Duration of the excursion is 3 hours. You can get from Yalta by minibus to get off in the village of Zarechnoye.
The Skelskaya Cave is also of interest for tourists. It is located in the Baydarskaya Valley near Sevastopol between the villages of Rodnikovoye and Kolkhoznoye. In this cave, with good lighting, you will see numerous calcite formations. There are figurines of stone animals, people, monks, knights, fairy-tale characters and some sights. There are also younger formations in the cave, which arise from the thorns and icicles of stalagmites. The cave works every day, the duration of the tour is about an hour, the ticket price is 300 rubles. You can get here from Yalta by buses No. 37, 37-a, 41-a, 182, you need to get off at the bus stop, the village of Rodnikovoye, and walk a little less than 1 km.
There are other caves in Crimea, but these are the most interesting and accessible for a wide range of tourists. When planning to visit the amazing Crimean caves, wear comfortable shoes and take warm clothes with you (it is cold in the caves). You can visit the caves on your own or with organized excursions, which in Yalta you will be offered a lot. With children, you can also visit these caves, and for them the cost of visiting will be half the price.
