Belbek river in Crimea: description and location

Rivers have always been not only of economic importance for people, but also have been an attractive place for tourists. The Belbek river can be called the decoration of the Bakhchisarai region in the Crimea. It is considered a landmark of the territory and always attracts the attention of people.

Belbek flows in the south-west of Crimea in the regions of Bakhchisarai and Sevastopol. The rivers Managotra and Biyuk-Uzenbash participate in its formation. It is a long water source with a length of 63 kilometers. Versions of the origin of the name can be called the following.

1. Translated into the Turkic language, Belbek means "strong back". In the spring season, when the reservoir is filled with melt water, the rapid stream of the river is able to pull out trees with rhizomes and carry them along the stream, keeping them on their "back".
2. Belbek is the original name of a river valley near a reservoir. Translated from the Türkic, bek is “main”, and bel is “narrow mountain pass”. After a while, the river received the same name.

During the residence of the Kabardians at the upper reaches of the river, it had a double name. The upper part is Kabarda, and the lower one is Belbek.

To this day, the river is a striking landmark created by nature itself.

The Belbek River is the deepest in the Crimean region. It is characterized by the presence of four tributaries:

• Coccoats - the most powerful river in Crimea, its source is located on the Grand Canyon;
• Suatkana, that includes a small waterfall;
• Bystryanki, flowing through the Caralez valley - it is in this area that the local sphinxes are located;
• Kokche-Chokrak - "gray-blue" source.

The lower course of the Belbek overcomes large clay drifts. The mouth of the river is located in the village of Lyubimovka, located not far from the Sevastopol Bay. In this part, it flows into the Black Sea. The bed of the reservoir looks like a ravine with a width of about 300 centimeters.

The upper reaches of the river are located on the slope of the Crimean mountain ranges in the northwestern part. The bed of this section is formed by Ozenbash and Managotra. These are mountain rivers with turbulent streams and a strong current character. Despite the small width, bodies of water with a swift direction carry their water along rocky slopes.

When crossing the inland Belbek mountain range, in this section the river becomes part of the beautiful Belbek canyon. The narrowest part of the river valley is 300 meters wide and 160 meters deep. There are two grottoes on the right side of the Belbek Valley. The caves are known for the presence of Cro-Magnon camps, who hunted, fished, picked berries and plants.

In the upper part of the reservoir there is a hydrotechnical complex, consisting of three reservoirs. The fauna of the most full-flowing Crimean river is mainly represented by brook trout. This fish is characterized by an attractive appearance, the presence of small shiny scales, each of which has a white outline. The predatory creature lives in the upper reaches of the Belbek, it is rather difficult to see it.

Tourists often visit Mount Burun-Kaya or Utyug. The attraction received its second name due to its similarity with all familiar household items. If you climb the steep rise, you can fully appreciate the beauty of the Belbek river valley.

Before reaching the top, there is a source of clean and fresh water, which everyone can enjoy. It is impossible not to mention the relict yew grove. It consists of berry yew that has been growing for millennia. This rare plant reaches a height of 2000 centimeters.

On the way to Belbek, you can find such settlements that are located along the banks, it is they who help orient tourists:

• for those who started their journey from the upper reaches, it is worth going through Kuibyshevo, they get to the village by bus or personal transport;
• when going upstream, you need to start from Lyubimovka, people are brought to this point by a bus heading from Sevastopol;
• if you want to see a lot of sights, then the beginning of the road should be the village of Tankovoye or Maloye Sadovoye.

The valley of the Belbek River is a rather picturesque place, as it is characterized by high flow, people have long populated this region. Here are concentrated not only man-made, but also natural monuments. The water in the reservoir is characterized by turbidity, therefore, it is not suitable for swimming. However, for outdoor recreation and reuniting with nature, the Belbek Valley is just perfect. This place has already been appreciated by hikers and fishermen.

The fish catches in the river are good, however, for this you need to choose the right place. According to the opinions of fishermen, it is known that the upper reaches of the reservoir are rich in trout, but it is worth remembering that this rare representative of the fauna is under protection. In the area of ​​the flat course, fishermen can catch chub, barbel, carp, crucian carp, carp and perch. Live bait fishermen will surely enjoy the small fish, of which there are many in the river. Near the mouth you can catch a bearing and a trophy pike.

According to people who often fish here, the pike bite in these places is excellent. The problem of fish withdrawal is created by numerous branches and trunks of river surfaces.Often, fishing is not pumped in with a bucket of fish, but with torn fishing lines. The high flow of the reservoir determines its economic use.

Also on Belbek there is an artificially created reservoir. The fresh water of this reservoir is very important for the people living on the territory. Despite the fact that the largest Crimean river is inferior to most water bodies of world importance in size, it has a lot of its advantages. Thanks to the reliability of Belbek's "back", cargo has been transported along the river for many centuries, which supports the vital activity of the population of this territory. Also, the river is an irreplaceable source of coolness in the hot season.

It differs from its counterparts located in Crimea by the impossibility of drying out, as well as the stormy streams and insecurity. The banks of Belbek have always attracted tourists who want to take a break from the bustle of the city and enjoy the beauty of nature.

For more details about the deepest river in Crimea, see the following video.