Satera in Crimea: features of recreation
Most of the small cottage villages on the Crimean peninsula exist solely due to the influx of tourists and the opportunity to rent an apartment not far from one of the attractions. Satera also belongs to such villages - in winter almost no one lives here, but in summer travelers from all over the Crimea flock there to admire an unusual natural phenomenon - stone mushrooms.
Description
A unique natural monument, better known as stone mushrooms, is located near the eastern part of Alushta, in a canyon near the Sotera River. The length of the river is 8 km, and it flows from the mountain slopes of the northern Cape Demerdzhi. In the Middle Ages, a Christian Orthodox Church was erected there, therefore the name of the river in translation from Greek means "savior". The area near the riverbed was known in ancient times for its healing power.
According to ancient legends, everyone who touches the stem of the mushroom can count on the fulfillment of any love desire. Indeed, the atmosphere of Sotera even for the most sophisticated tourists has a truly magical effect - the coast of the beach is literally covered with pebbles that resemble small hearts in their appearance - that is why the locals called the town "Valley of Love".
Satera does not have the official status of a settlement, so there is no local leadership or administration here. The number of residents is a little over a hundred, and most of them are engaged in the maintenance of mini-hotels, open in the summer, and for the winter they move to other places. The weather in the area is quite pleasant, the climate is subtropical. Thanks to the mountains, the tract is closed from the Crimean steppe winds. The coast is rocky, coarse, and very large stones are often found on the beaches.
Despite the long history of its existence, the exact name of the village has not yet been settled - different spellings are used both through "a" and through "o", respectively, Satera and Sotera, however, the second option is used more often.
Rest in the town is preferred by tourists who do not like noisy, typically resort entertainment - most often these are adult couples, and families with babies can get bored here, since there are no attractions, and the pebble beach is not always to the liking of small children. Nevertheless, there is a camp for schoolchildren - thanks to the healing air, the guys here not only rest, but also recover.
Stone mushrooms
As we have already mentioned, stone mushrooms are considered the main attraction of the place. Many people know about the existence of similar mysteries of nature in Altai, but few know that there are similar unusual formations in Crimea, one of them is in Soter, and the second is in the valley of the Maly Salgir River. Once there were 3 large mushrooms in Soter, but in 1983 the largest - "Guard of the Glade" - fell and completely collapsed, so there are only two of them, but in 1999 three more babies were found that slightly rise above the ground ...
It is quite easy to destroy mushrooms, therefore, since 1960, the place has been declared a state protected natural monument, and two decades later it has been officially recognized as a protected natural boundary.... The largest mushroom to date is a 5–6-meter stem, formed mainly from clay and a large stone cap. Such unusual sculptures are formed due to the gradual washing out and weathering of the earth under the boulders.
Interesting in the area
The fossils are certainly interesting for tourists, but in the area Valleys of mushrooms there are many places that also attract the attention of travelers. So, the whole area around is replete with the most picturesque corners, for example, going up the trail, you can find yourself in a dense oak thicket, which will be an excellent place for a halt.
Moving through the thickets, you can get to the famous Geyser waterfall, which the inhabitants of Crimea often call the "bath of youth". A distinctive feature is foamed water, which is the result of an unusual structure. Even in the hottest summer, on the hottest day, the water here remains icy - a person who decides to take such a bath immediately jumps out of it, feeling an unusual influx of strength and energy. The waterfall is also referred to the territory of the reserve.
Right next to it, you can see a destroyed monument that resembles a military figure - in fact, it is nothing more than a piece of rock and its origin is miraculous. In Soter, there is not a single sculpture created by man at all - each was the result of the action of winds, precipitation and geological processes.
Rules of conduct
Given the protected status of the area, there are certain rules of conduct. So, it is forbidden to touch stone mushrooms with your hands, especially during rains. The fact is that at a high level of humidity, the leg becomes rather weak and may simply not be able to withstand a heavy stone cap - this is exactly what happened with the "Guard" in due time. It is forbidden to burn fires, break and cut trees, fish and hunt in the area.
After visiting the area, people must clean up the garbage left after the halt, otherwise they face a large fine. In a word, visitors must comply with all the rules of decent behavior in the natural environment, without intruding on the natural life processes of the forest.
The reserve is open around the clock, so it receives visitors in the morning, afternoon, evening and even at night.
How to get there
You can get to Satera only by car or on foot. You can also take a minibus from Alushta to Rybachye and get off at the 16th kilometer of the main road.If you are driving your car, then also stop near the sign "16th km" - there is a small house nearby and there is a "pocket" for a car around the corner.
A narrow, well-trodden road leads from the road to the forest, if you walk along it with a brisk pace, then after 35-40 minutes you can be in a clearing, from there you need to go to the right path leading up the slope, and literally after a couple of minutes of climbing the rocky road you will find yourself in the valley of mushrooms.
Keep in mind that during the rainy season, the road becomes very uncomfortable and it is possible to move along it only in shoes with high-quality tread, however, as at any other time of the year. You can also get to the Valley of Mushrooms through private houses - then the road will take about 15 km of the highway, while the main thing is not to get lost and not end up in a dead end.
Accommodation
The vast majority of houses in Soter are these are guest houses, boarding houses or mini-hotels, their number far exceeds the number of ordinary households. Housing here is much cheaper than in Alushta, and the level of comfort is in no way inferior to that offered in large resort cities.
Some hotels even offer truly luxurious facilities, such as villa "South Sotera" offers tourists suites. These are elegant spacious rooms equipped with everything you need. There is a tennis court, parking, laundry, you can always rent sports equipment.
The owners of the hotel help organize excursions and sea fishing. The hotel has its own restaurant, where you can always order complex meals at reasonable prices.
One of the best children's camps in Crimea is located in this place, which has adopted all the traditions of pioneer camps of the Soviet era. Children from 7 to 16 years old come here, where they are divided into several groups depending on their age. The guys live in small buildings of the park zone, several people live in the rooms. Holidays, contests and competitions are organized, and great attention is paid to healthy sports leisure. The cost of stay can be called quite democratic, but it should be borne in mind that the change lasts 3 weeks.
Very popular among visitors recreation center "Legend", which is located in the midst of relict coniferous plants - their phytoncides have a healing effect on the organs of the respiratory system. The guests of this mini-hotel live in separate cottages, breakfast is included in the price, if necessary, you can order lunches and dinners for a fee.
Other recommended places to stay include hotels "Rodnichok", "Scarlet Sails", "Victoria" and "Chaika". If you wish, you can always stay in the private sector - almost every household here has small rooms for tourists with all the amenities.
In terms of cost, this option is much cheaper, especially if you book a place without contacting intermediaries.
For information on how to properly relax in Sater, see the next video.