Natural resources of Crimea. Characteristics of natural resources of Crimea

We decided to take you off the beaten path and put together a collection of little-known, miraculous ones. Take note!

Elegant palaces, luxurious castles and majestic cathedrals will always delight the inquisitive traveler. But in every corner of the world there are sights no less valuable and beautiful, created by nature itself to delight our eyes. It is in such places that our best photographs are taken, declarations of love are made, and our hearts skip a beat with delight or pride. It is a great happiness that we can see many unique natural wonders and the most beautiful places on Earth with our own eyes. To do this, just go to.

Koyashskoye Lake

Koyash lake in Crimea

A unique salt lake with water of a striking shade of pink is located on the Kerch Peninsula in the Opuksky Nature Reserve. The width of the lake ranges from a kilometer to three, and the length reaches four. Formed naturally due to the lack of flow into the Black Sea, this estuary has become home to endemic microorganisms and algae, on which the amazing color of the lake’s water depends. The salt water itself and the mud of Lake Koyash have healing properties.

Many travelers indulge in the pleasure of taking mud and air baths while relaxing in this corner of Crimea.

Wild tulips of Crimea

Very close to Kerch you can see another Crimean miracle - blooming fields of wild tulips. The large number of bright flowers would not be surprising if it were not for their location: Schrenck's tulips, listed as protected plants, grow at the very edge of the seashore. The peak of their colorful flowering is April and May; it is during this time that you should plan your next trip to Crimea.

Lavender fields

Between Sevastopol and the Crimean capital there is a small settlement of Turgenevka. It is its surroundings that have already been nicknamed Crimean. All this is thanks to the romantic and delicate purple and lilac shades of blooming lavender. June and July are the best time for photo sessions, admiring this spectacular spectacle and enjoying the delicate aroma of lavender.

Marble Cave

Another miracle of the nature of Crimea - Marble Cave

According to all leading speleologists, Marble Cave is one of the five most impressive and beautiful caves in the world. It is located in the lower part of the famous Chatyr-Dag mountain range. An important feature of this place is the rather narrow entrance. You can only go down to the cave using a special staircase. The depth of the hall reaches 60 meters, and the length of the routes equipped for underground excursions is almost one and a half kilometers.

Don't forget to take a warm jacket with you - even at the peak of the heat, the temperature in the cave will hardly exceed 8 degrees Celsius.

Wild beaches of Crimea with azure water

For many of us, holidays in Crimea are primarily associated with dozing on a sun lounger on the crowded beach of Alushta, or a promenade along the noisy embankment of Yalta. The more striking is the effect produced on travelers by the beauty of the deserted Crimean coves with wild beaches. Even at the height of the summer season, sometimes you cannot see people here. The water and beaches here are disproportionately cleaner than in popular resort towns, and a relaxing holiday brings indescribable pleasure to those travelers who are tired of city noise and long for true unity with the nature of Crimea.

You can find such untouched corners on the road to Cape Tarkhankut, not far from Feodosia, Kerch and the Kazantip Nature Reserve.

Balaclava

Balaklava Bay is one of the wonders of Crimea!

Of course, the unique city itself (more precisely, the Sevastopol region) and its history, including during the Soviet period and later, are also interesting. But I would like to say, first of all, about the impression that the picturesque Balaklava Bay, so similar in outline to one of the Scandinavian fjords, sheltering the city from the sea from prying eyes, makes on travelers. Gradually revealing to the amazed gaze of travelers its snow-white buildings, scattered along the shores of a cozy bay, which is hidden between rocky cliffs strewn with Crimean pines,

The balaclava often becomes one of the most memorable experiences.

Red Cave

Kizil-Koba, as the Crimean Tatars call the famous cave, is the largest of all Crimean underground grottoes of natural origin. Today, speleologists have explored only part of its area, although this part is more than 60 thousand square meters. The length of the known underground routes here is 25 kilometers. Only 500 meters of them are available for tourists to explore, which does not detract from the interest in this popular cave tour. Six floors of intricacies of passages and labyrinths, underground waterfalls that discharge water into the underground river Kizilkobinka (which can be seen and heard on excursions) make an indelible impression.

It is in the Red Cave that one of the oldest and largest European stalactites is located - over 8 thousand years its length has reached as much as 8 meters.

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Crimea is a unique place, richly endowed with everything. It combines amazing historical and cultural monuments, and the presence of minerals is no less impressive.

There are almost all minerals in Crimea, but in tiny quantities, says Anatoly Pasynkov, Candidate of Geological Sciences. “There are many deposits in Crimea, but most of them do not have industrial significance, the reserves are too small,” Lyudmila Kirichenko, candidate of geological and mineralogical sciences, agrees with her colleague. Although hundreds of years ago the main wealth of Crimea was considered not the climate, landscapes or fruits, but minerals.

Clay.
During the time of the Crimean Khanate, one of the main export items (along with slaves and fruits) was fatty and soapy bentonite clay; all wealthy people of the huge 30 million Ottoman Empire used it instead of soap and shampoo. One of the places where this clay is mined is Sapun Mountain, which means “Soap Mountain”.

Clay was mined by open-pit mining in keel pits. One of the mining sites was Sapun Mountain (translated as “Soap Mountain”) on the territory of present-day Sevastopol.
In Crimea, keel was used not only for washing, but also for degreasing sheep wool and washing clothes. Clay was used to clarify wine and fruit juices and purify water.

By the end of the 19th century, the demand for keel decreased, and at the beginning of the 20th century, production increased again during the years of devastation, keel replaced expensive and scarce soap and tooth powder. Industrial development of unique raw materials began in 1931 at two deposits: Kurtsovskoye in the Simferopol region and Kudrinskoye in the Bakhchisarai region. Later, the properties of Crimean clay were studied by geologist and science fiction writer Vladimir Obruchev. On an industrial scale, this unique raw material began to be mined in 1931 in the Simferopol and Bakhchisarai regions. The extracted clay was mixed with soda and made into washing powder.

Crimean clay was considered the best in the entire USSR. At the end of the USSR, clay mining was considered unprofitable and all its development was stopped. It was even used for medicinal purposes, for varicose veins, arthritis and radiculitis.

Healing mud.

A unique recreational resource of Crimea is therapeutic mud. Currently, two deposits of silt mud are being exploited: Chokrakskoye (Kerch Peninsula) and Sakiskoye.

Crimea has been known as a healing place since antiquity thanks to its healing mud. It has been established that in ancient times there were hospitals on the Kerch Peninsula located on the coast of lakes Chokrak, Tobechik, and Churbash. Archaeologists here have discovered traces of ancient social and religious buildings and fragments of inscriptions indicating the use of these reservoirs for treatment. The healing power of Crimean mud became widely known in the last century. There is information that Chokrak mud was exported to Italy and France.

The healing properties of brine and mud from the Crimean estuaries have no analogues in the world. In Crimea, 26 deposits of medicinal mud and highly mineralized brine (brine) from salt lakes of marine and continental origin have been explored and exploited. By location they are divided into five groups: Evpatoria (the largest is Lake Sasyk-Sivash with an area of ​​7,500 hectares), Tarkhankut (the largest is Lake Kyrkskoye, 3,700 hectares), Chongaro-Arabat (the largest is Lake Genicheskoe, 980 hectares) and Kerch ( the largest is Lake Aktashskoe, 2500 hectares).

Bryozoan limestone.

The oldest natural fossil in Crimea was probably Bryozoan limestone. .Inkerman stone is bryozoan limestone from the vicinity of Inkerman, easy to process.

Inkerman stone has been widely used in construction since ancient times and was exported to ancient Rome. In terms of its construction and architectural properties, Inkerman stone is durable, soft, homogeneous, monolithic, and has thermal insulation properties.

It is durable and retains the edge well in hewn products. Thanks to the properties of Inkerman stone, it became possible to build cave cities and monasteries in Crimea in the strip from Sevastopol to the interfluve of the Alma and Bodrak rivers.

Many buildings in Sevastopol were made from Inkerman stone; it was also used in Alexandria and Marseille.

Salt is “white gold”.

A separate historical milestone in the history of the peninsula is occupied by “white gold” - salt. There are many places to mine this mineral. It was here that the largest saltworks in the entire Black Sea region were located

Crimea also provided salt to Kievan Rus. To obtain salt, the waters of salt lakes in the east of the peninsula were diverted into shallow pools, where the water evaporated, leaving a crust of salt. The largest salt mines are located on Lake Sivash.

Pink salt.

Over the past 20 years, no funds have been allocated for the development of the salt industry, so the extraction of pink salt has sharply decreased, and it was used only for technical purposes.
The lakes of Crimea (between Evpatoria and Saki) are one of four places on the planet where this unique mineral is mined, which contains a huge amount of useful trace elements. The method of growing salt was invented 10 centuries ago. In spring, the pools are filled with sea water, the sun evaporates the moisture, and the crystals settle to the bottom. The unusual pink color of salt is given by the algae Dunaliella salina. She lives in salt pools and infuses the salt with beta-carotene.
Production Director Valery Starodubtsev spoke about how production almost died during the “Crimean Spring”. The former owner, originally from Western Ukraine, ordered the water to be drained and the salt pools to be broken up. However, the fishery was saved by workers. At the moment, the extraction of pink salt is being restored, and production will soon begin to operate at full capacity.

10 interesting facts about salt
1. Salt can be red, brown, pink and even black.
2. White salt is the most harmful.
3. The most expensive salt in the world is lilac in color, it costs 40 euros per kilogram.
4. There is no salt in plants.
5. Nutritionists advise salting food only after cooking.
6. Since ancient times, oaths of allegiance have been made on salt, because salt is immutable, it can be dissolved in water indefinitely, and when the water evaporates, salt crystals will appear again.
7. Salt is the only food product that does not spoil itself and protects everything else from spoilage.
8. Salt draws out moisture, and without moisture bacteria cannot multiply.
9. Salt is the only edible mineral in the world.
10. It is impossible to artificially reproduce the shape and color of a salt crystal. In it, Sodium ions and Chlorine ions are located strictly in the shape of an inverted prism at an angle of 90 degrees.

There is gold, gems, coal, and oil in Crimea, but there is not much of this wealth there. There are very decent deposits of iron ore in Crimea. For example, Kerch stands on iron ore beds. Enough good quality sand - and these are also natural resources.

Gold.

Gold is the most ancient metal. People began to mine gold almost simultaneously with copper, back in the Neolithic era. But at the same time, gold is a rather rare metal.
The earth's crust contains 20 times less gold than silver and 200 times less than mercury. The uneven distribution of gold in different parts of the earth's crust makes it difficult to study its geochemical features. The seas and oceans contain about 10 billion tons of gold. About the same amount of gold is contained in river and underground waters.

Increased gold content is found in the waters of springs and rivers flowing in gold-bearing areas. In nature, gold is found mainly in native form.
Gold deposits were formed in different geological eras at different depths - from tens of meters to 4 - 5 km from the surface of the earth. Primary deposits are represented by veins, vein systems, deposits and zones of veinlet-disseminated ores ranging from tens to thousands of meters in length. Over a long period of earth's history, mountains eroded and water carried away everything that did not dissolve in rivers. At the same time, heavy minerals were separated from the light ones and accumulated in places where the flow velocity is low. This is how placer deposits with a concentration of relatively large gold were formed.

The reserves of construction sands are associated with placer deposits of ilmenite, magnetite, rutile, zircon and fine dispersed gold.
“Gold was mined on the peninsula, although its reserves are small,” but no one now knows where exactly the precious metal was mined: data on gold is classified. However, it is known that there is a small gold deposit on Cape Fiolent. In the 1980s, while developing quartz glass sand quarries in Nizhnezamorsky, Leninsky district, workers found spools brought millions of years ago by the rivers of the northern Azov region. Gold was also discovered near Sudak.
The amount of gold, unfortunately, that could hypothetically be found in Crimea cannot be compared with the damage that would be caused to the ecology of the peninsula.

Oil Gas.

The first mentions of oil and gas are in written sources from the period of Alexander the Great in the 4th century BC. Long before the arrival of civilized industrialists on the Kerch Peninsula, both the Crimean Tatars and even the Panticapaean Greeks knew about this oil. They noticed that a layer of “earth oil” formed on the surface of the Chongelek puddles. And the savvy Tatars got it with the help of... their tail! This is the way of true nomads. The horse's tail was spread over the surface of the puddle and then the absorbed oil was squeezed out of it into available containers. They sold this oil to the Zaporozhye Cossacks at a very favorable price. Oil was in particular demand among the Chumaks. And why do the Chumaks need “earth oil”? For lubrication! They lubricated the axles of their carts with it, and also impregnated their Chumatsky clothes.

Combustible minerals are divided into liquid (oil), gaseous (natural combustible gases) and solid (coal, etc.).

Oil seeps in Crimea have been known for a long time on the Kerch Peninsula. The first wells were drilled here in the 60s of the 19th century. Limited volumes of oil were obtained mainly from the Chokrak and Karagan sediments of the Neogene period. Systematic exploration for oil began here after the October Revolution. All wells drilled for oil usually produced associated natural gas. After the Great Patriotic War, search work on the Kerch Peninsula was resumed. Small reserves of oil were discovered here and in the Maikop clay deposits.

The field on the Kerch Peninsula was exploited by private entrepreneurs. The deposit began to be studied in detail only after the revolution, and serious exploration and exploitation began after the Great Patriotic War. “There is not much oil there, it seeps to the surface near mud volcanoes. Both before the revolution and now, people collect it and use it for their needs. Free,” says Anatoly Pasynkov. Until recently, an oil field was also developed in Tarkhankut. A joint venture of the association "Krymgeology" and "Texasnafta".

Iron ores.

Iron ore is a name given to natural mineral formations that contain iron in large quantities and such chemical compounds that its extraction is possible and feasible. The most important minerals are: magnetite, magnetite, titanomagnetite, hematite, hydrohematite, goethite, hydrogoethite, siderite, ferruginous chlorites. Iron ores differ in mineral composition, iron content, useful and harmful impurities, conditions of formation and industrial properties.

Iron ores are divided into rich (more than 50% iron), ordinary (50-25%) and poor (less than 25% iron). Depending on the chemical composition, they are used for smelting cast iron in its natural form or after enrichment. Iron ores used to make steel must contain certain substances in the required proportions. The quality of the resulting product depends on this. Some chemical elements (besides iron) can be extracted from the ore and used for other purposes.

The study of Crimean mineral resources and the registration of licenses for their development will be carried out by two state budgetary institutions (GBU) - the State Commission for Mineral Reserves and the Territorial Geological Information Fund.
Orders on their creation are posted today on the official website of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Crimea.

The goal of the activities of the State Budgetary Institution “State Commission for Mineral Reserves” is to ensure rational use of subsoil in Crimea. Among other things, the institution will conduct an examination of projects for geological study of subsoil and mineral reserves, and determine their geological and economic value.

Southern shores and alluring mountain peaks are characteristic features of many Crimean regions. Created by nature, they have a fairly complex topography and varied landscape. Mineral resources should also be noted separately - Crimea is full of mineral wealth, so it is simply impossible not to consider the peninsula in more detail in this aspect.

Mountain ranges in Crimea and relief features

The whole can be divided into 3 ridges, with approximately 9% allocated to mountainous areas. The first to be identified is the Main Ridge. Its possessions are located in the southern part of the peninsula and run along the sea coast. It originates in the southwest, at the foot of Mount Kush-kaya (not far from Cape Aya), and reaches what is located in the northeast.

In the west, it has to move away from the sea by about 4 km. It is formed by arrays that resemble boards (the so-called yayls), which are unbroken lines. Such, for example, as Ai-Petrinskaya yayla, Yalta yayla, Nikitskaya yayla, Babugan-yayla. It is important to note that such features of the geological structure largely determine the relief and minerals of Crimea.

On the Bagugan-yayla massif there is the highest point of the Crimean ridge. It is called Roman-Kosh and has an altitude of more than one and a half thousand meters above sea level.

Remarkable relief places in Crimea

In the southwest of the peninsula, above the old resort town of Alupka, one cannot help but notice one of the natural Crimean mountain peaks - Ai-Petri. More than 1200 meters in height is not the main advantage of the mountain. It attracts special attention with its original peak, on which there is a unique formation resembling a real giant trident. Ai-Petri is also considered the rightful mistress of the South Coast in the western part of the coastal lands. Here, by the way, natural reserves are concentrated (what minerals are mined in Crimea will become known later).

Most of the territory of these massifs is characterized by steep slopes. A rather spectacular and memorable view can be observed in this place: hanging cliffs, the edges of which are located at too short a distance from the sea. Among such places, the most famous and popular for tourists are the Ayu-Dag (Bear Mountain) mountain range in Gurzuf, the amazing rock with the romantic name Diva in Simeiz, Cape Fiolent on the outskirts of Sevastopol and others. Well, who doesn’t know Cape Ai-Todor? From millions of postcards and traditional souvenirs, even a child knows about it, because there, on one of the rocks leading along a steep cliff into the sea, stands the legendary “Swallow’s Nest”.

From here you can also enjoy the picturesque horizon overlooking Karabi-yayla. Separated by deep depressions, these ridges have an impressive distance from the sea of ​​six to eight kilometers. In sunny, clear weather, from the south-eastern part of Simferopol you can easily see the Chatyr-Daga (Tent Mountains) massif, which stands out for its majesty.

Earthquakes on the peninsula

Thanks to soil studies, it became clear that the subsidence of the continental ledge at the bottom of the Black Sea continues to this day. Earthquakes are one of the components of the development of Crimea at the modern level. They are often accompanied by landslides, which affect the continental ledge of the southern part of the coast.

Strong earthquakes are a rare phenomenon in Crimea. One of these is the 1927 earthquake. As a result of its action, the Monk rock located near Simeiz collapsed, and Cape Ai-Todor, located near the Swallow's Nest, also suffered partial destruction. There is also information about cracks that covered the earth’s crust in Balaklava.

Resources of the Crimean territory

Not far from Sudak, the mountains again come closer to the sea surface, which significantly affects what minerals are mined in Crimea. The main components of these mountain ranges are sedimentary rocks such as limestone, clay, sandstone and many others. Since the salt level changed very often, the marine fauna also changed. This had a wide impact on the remaining soil and affected minerals. Crimea has ample opportunities for independent internal provision of natural raw materials precisely thanks to numerous resources, which will be discussed further.

Not all indigenous residents know what minerals there are in Crimea. And there really is something to be proud of. Among the many natural resources, the main minerals of Crimea can be briefly identified:

• fossils of sedimentary origin;
• fossils of volcanic origin;
• fossils of marine origin.

For industrial purposes inside and outside the peninsula, the needs of the population were almost completely covered by their own reserves.

Iron Ore Reserves

Crimean ore minerals not so long ago occupied a leading place in the USSR in terms of production volumes. One of the first places in the Union was occupied by the Kerch iron ore deposit. As for the global scale, it was the largest in terms of industrial reserves.

This iron ore deposit has about 38% iron. As for phosphorus and arsenic, their percentage content is noticeably higher than in other deposits. Also, geologists have long noticed small reserves of vanadium here. The cost of ores mined in the Kerch iron ore deposit is not high. This fact is explained by the fact that the costs of their extraction are minimal, since ore minerals are located almost on the surface. Although Crimea is famous for its riches of iron, this, as is already known, is not all that can be found in the bowels of the earth.

Nonmetallic salt deposits

The variety of salt lakes (including Sivash) is distinguished by a high content of table salt, Glauber's salt, as well as magnesium chloride, potassium salts and medicinal silt. Non-metallic minerals of Crimea are largely concentrated in Lake Sivash. Scientists previously measured its salt reserves in millions of tons. This is due to the fact that sea water flows there constantly and continuously, so they can be considered inexhaustible. At the same time, Lake Sivash and other salty reservoirs do not have impressive depth. The exception is which is located on the Tarkhankut Peninsula.

Mining of Crimean minerals is an important industry for the economy of the region and the state as a whole. Potassium and magnesium salts are widely used in agriculture. Potassium salts are in particular demand due to the fact that several decades ago they successfully found their use as a fertilizer. Therefore, at the moment, approximately 94% of the total resources extracted from the salt mineral deposits of Crimea are sent to the needs of agriculture throughout the country.

Healing Crimean lakes

Saki, Chokrak and the group of Prisivash lakes, as well as many other reservoirs, occupy far from the last place in the economic activity of the peninsula. For example, lakes such as Saki and Moinak are considered resort and treatment areas, where many come to undergo mud therapeutic courses. If we take as a basis all the chemical substances that make up most of the salt lakes of Crimea, then we can establish the constant production of magnesium oxide. The main part of this production process is limestone.

The production of magnesium oxide is due to the need to obtain such an irreplaceable material in the economy as gypsum. In addition, gypsum on saline soils increases yields by up to 70%.

Natural reserves for the construction industry

Materials intended for construction did not bypass the peninsula. The leading place is rightfully occupied by bryozoan limestone, also known as Inkerman stone. In appearance, this stone contains pores and is creamy in color. Its weight is insignificant, but in terms of strength it is not inferior to a simple brick. There are no problems working with it; it is easy to process. has proven itself in the construction industry. Its main direction is the facing sphere.

But, in addition to bryozoan, Crimea is also rich in such types of limestone as nummulitic, shell rock, marble-like and many others. Limestone, regardless of its type, has found its wide application in the construction industry. Many other minerals are used just as frequently. Crimea, with the help of natural reserves, fully meets the needs of the local population for building materials.

Tras and diorite

On the South Coast, such natural rock as diorite, which was obtained as a result of a volcanic eruption, is very popular. Its largest locations can be called the territories between Alushta and Gurzuf. Also, a considerable amount of diorite was discovered near Lozovoy and Ukrainka, which are located on the southern side of Simferopol. Crimean diorite can be completely compared with granite. Significant differences in their external similarity, as well as construction qualities, are not easy to identify. Diorite is a gray stone with a slight green tint. It is very durable. Most often it is used in facing works, as well as for decorating steps and streets.

Tras, like diorite, was formed as a result of a volcanic eruption. Ash rock, as it is often called, is widely used on the farm. Its largest deposit is considered to be Karadag. It is located 20 kilometers from Feodosia, in the village of Planerskoye. This volcanic rock boasts its greatest reserves.

Construction materials such as quartz sand and gravel mined in the mountains are of particular value. Their main mining sites can be found near Sevastopol and Simferopol, as well as on the Black Sea coast, near the Saki region.

Fuel resources

Crimean fuel minerals represent a separate group of valuable resources. For example, the Kerch Peninsula is characterized by an abundance of oil. Thanks to oil fields, there is a constant eruption of natural gases that can be burned. This peninsula is also rich in sulfur formations.

Boasts coal. But its deposits are insignificant, so it is used only for local use. But in the foothill areas you can find quite decent deposits of bleaching clay.

Mineral waters in Crimea

Recent years have been spent in thorough research of the entire peninsula. Based on them, we can conclude that Crimea has a variety of mineral springs. For example, near Feodosia there is a spring with salt-alkaline water.

In some, springs were found that produce mineral water, its composition practically no different from the legendary “Essentuki”. For example, sources of warm nitrogen-alkaline water were discovered near and near Chatyr-Dag. Hydrogen sulfide water was also found near Feodosia, and carbon dioxide water was found in Bakhchisarai.

Conclusion

The useful resources of Crimea are rich and varied, and their places of accumulation can be found in various parts of the entire peninsula. All natural resources can be combined into several groups according to economic affiliation and geography:

1. The steppe Crimea is rich in limestone for construction and large reserves of salt.
2. In the mountainous areas and on the South Coast, mineral water sources and a variety of raw materials for building materials have been found.
3. The Kerch Peninsula is an iron ore region and also has promising fuel and energy reserves.

The diversity of Crimean minerals is determined by the geological development and structure of the peninsula. There are many industrial minerals, building rocks, fuel resources, salt minerals and other materials.

Metal fossils

A large group of fossils in Crimea are iron ores. They are mined in the Kerch basin of the Azov-Black Sea province. The thickness of the layers on average ranges from 9 to 12 meters, and the maximum is 27.4 meters. Iron content in ore is up to 40%. The ores contain the following elements:

• manganese;
• phosphorus;
• calcium;
• iron;
• sulfur;
• vanadium;
• arsenic.

All ores of the Kerch basin are divided into three groups: tobacco, caviar and brown. They differ in color, structure, depth of layers and impurities.

Non-metallic fossils

Crimea also has a lot of non-metallic resources. These are different types of limestones used in the construction industry:

• marble-shaped - used for road surfaces, mosaics and facade decoration of buildings;
• nummulitic - used as a wall building material;
• bryozoans - rocks consist of the skeletons of bryozoans (marine organisms) and are used for block structures, decoration and architectural decoration;
• flux - necessary for ferrous metallurgy;
• Shell limestones consist of crushed mollusk shells and are used as a filler for reinforced concrete blocks.

Among other types of non-metallic rocks, marls, which contain clay and carbonate particles, are mined in Crimea. There are deposits of dolomite and dolomitized limestone, and clay and sand are mined.

The salt riches of Lake Sivash and other salt lakes are of great importance. Concentrated salt brine - brine contains about 44 elements, including potassium, sodium salts, bromine, calcium, magnesium. The percentage of salt in brine varies from 12 to 25%. Thermal and mineral waters are also valued here.

Fossil fuels

Separately, it is worth mentioning such Crimean riches as oil, natural gas and coal. These resources have been mined and used here since ancient times, but the first oil wells were drilled in the mid-nineteenth century. One of the first deposits was located on the territory of the Kerch Peninsula. Now there is a prospect of extracting oil products from the Black Sea shelf, but this requires high-tech equipment.

Every year, millions of travelers choose the Crimean Peninsula for their holidays. Of course, this is where many wonderful monuments are located, including not only resorts, but also amazing corners created by Mother Nature. So, the natural attractions and riches of Crimea - what are they? We present to your attention a ranking of the ten best!

10. Maiden Lake: a fantastic surface of water even in the photo

• Coordinates: 44°35′46″N (44.596105), 33°48′4″E (33.801063).

And the huge temple, the ruins of which rest peacefully at the bottom, artificially created many years ago, are the main secret of this corner of Crimea. From the outside, the pond seems calm and serene. The unshakable surface of the lake reflects the beauty of greenery and sun. But as soon as the water level begins to fall towards the end of summer, the ruins of the old Christian church become visible to the eyes of tourists, as if reminding them of themselves and silently telling their story.

9. Soldatskaya – the deepest cave in Crimea

• Coordinates: 44°52′29″N (44.874634), 34°34′59″E (34.582967).

Some natural attractions and riches of the Republic of Crimea are distinguished by record data compared to the whole of Europe. This is a dangerous and enticing cavity in its depths, discovered in 1968 nearby and consisting of inclined wells, various passages and narrow deep manholes up to 85 m. For tourists who want to look into the mysterious space, it is necessary to obtain permission from special services. Only then, having put on your equipment, go to explore lakes, streams and other amazing creations of nature located underground.

8. Balaklava Bay - a natural decoration of Sevastopol

• Coordinates: 44°29′44″N (44.495538), 33°35′41″E (33.594715).

In the eighth position of our rating is located, distinguished by its beauty and pristine nature. It's easy to find good ones here. The water here cuts into the land quite deeply and resembles a winding path. The atmosphere of solitude and tranquility, stunning landscapes leave an indelible impression and remain in the memory for a long time. On the Fortress Mountain, which is located nearby, there is still a building built by the Genoese many centuries ago.

7. Pushkin Grotto - one of the natural resources of Gurzuf

• Coordinates: 44°32′48″N (44.546677), 34°17′47″E (34.29642).

On the eastern side of Pushkin Rock you can see a truly grandiose creation of nature -. This writer spent a little more than 3 months in 1820. He rented a small boat and sailed under the arches of the rock formation, where he found solitude and inspiration in the depths of the rocks. Now this magnificent creation is popular among tourists who come to the peninsula to admire the monument. Inside the cave cavity there are places where you can rest next to the water before heading back.

6. Cape Chameleon - a “changeable” attraction near Koktebel

• Coordinates: 44°57′50″N (44.963976), 35°17′42″E (35.29495).

We continue our acquaintance with the natural attractions and riches of Crimea. Not far from is located, which was formed from clay shales - hard rock that has the property of reflecting light. As a result, the protrusion completely changes color depending on weather conditions, the location of the sun and the time of year, identical to a lizard that can change color. Thanks to this, it bears such a telling name. Interestingly, two bays formed on both sides of it. The water in them is different in color, which adds additional charm if you admire the view from above.

5. Golden Gate - arch to the sun of Crimea

• Coordinates: 44°54′52″N (44.914547), 35°13′53″E (35.231274).

At the end of our top, in fifth place, are . Kara-Dag is a volcanic massif on the Black Sea coast, where this arch-shaped rock can be seen not far from the shore. In the past, this attractive structure of nature bore the gloomy name - “Devil's Gate”, as it was believed that here was the entrance to the underworld. Today, excursion routes have been laid out to the famous landmark, and travelers, having caught a good angle, can admire how it appears golden, bathed in the rays of the setting sun.

4. Rock Diva - a legendary monument near Simeiz

• Coordinates: 44°24′2″N (44.40067), 34°0′3″E (34.000851).

You can also find natural attractions and riches on the South Coast; the Republic of Crimea is famous for them throughout Russia. So, in the area, in the Black Sea, at the foot, there is a limestone rock more than 45 m high. It owes its name to its appearance, the top, which from a distance resembles the bust of a woman with flowing hair. There is a legend around her that an evil spirit once committed evil deeds by turning into a girl. But the forces of good recognized the lie and punished him by turning him into a rock. Travelers who climb to the top of Diva, where they need to overcome 260 steps, are offered an impressive view of the endless turquoise-colored water surface, which fascinates, glistening with the sun's rays.

3. Dzhur-Dzhur - the most powerful waterfall in Crimea

• Coordinates: 44°48′19″N (44.805365), 34°27′34″E (34.459533).

Now the time has come to talk about which natural attractions and riches of Crimea are most in demand among tourists. In, on the territory of the urban district, the flows of the Eastern Ulu-Uzen River formed an inexhaustible river, which has several translations, such as “Water-Water” or “Eternally Murmuring”. It got its name due to the fact that even in the driest times the water does not end here and falls in rushing streams down the cascading threshold. Here you can take unforgettable photos against the backdrop of the gurgling giant and enjoy the mesmerizing scenery. Due to the low temperature and the presence of stones in the raging waterfall, tourists are not recommended to go into the water. It will be safer to admire the spectacle from the sidelines.

2. Valley of Ghosts - the most mysterious place on the peninsula

• Coordinates: 44°45′3″N (44.750934), 34°24′28″E (34.407894).

On the slope, located in the northern part of the Alushta valley, there is a mysterious and mysterious place -. Large blocks of stone, created by nature, in their entire appearance resemble living creatures - people and animals, who are forever frozen immobilized. There is a legend in Crimea about ancient nomads who once wanted to occupy the lands of the peninsula. But the mountain did not like the attitude of the uninvited guests towards the locals; it punished them by turning them into stone statues. The thick fog that often settles over the valley adds even more mystery. Thanks to this phenomenon, in ancient times Demerdzhi was called “Funa”, which means “smoking”. The play of light and shadows is also interesting, creating the impression of the presence of life among the motionless rocks. Excursions are often organized here, when tourists can observe a picture that defies logic and think about what secret the attraction hides.

1. Ai-Petri - a majestic elevation that does not need description

• Coordinates: 44°27′4″N (44.450996), 34°3′17″E (34.054659).

The first place in our rating is, which, although not the highest in Crimea, is not inferior in beauty and picturesqueness to any other natural monument. Its name is translated from Greek as “Saint Peter”. You can get to the top either from where it originates, with a length of 1860 m, or by car from Yalta. Not far from the famous observation deck "Shishko" on the plateau lies the highest mountainous Crimean settlement - the village of Okhotnichye. From the heights of Ai-Petri there is a stunning view that will impress any tourist, inspire new exploits and energize!

We hope that the natural attractions of Crimea with photos and descriptions given above have inspired you to new achievements! However, there are many other places on the peninsula created by nature that deserve tourist attention. They never cease to amaze with their incredible beauty, mystery and splendor!