Cape Opuk in Crimea: what to see and where is it?

Many people think that the most suitable time for a vacation in Crimea is the middle of summer. To be convinced of the opposite, it is worth visiting Cape Opuk in late spring. This time of year you will enjoy the magnificent tulip flowers, clear azure waters and beautiful sunsets.

Cape Opuk, which is located in the Crimea, appeared at the end of the twentieth century. It is located in the south of the Kerch Peninsula.

It also includes objects such as:

• Opuk (cape and mountain);
• Lake Koyashskoe (it has a beautiful pinkish color);
• Lakeside Mountain (rises 45 meters);
• Rocks-ships.

The mountain has an oblong shape and is covered with rare vegetation. This massif smoothly flows into the cape, which ends in a precipice. In the south, the mountains are cliffs, and in the north, there is a grassy slope.

The protected area was designed to preserve these worlds of the southern region of the Kerch Peninsula. More than 750 varieties of all kinds of plants grow here. About half of the flora of the world is of the vascular type.

The flora includes 766 species, including:

• 473 species are higher vascular plants;
• 49 - mossy;
• 113 - lichens;
• 214 - water.

The endemic composition includes 48 species of vascular plants. Of these, 23 species are the rarest and are listed in the Red Book.

In the springtime, bright Schrenk tulips appear there. In the summer, feather grass begins to grow, and in the fall, the seaside erythematosus.

The adjacent waters are inhabited by rare specimens of fish, as well as dolphins (bottlenose dolphins and azovki), of which there are not so many.

A large number of birds live in this area and in the surrounding area. Many birds nest here, 100 species are migratory, 34 survive the winter on the coast, 32 species are listed in the Red Book (for example, black-headed bunting, long-nosed cormorant).

The rarest pink starlings have been building their nests in the protected area for a long time to this day. This species has a very good genetic memory. Since ancient times, these birds have flown to the mountain slopes. In recent years, the population of these interesting birds in the protected area has increased.

Most of the animal world here is invertebrates. Very large and beautiful butterflies such as bears and hawk moths live there. Bats live in quiet and secluded places.

But the protected area protects not only land, but also sea waters. Crabs can be found on the rocks. One of the most amazing animals is the monk seal. Once it could be seen along the entire coast, but then it was attributed to the extinct. Today they have re-emerged in small bays near the cape. This mammal is very shy and leads a solitary life.

This reserve is a natural and archaeological landmark of the Crimea. When excavations were carried out, the ruins of an ancient town were discovered at the foot of the mountain. Also, the city of Cimmerik is a scientific and historical value.

A few kilometers from the cape there are "Rocks-ships" (Elken-Kaya). They were formed from four islands of limestone rock. One of the largest rocks is twenty meters above sea level. The rocks got this name due to the fact that they have the shape of a sailboat. Pigeons, swifts and cormorants build their nests there.

The territory of this object is protected by the state, and therefore it is strictly forbidden to be there on your own. Violation of this rule will result in a fine. And not because this is a reserved place, but for the reason that a military training ground is located here.

You can get to this place only if you are part of an organized excursion conducted by research assistants. But still, some unscrupulous people break the rules and visit this place on their own. Visitors to the reserve can only experience three trails: “Between the Sea and the Lake”, “Opuk Tract”, “Coastal”. If you wish, you can sign up for an excursion and explore all the places of interest, and at the same time admire their beauty.

A visit to the reserve involves a small fee, only 200 rubles. There are discounts for certain categories of citizens. There is a tent camp not far from it. Everyone can stop and rest there. It is forbidden to litter in this place, after yourself it is imperative to clean everything up. And if this is not done, then you can get a fine.

Since there is a chance to get to the territory exclusively as part of an excursion, you can sign up for it in nearby cities (Kerch and Feodosia).

If you do not want to visit the protected area, then you can see the nearby area, as it is also beautiful there. And the easiest way to do this is by taking a bus from the bus station in the city of Kerch. It is enough to take a bus that follows the route "Kerch - Maryevka". You can get there by your car along the same road. The distance is only 35 km.

Summer is very hot, but due to the sea breeze, the heat is not felt so much. If you like to relax in peace and quiet, then wild beaches are perfect for you. There you can swim and sunbathe. For such a holiday, it is better to go there in August or September.

There is a legend about this beautiful place, which tells that the world serpent lives in the sea. And many people say that they saw a monster in the waters, the size of which reaches several meters. But everyone saw the head of this unknown animal different - some a hare, some a dog, there were a lot of other options.

Once a couple of years ago, a man dived under water to explore the flooded tunnels of ancient quarries. And during this, a very large creature attacked him, which had an elongated snake-shaped body. The man had a camera with him, he was not taken aback and filmed the action. Then these fragments were shown to specialists, and they determined who it was. And this was a representative of a rare species of gray seals. But the people who saw him greatly exaggerated the size of the animal.

See the video below about the peculiarities of recreation at Cape Opuk in Crimea.