Cape Martyan in Crimea: description and location

The nature of our planet is unique. And nature untouched by civilization is doubly beautiful. There are not many places on earth where you can enjoy the beauty of the Mediterranean subtropics. Most likely, they can be counted on one hand, but even they will be more than enough to plunge into the world of wild nature, hear the singing of rare birds, and see endangered species of animals with our own eyes.

A wonderful place that everyone should visit, Cape Martyan Nature Reserve. It is located in the Crimea near Yalta. A large city does not in any way affect not only the reserve itself, but also the surrounding area.

Tourists who appreciate ecological tourism, and this movement has become quite popular in recent years, will plunge into a protected reserve, where the landscapes are completely untouched and the air is crystal clear. Such a trip will not only be interesting, but also useful and entertaining.

The very territory of the reserve appeared due to the movement of tectonic plates - a part of the Nikitsky ridge, which at the moment of movement of the plates collapsed into the sea, formed after itself a cape, talus at the water's edge (they are also called "stone chaos").

The mountains that surrounded the ridge, and now the cape, protected and still protect the territory from northern winds, thereby providing the terrain even climate, without extreme temperature fluctuations. This climate is considered typical for the southern coast of Crimea.

The climate is formed under the influence of geographical latitudes and atmospheric processes that are created under the influence of the Mediterranean and Black Seas. Nevertheless, the weather conditions on the peninsula differ in that the southern coast is surrounded from the north by mountain ranges. That is, due to the geographical position of the cape cold air does not fully fall outside the ridge, and if it does, it does not come with such force.

Hence it turns out that the temperature is never too cold here, even if we accept the fact that the reserve is close to the sea.

Geographically, Cape Martyan is not so big, only 240 hectares, and this figure includes the Black Sea washing the cape.

Now the territory of the reserve belongs to the Nikitsky Botanical Garden, considered natural scientific laboratory.

Thanks to the labors of academician Peter Simon Pallas, a botanical garden was created on the cape. In his writings, he described that this territory has preserved an authentic landscape and natural vegetation, which, in his opinion, is considered the standard of Mediterranean vegetation.

Other representatives of the Red Book that grow on the territory of the reserve can be considered:

• high juniper;
• dull-leaved pistachio.

It is noteworthy that the age of some juniper bushes reaches 100 years, but there are also such rare specimens, the age of which is more than 500 years.

The reserve is very young, because it received this status only in 1973. In 1969, the ancient fortresses on its territory, the construction of which dates back to the 13th-15th centuries, were taken under supervision, namely the status of an archeological monument was given to the fortress, which is called Ruskofil-Kale, built in the 13th century.

But if you delve into the history of the formation of the reserve, you can understand that it was considered a natural monument back in the 40s of the last century. Indeed, it was during these years that scientists realized that there are rare species of animals and plants on the cape, which make the territory unique.

The idea of ​​creating a juniper reserve was supported by many scientists and workers of the botanical garden, and therefore in 1947 the grove on the cape was awarded the title of a reserve, which was taken under protection.

But legally, the territory was not a nature reserve until February 20, 1973. It was on this day that the reserve was registered, indicating that the total length of the territory is 240 hectares, of which 120 are land (groves, forests and a botanical garden) and the other half of 120 hectares is the Black Sea.

Many tourists from all over the world make a long way to look at the amazing and beautiful sights of Crimea. It is not hard to guess that there is a great demand for plants and animals as well. Especially if you have the opportunity to see with your own eyes such rare representatives of flora and fauna.

As mentioned earlier, there are about 500 tree species. This is a truly unique place where you can find junipers and other rare plants.

On the territory of the reserve, plants are divided into those that bloom all year round, and those that bloom in season. Typically about 68% of the plants bloom all year round, with the remainder being those that grow in summer or winter. Due to the climate, flowering vegetation in some species can last from 10-15 days and even go up to two months.

The main part of the land is covered with forests of fluffy oak (the height of this tree reaches 4-8 meters in 60 years), a little less is occupied by representatives of high juniper. Even in the reserve, you can find Crimean pines - their height reaches 10 meters, the trunk diameter ranges from 20 to 40 cm, and the age is on average 90 years, which is 2 times more than that of an oak.

Due to the large amount of precipitation, the vegetation extends further and more and more. Of course, it does not do without the help of a person who cares for rare plants.

Small-fruited strawberry, which is found on the territory of the cape, is considered an evergreen deciduous tree. Its height is approximately 20 meters. It grows in a community, cyclically, in small groups.

This tree is under special supervision, as it is thermophilic and dies at temperatures below minus 15 degrees. And for him, spring frosts are considered a dangerous time, when after several days of warm weather, the tree comes out of "hibernation". Severe frosts can ruin it.

The beginning of flowering is considered to be the period from the beginning of April, the plant fades in mid-May, and in June, leaves fall. The fruits on the tree begin to ripen at the end of October and continue to ripen until January.

And also worth noting a wide variety of orchids. There are 22 species of them, and all of them are protected.

About 130 species have been discovered in the coastal waters of Cape Martyan algae. As far as the animal world is concerned, you shouldn't rely too much on the fact that you will be able to see any large mammals here, since they are not found on Cape Martyan.

But you will be able to see many insects:

• granular ground beetle;
• large centipedes-centipedes;
• praying mantises;
• large cicadas;
• butterflies "Polyxena".

On the territory of the Cape there are different types of lizards (in particular, a rare species of the Crimean rocky lizard and the Crimean bare-toed gecko).

Among the birds you can find avifauna (all nine species that exist in the world), Crimean jay, grosbeak, spruce crossbill, pika.

It is almost impossible to meet especially large mammals in the reserve, but still rare species of animals live there. One of these representatives can be considered Crimean stone marten, which is also called mountain fox or forest mouse.

The fastest way to get to the reserve is from Yalta. Shuttle buses will need to get to the village of Nikita. For a more convenient journey, you can use the coordinates of the cape N 44.506379 E 34.245028. If you want to see the sea, then there is a motor ship route from Yalta to Gurzuf (the route goes through the reserve).

For more information on the features of the reserve, see the following video.