Baydarskaya is the most picturesque valley in Crimea. Trails of the Baydar Valley

But beckon the enchanted gaze
Even more steep rapids
Where the valley hid between the mountains
And the cliffs overhang ...

Baydarskaya Valley is located in a natural amphitheater- surrounded by mountains on all sides. The valley stretches at an altitude of about 260 meters above sea level. Its length is 16 km, width is about 8 km, the perimeter along the mountain range is more than 30 kilometers. The most notable mountains reach a height of almost 800 meters. From the slopes mountain peaks open views of the gorges, tracts and the longest Crimean canyon - Chernorechensky.
And there further, in the depths - so many interesting, remarkable, historical places!

Chernorechenskoe gorge in autumn dress!

Attractions of the Baydar Valley

Mother Nature besides picturesque mountains and lakes has created a lot in the valley interesting places.
The former inhabitants of the region ennobled them and left behind unique structures: menhirs and dolmens, roads paved with stone, passes with arches and observation platforms, springs with drinking water ...

Here is a partial list of the attractions of the Baydar Valley.

- Skel menhirs
- Skelskaya cave
- Dolmens in the village of Novobobrovskoe
- Roman road
- A spring in the village of Orlinom, from which, while traveling along the southern coast, A.S. Pushkin
- Pass Baydar Gate overlooking the Foros Church and the tourist's favorite Devil's Staircase
- Chernorechensky and Uzundzhi canyons
- Waterfall "Visor"
- Temple of the Sun
- Flowers of the Baydar Valley

Skel Menhirs (Tekli-Tash) .

This is the most ancient landmark of the Baydar Valley. Stone sculptures made of marbled limestone are more than 4 thousand years old! It is not known what nation and why installed them. But it is clear that these large, heavy stones were brought here from afar. They are perfectly preserved, emitting strong positive, cosmic energy. Menhirs, they say, still heal well from diseases. A lone menhir stands above an underground stream of water, and at the point where rivers intersect with each other. Scientists assume that water is a concentration of accumulation and storage of energy and information. And in the place where the rivers are woven into a ball, the water acquires the properties of a magic crystal. And today the Skele menhirs, like the dolmens in the village of Novobobrovskoye, can be touched with your hands - you can get a new charge of Vivacity and Strength!

Excavations in the valley have been going on since the 19th century. And archaeologists have found many graves in the reserve,
sites and settlements of the past. Rare artifacts found there, you can see
now in various Crimean museums.

Roman road

Once upon a time all roads passed through the valley from the main ancient city of Chersonesos and the western steppes to the South Coast of Crimea. At first these were paths, then stone-paved roads. The most famous of them is the "Kalendskaya trail", which ran from the village of Podgornoye along the Devil's staircase (Shaitan-Merdvenu) to the Mukholatka area. It connected in winter, when storms interfered with sea traffic, two Roman fortresses: Chersonesos on the Heracles peninsula in the Western Crimea and Kharax on its southern coast, on Cape Ai-Todor.

Now there is little left of the road. But there are still areas where the stonework has survived, and there is a popular hiking trail.

Pass Baydarskie gates

Serpentine leads to him from the valley on the mountain Chhu-Bair, covered with forest. Halfway to the "Gate" you will come across a well-equipped old spring. The water in it is curative and at any time of the year keeps the temperature +9 degrees. Once Alexander Pushkin gave his horses to drink and quenched his thirst himself. The poet made his way through the Baydar Gate in 1820, heading to the St. George Monastery, which is near Cape Fiolent ...
The height of the pass over the sea is over 500 meters. From its observation deck, views of extraordinary beauty open up to the mountains, which it shares with the sea coast. But, first of all, to the Resurrection Church, hovering over Foros!

The imposing arch of the Baydar Gate with observation deck on the roof, is an architectural monument. It was built in 1848 by the architect K.I. Ashliman in honor of the launch of the Yalta-Sevastopol highway, which reliably connects the Western and Southern parts of the peninsula.
Here on the pass there is a famous restaurant "Shalash" with good cuisine and all year round
there are shops with Crimean souvenirs and products of local folk craftsmen:
and Ukrainian, and Tatar, and Russian ...

Visor waterfall

Fast mountain stream Kubalar-Su about a kilometer from the village of Peredovoe falls from great height in the gorge. Its waters, forming a small transparent lake below, again turn into a stream and begin to wind between the stones. The ledge overhanging the gorge gave the name to the waterfall. In hot summer, the stream calms down and the waterfall disappears ...

The best place to visit is in spring, when all the rivers are full of water and the valley is full of flowers!
In the gorge along the stream bed, white and yellow primroses, bluebirds, galanthuses bloom ...

Rare flowers from the Red Book

From early spring to late autumn, something is blooming in the Baydar Valley! And its rare flowers can be safely called one of the bright and unusual attractions. In February-March, these are snowdrops and primroses: galanthuses, blueberries, crocuses, primroses. Blue-white and pure yellow glades on the slopes of the mountains caress the eye almost until the end of April! In May, daisies, daisies and dozens of other flowers and shrubs take over. In general, more than 50 "Red Book" plants grow in the Baydar Valley. But the most famous and amazing beauty of them is the Crimean orchid, or in the local way - orchis!

Having decided to visit Crimea, friends, be sure to find time to the Baydar Valley.
This is extraordinary a nice place! The atmosphere here soothes the nerves
pacifies the soul, charges the body with positive energy for a long time, disposes
to creativity! And the sea is close - to Foros beach - only 6 kilometers!

Enjoy your travels, friends!

+ Original taken from nikolay_suslov v Baydarskaya valley. Landscapes ...

The whole valley is in green gardens,
The whole valley is full of scent
In the mountains, in the flowering hills,
Cypresses crowd the slopes ... (Ivan Bunin, "Baydarskaya Valley")

For the third year in a row we have been resting in the Velvet season in Crimea. We stay with a friend in the village of Orlinom. And we were fascinated by this amazing place- reserved, with ancient history- the largest nature reserve in Crimea "Baydarskaya Valley". The landscapes around are of extraordinary beauty and every day they are different! Mountains with gentle slopes - very similar to the Carpathians. Just a playground for tourists and artists!

View of the Chernorechenskoye reservoir from the slope of the Chhu-Bair mountain.

Landscapes and History

Foggy morning in the valley ...

Orlinoe village in the early morning

From the history of the Baydarskaya valley

History of the Baydar Valley no less complicated and confusing than the whole story Crimean peninsula... People have lived here since time immemorial. This is evidenced by the numerous excavations carried out in this area since the 19th century. The artifacts found show that the Taurus and the Romans, the Scythians and the Greeks, who constantly fought with each other, lived in this fertile place. Surely some other peoples settled here, as evidenced by the old names of the settlements of the valley. Scientists still find it difficult to translate intricate local names: Haito, Sakhtik, Savatka, Ukrusta or Baga. And without translation, it is already very problematic to determine which peoples gave them ...

The scheme of roads and villages in the Baydar Valley. 2017 year.

Its name is Baydarskaya valley received from the large and main, I would say - the "capital" village of Baydary (since 1945 - the village of Orlinoe), which is located in it. There are many different interpretations of the Baidara toponym. For example, “Paydar” in translation from the Turkic language means “Magnificent”, and “Bai-dere” means “Rich ravine (valley)”. Rich, as well as Magnificent, the valley could be named for its lavishly fruitful gardens, abundance of game in the forests, numerous springs and lakes. There is another version - the settlement got its name from the name of the river - Kayaks, once the fastest and deepest in the valley. And now - drying up at the beginning of the hot summer ... At present, the main river of the valley is the Black. She collects water from her tributaries and
fills the largest reservoir on the peninsula - Chernorechenskoye. Its water reserves feed Foros and Sevastopol. By the way, until now the Baydar Valley is territorially included in the boundaries of the hero-city. It is only 30 kilometers away, and to Foros through the Baydar Gate - 8 ...

I'll tell you about the sights of the valley and hiking trails tomorrow ...

To be continued ... Yours Not Brezhnev.

Enjoy your travels, tourist friends!
Crimea is amazing and unknown to the end this place!

Photo - September 2017, Orlinoe village.

One of the most impressive places in the mountainous Crimea is the Baydarskaya Valley of Sevastopol, its sights and natural beauties leave no one indifferent.

It is located at an altitude of 260 meters above sea level, about 16 km long, 8 km wide. Almost in the very center of it is the Chernorechenskoye reservoir, fed by the Chernaya River. It is a source of fresh water for and, therefore, their inhabitants are always keenly interested in the supply of water in this reservoir.

Swimming in the reservoir is prohibited, there are many signs along it reminding that this is a water protection zone. But around there are bets and lakes where you can swim and fish. In any case, we advise you to bypass the Chernorechenskoye reservoir around the perimeter - the road is good everywhere, and the views are magnificent!

The history of the Baydar Valley is no less complex and confusing than the entire Crimean peninsula. People have lived here since time immemorial, as evidenced by the numerous excavations carried out in these parts since the 19th century. The materials found show that the Taurus and the Romans lived in this fertile place, whose caravans they plundered more than once, the Scythians and Greeks who constantly fought with each other, etc. etc. Surely some other peoples settled here, as evidenced by the old names of the settlements of the valley. Scientists not only fail to translate Haito, Sakhtik, Savatka, Ukrust or Baga, but also determine which peoples gave them.

Attractions of the Baydar Valley

The former inhabitants of the region left behind the most interesting sights. In addition to picturesque mountains and lakes, nature has also created many interesting places here. If you list what to see in the Baydar Valley, then at least it is worth visiting:

Skel menhirs
Skelskaya cave.
Dolmens in the village. Novobobrovskoe.
The Baydarskiye Vorota pass with a view of the Devil's Staircase, beloved by tourists.
Spring in the village. Eagle (formerly Baydary) from which, while traveling to the South Coast, he allegedly quenched his thirst for A.S. Pushkin.
Roman roads.
Canyons and Uzundzhi.
Temple of the sun.

Skel menhirs(Tekli-Tash), this is the most ancient landmark of the Baydar Valley, they are more than 4 thousand years old. It is not known which people and why installed them, but it is clear that these large heavy stones were brought here from afar. Archaeologists have unearthed many burials, camps and settlements of the past in the valley, but the artifacts found there are kept in Crimean museums, and the Skel menhirs and Novoboorovsk dolmens are something that you can touch with your hands.

Roman road... Once upon a time, all roads from the main ancient city of Chersonesos and the western steppes passed through the valley. At first these were paths, then stone-paved roads. The most famous of them is the “Kalendskaya trail”, which ran from the village of Podgornoye along the Devil's staircase (Shaitan-Merdvenu) to the Mukholatka area. It connected in winter, when storms interfered with sea traffic, the two Roman fortresses of Chersonesos on the Heraclean Peninsula in the Western Crimea and Kharax on its southern coast at Cape Ai-Todor. Now, there is not much left of the road, but there are still areas where the stonework has been preserved, and there is a popular hiking trail.

Pass Baydarskie gates, to which a serpentine road leads from the valley along a mountain covered with forest. The height of the pass above the sea is half a kilometer, therefore, from its observation deck, views of extraordinary beauty open up to the mountains that it separates - Chelebi and Chhu-Bair, and South coast Crimea, primarily to the Resurrection Church, hovering over Foros.

Here, on the pass, there is a restaurant with good food and tents with Crimean souvenirs.

The very imposing arch of the Baydar Gate with an observation deck on the roof is an architectural monument built in 1848 by the project of the architect K.I. Ashliman in honor of the launch of the Yalta-Sevastopol highway, which reliably connects the Western and Southern parts of the peninsula.

Flowers of the Baydar Valley

From early spring to late autumn, something is blooming in the Crimean mountains, and the Baydar Valley is no exception, the flowers of which can be safely called one of its attractions. In February-March, these are snowdrops - Galanthus, almost with them other primroses bloom - scaffolds, crocuses, primroses. In May, they pass the baton to daisies, daisies and dozens of species of other flowers and shrubs, including those from the Red Book. And flowering continues almost to the snow.

In general, 50 tons of Red Book plants grow in the Baydar Valley, and the most famous of them is the Crimean orchid, orchis, of which there are quite a few.

Having decided to visit Crimea, be sure to find time to the Baydar Valley. This unusually beautiful place calms the nerves, pacifies the soul, charges the body with energy for a long time.

What to do after arriving at the Baydarsky reserve? It is almost impossible to answer this question unequivocally. Although one thing is safe to say: here for everyone there is something to their liking. Some who have climbed the Crimean Mountains in this place like to simply rest from the bustle of the city, lying in the tall grass and watching the birds scurrying back and forth. There are those who climb the mountains for the sake of mesmerizing panoramic shots. But especially practical and conscientious people go in search of medicinal plants, preparing for teas, for example, thyme, chicory, yarrow or lemon balm.

Baydarskaya valley. general information

As mentioned above, this area is very famous for its medicinal herbs. Even in antiquity, it received special fame thanks to its rich forests and miraculous springs.

Many people mistakenly believe that the Baydarskaya Valley, which is great for recreation at any time of the year, received such a name thanks to kayak boats. Nothing like this! Historians say that once on the site of the nearby village of Orlinoe there was an ancient Tatar settlement called Baidary, named after one of the local leaders. And more recently, another name has appeared near the valley - Crimean Switzerland. And this is not surprising, because it, surrounded by mountains, has a mild comfortable climate and a wonderful, one might say, unique nature.

There are a lot of attractions in the valley: historical monuments, ancient buildings and places of worship. Water meadows, waterfalls, rocky mountains, canyons, lakes, mountain rivers and juniper groves, yew and beech forests, thickets of hazelnuts and dogwood are a truly magnificent sight.

The flora and fauna of the Baydar Valley are represented by more than 50 plant species and 40 animal species listed in the Red Book. Wild boars, hares, roe deer and foxes live here in large numbers, eagles and falcons soar over the sky, fish splash in reservoirs, ducks swim, and domestic horses, cows, goats and sheep calmly walk in the meadows next to wild animals.

What are Crimea?

As a matter of fact, nothing special. Many will say that the Baydar Gate is another convenient Crimean mountains have many identical ones.

However, not everything is so simple historically. For example, the stone portico once served as an important stronghold. And it was built in the middle of the 19th century.

Now this is only one of them, but during the war, in 1941, in this place a detachment of border guards held back the fascist army for more than a day, not giving it the opportunity to get close to Sevastopol.

Now from this place you can see a picturesque panorama. A dense forest, a blue sea, a church on a rock, a wonderful Baydarskaya valley, Sevastopol, seen below, and an endless firmament delight the eye of any, even the most sophisticated traveler.

Foros Church

The villages of the Baydar Valley look great against the backdrop of a unique temple built high in the mountains. Moreover, the view is magnificent from any corner, and if you want to take a picture as a souvenir without climbing high, you will definitely not have to look for the desired angle for a long time. The exquisite Church of the Resurrection of Christ above Foros seems to be specially posing on the Red Rock at a distance of almost half a kilometer above sea level.

It was built back in 1892 by the tea magnate Kuznetsov as a tax, because at that time only the royal family was engaged in the cultivation and sale of tea. The temple was erected in memory of the accident in 1888, when the tragic train crash of the royal family took place.

Initially, a magnificent two-story church with nine domes, a patterned porch with a bell tower directed upwards, gilded crosses, columns with carved capitals, marble window sills and panels represented all the beauty of the Russian style. Inside the church there was a carved oak iconostasis and walls painted with Byzantine ornaments.

Unfortunately, in 1924 the church was closed, and all its property was confiscated. The church message was shed again only after the restoration in 1990. The churches were erected with new copper domes, gilded crosses, the altar and domes of the temple were painted, and the windows now adorn with colored stained-glass windows. She began to look especially beautiful at night, illuminated by searchlights, against the background of the starry sky.

Brave? Prove it! The famous Devil's staircase of the Baydar Gate

The Devil's Ladder, or Shaitan-Merdveden, is the former reliable and comfortable Mountain pass v Crimean mountains Oh. It connects the foothills and the South Coast. The staircase was used until the last century, and to this day, on the flat bends of the limestone, paired tracks, knocked out by carts, have been preserved. Indeed, the Baydarskaya Valley is fraught with a lot of surprises.

How did this steep mountain slope get such an unusual name? Experts say that the devil's staircase got its name from limestone outcrops in the form of huge slabs that still resemble steps. This name was given not only to the stone staircase itself, but also to the entire pass one and a half meter wide, which is at a level of more than 500 m.Along the pass, rocks and blocks of limestone, steep valleys, road crepes, remains of side walls and stone marches are scattered everywhere.

The path along the Devil's Staircase is very winding and steep. The length of all marches is about 250 meters, and the slope in some places is 30 degrees. The loops of the stairs entwine the stone blockage at the bottom of the gorge, shelves and cornices of the mountains.

Only three turns of the path have survived to this day. It is in vain that many consider such a corner of the peninsula as the Baydar Valley to be flat and safe. Crimea, or rather, its southernmost part, often becomes a venue for mountaineers and rock climbers rallies. It can actually be dangerous here.

Unique natural monument - Uzundzhi Canyon

The most beautiful place in western Crimea is a deep winding gorge with a river of the same name at the bottom. Almost a kilometer-long peaks hang over the canyon. The river takes its source on Mount Ai-Petri at an altitude of over 750 m. It flows through the Uzudzha depression, then abruptly changes the direction of the current, runs along the Skelskaya depression and flows into the river. The length of the river is only 11 km.

If you are lucky enough to find yourself in such a stunning place as the Baydarskaya Valley, Crimea will never cease to amaze you for a minute. Take this opportunity and take a walk along the canyon. The journey will take place along a picturesque narrow mountain road, starting from the Skelskaya cave. Then the path will go along a dirt path in the forest, and finally come out to the walls of an old dilapidated fortress.

By the way, it should be noted that Uzundzhi is the largest freshwater spring in Crimea.

What you didn't know for sure

Many, even very experienced travelers are surprised when they learn that the Baydar Valley, or rather its gate, is also a real gateway to southern Crimea... Going here on an excursion, you should be prepared for the fact that the panorama opening through the arch of the gate will actually make a stunning impression on you.

Skelskaya cave was discovered in 1904 by the teacher F. Kirillov. To date, it has been established that it consists of several halls, the length of the largest is 80 m, the height is 25 m, and the width in some places reaches 18 m.

In 2003, a chapel was built on the Laspinsky Pass in honor of the onset of the second millennium from the birth of Christ, which is worth visiting.

Miracles of the Skelskaya cave

Skelskaya cave, consisting mainly of stalactites, is located in the south-west of Crimea. Its age is several million years. First of all, it is distinguished by its impressive size and the preservation of calcite formations. Note that the cave is divided into halls, each of the rooms has its own characteristics. For example, the Fireplace Hall actually resembles the structure of the same name; the Knights' Hall is considered the most beautiful and largest. You should also visit the Hall of Ghosts and the Dolphin Hall.

The highlights of the cave are a seven-meter stalagmite called "Knight with a Spear", fabulous drips in the form of a waterfall, a dragon's skull with eyes and fangs, a figure of a phoenix bird and others.

The walls of the cave are decorated with bath niches, drip curtains and ribs. This stone miracle has not yet been fully explored, but the length of the known part is about 670 meters. It should be mentioned that since 1964 this place has been a natural monument.

Skel menhirs

If you are going to explore such a stunning corner of Crimea as the Baydarskaya Valley, the map will definitely come in handy. Why? The thing is that not all places are organized excursions, but there is actually something to see here. For example, why not go to the Skelsky menhirs?

Note that in general, menhirs should be understood as the once-created obelisks and steles. Skel menhirs are the first known example of architecture. There are two monolithic blocks in the form of obelisks, placed vertically. They stand at the entrance to the village of Rodnikovskoye. The first menhir is about three meters high and weighs about six tons, while the second is only one and a half meters high. It is more squat and massive.

Historians note the cult affiliation of these monuments and claim that their age is 4-5 thousand years.

Visor waterfall

Not far from the tourist camp "Mulovskoe Lake" is the Kozyrek waterfall. Unfortunately, its historical name has not survived to this day. Although there are legends about the girl who died here and about the mighty wolf who saved the village from enemies.

And it is compared with the canopy because of the underwater-shaped rocky ledge overhanging the grotto, from which fast and cool water runs down even in the summer months.

The Baydarskaya Valley is undeservedly overlooked in most guidebooks. Of course, for those who come to Crimea to lie on the sand and stroll through the parks, it is not particularly attractive. But for lovers hiking- this is what you need.

The subtleties of scientific discussions about the origin of the Baydar Valley are not interesting to everyone. The main thing is that this basin is extremely picturesque. Its dimensions are impressive, 17 × 10 km. central part flooded with the waters of the huge Chernorechensky reservoir - the main Sevastopol "watering hole". And along the edges, at the foot of the mountains, are scattered villages: Peredovoe, Novoborovskoe, Orlinoe, Rossoshanka, Tylovoe, Rodnikovoe. Their old names sound mysterious: Urkusta, Baga, Baidary, Savatka, Haito, Skela. Some of these place names are not translated from any of the currently existing languages.

Against the background of arid outskirts - the Baydar Valley, like a green flower bed. When everything is scorched by the merciless sun, here the ground is still covered with the velvet of fresh herbs. The bottom of the valley is covered with a layer of clayey rocks, which retain moisture and prevent it from seeping down, because groundwater stand close to the surface, feeding the plants. It is no coincidence that one of the translations of the name Baydara (bay-dere (kr.-Tat.)) Is “rich valley”. According to another version, it comes from the Türkic tribal name Baydar or from the words payarova (payar is a magnificent, excellent, plain (Turkic)).

The fertile valley was inhabited by people of the most ancient times. Several Mesolithic sites were discovered here (Fatma-Kaba, Shan-Koba), in the area with. Novoborovka preserved Taurus burials in stone boxes, and right on the outskirts of the village of Rodnikovoy, menhir stones installed by the ancient Crimeans flaunt.

Baydary is the starting point for numerous tourist routes. It's hard to list the number of options hiking, which can be carried out starting from its outskirts. Let's dwell on the simplest and most popular sights.

Geologically speaking ...

The Baydar Valley is a large tectonic depression between the Main and Inner ridges. Its bottom is composed of Lower Cretaceous sandstones and clays, under which lie the Upper Jurassic limestones, absolutely the same as those that formed the surrounding mountains. It follows from this that in the Lower Cretaceous, when the massif of the Crimean mountains experienced an uplift, the area of the Baydar valley either rose very slowly or remained generally at the same level. Here during this period there was a sea bay, while the surrounding areas protruded above the water. Due to the difference in the velocities of vertical movements of the basin and its surrounding areas, there are numerous faults around it.

How to get to the Baydar Valley?

The easiest way to do this is from Sevastopol. 3 Buses to the Baidar Valley villages leave from the suburban bus station "5th kilometer". They go around the entire valley in a circle, stopping in every village. Transport connection good enough. The interval of movement is 1-1.5 hours. Cases of a bus absent from the route are extremely rare. Travel time: Eagle - 50 min., Rodnikovoe - 1 h., Novoboborovka - 1 h. 10 min., Peredovoe - 1 h. 15 min. You can get to the bus station itself:

From the city center by minibuses No. 12,120,17,20 From areas of Kamyshovaya Bay, POR-No. 14, 23 From Streletskaya Bay No. 2.14 From Korabelnaya side No. 17, 20 It is better to focus on flights departing at 7:45, 9:15 ( shuttle bus), 8:50, 9:50 (private, more expensive bus).

You can leave later only if you do not plan to go further than the immediate vicinity. Latest buses from the villages of the valley: at 17:25 (from Peredovoye), 18:00 (from Eagle).

Getting from Yalta is a little more difficult, but real. By bus Sevastopol-Yalta you can get to the turn on the village. Rear. And then either wait for a bus from Sevastopol, or catch a ride (it is better to do this not on the Sevastopol-Yalta highway, but on the road to the Baydar Valley). The opposite is the same option, but keep in mind that the Yalta-Sevastopol bus does not have to pick up voters on the highway and your chances of leaving depend on the driver's mood. On own transport... The turn to the valley is located on the Yalta-Sevastopol highway. For those traveling from Sevastopol, it is more convenient to turn for s. Potternoe (near the sign with the inscription "Shalash"), Left turn. It is more convenient to turn from Yalta by passing Laspinskaya observation deck. Right turn.

Accommodation in the Baydar Valley

There are several guest houses in the Baydarskaya Valley: in Tylov, Orlin, and Kolkhozny. Those who want to live a little in nature can stay there. But houses are usually not cheap. The private sector is poorly developed. For those who prefer budget travel, it is easier to stay in Sevastopol and take buses. There are no official tourist sites. But no one forbids putting up tents in any place they like.

Landscape reserve "Baydarskiy" is a charming and attractive corner of the southwestern Crimea, in which a person is given the rare luck to see all the natural diversity of the peninsula - forests, mountains, canyons, rivers, lakes. Unlike its neighbor, the Yalta Nature Reserve, which has absorbed mainly forests located below the mountain range, Baydarsky is represented by forests and valleys lying north of this natural border, where the largest and most beautiful valley of the reserve, Baydarskaya, stands out.

Boundaries of the Baidarsky and Baidarsky Valley Wildlife Refuge

The limits of the reserve in the south run along the northern border of the Ai-Petrinskaya yayla and along the Foros-Bogaz and Donguz-Orun ridges on the Baydar plateau.

The total area of the Baydar Landscape Reserve is about 28 thousand hectares.

The Baydar Valley occupies central position in the reserve, stretching around the Chernorechensky reservoir and the village of Orlinoe, the old name of which is "Baydary" and gave the name of the surrounding area. The easiest way to draw the boundaries of the Baydarskaya valley is to draw a circular path through the settlements of Orlinoe, Kizilovoye, Tylovoye, Shirokoye, Peredovoye, Novobobrovskoye, Kolkhoznoye, Rodnikovskoye, Podgornoye and again Orlinoye.


Baydar valley surrounded by mountains, Kolkhoznoye village	Mountains surrounding the Baydar Valley near the village of Kolkhoznoye


"the village of Podgornoye", turn to the lake	Route T-2712 (Advanced - Rodnikovskoe) in the Baydar Valley	Stop "Poultry farm" on the T-2712 highway


The village of Kizilovoye near the northern border of the Baydar Yayla, view from the Foros mountain

These villages, dotted on an imaginary oval, surround the valley, where many streams and rivers end their way. All rivers of the Chernorechensky reservoir system are formed in the depths of karst cavities in the limestone of the plateaus.

Baydarskaya valley

It is not for nothing that this valley is called the Crimean Switzerland. If you look down to the north from the height of the Baydar Yayla hanging over it, you will see a charming pastoral panorama of meadows, fields, lakes, small villages and the waters of the Chernorechensky reservoir shining in the distance under the sun before the astonished gaze.

In the forests to the southeast of the reservoir, the remains of an old Roman military road, traced in general outline to the Shaitan-Merdven pass, were found.

The height of the central part of the valley is on average 300 - 350 meters, but closer to the edges the terrain rises to 500 meters, low green mountains hide behind dense forests. It is already noticeably cooler here in winter than on the coast; in summer, accordingly, it is hotter, the climate is close to the steppe.

The heart of the valley is the Chernorechenskoye reservoir. This is one of the largest catchments on the Crimean peninsula. To provide the city of Sevastopol with water, a dam was built in 1956, which made it possible to accumulate supplies of drinking water from natural sources. The Chernaya River became the main donor of the reservoir.

This rather large river by Crimean standards originates in the Skelsky spring near the village of Rodnikovskoye (the old name of this village is Skelia), crosses the Baydarskaya valley and flows into Black Sea in the area of Inkerman.

The small rivers of the Baidar reserve also flow into the Black River, and now into the reservoir that has grown on it: Uzundzha, Bosa, Baga, Baydar, Armanka. The volume of the reservoir is about 60 million cubic meters, but more than once in dry years it approached the critical point of 7 million, after reaching which it was possible to put an end to this unique reservoir. The last time this happened was in 2012-14, when the entire water supply system of Sevastopol was under threat - but the snowy winter and rainy spring of 2015 saved the day.

The Chernorechenskoye reservoir looks especially beautiful when it comes out to the Baydarskaya valley from the southern, higher, forests and from the plateau of the Baydarskaya yayla. There are picturesque canyons both on the Chernaya River and on its tributary Uzundzha. You need to talk about them in more detail.

Scheme of tourist objects of the Baidar reserve:

Chernorechensky canyon and the route along it

This beautiful gorge begins almost immediately after the river leaves the reservoir at the northern foot of Mount Kizil-Kaya (396 meters). Wandering past the rocks, the river twists and turns. Due to the fact that the rocks here are made of limestone, the water was able to cut its way, and we can enjoy the stunning beauty of the canyon.

In the vicinity of the village of Chernorechye, the canyon ends. Walking along the river along the gorge will not be an easy walk. There is no road as such. And where the rocks come close to the water, you need to either go around them from above, or jump over the stones, but with sufficient physical preparation, overcoming these fifteen kilometers of the path will not be a test.

It is easier to start the journey from the village of Chernorechye, which is easy to reach from the nearby Yalta-Sevastopol highway. First you need to visit a local landmark - the Chorgun Tower. This twelve-meter and twelve-sided structure was built in the era of the Crimean Khanates. The tower took part in the battles of two wars - the Crimean and the Great Patriotic War. After examining this historical site, you can enter the canyon.

At first, the road will be quite free, but in the future you need to be careful, not going far from the water and not trying to walk practically on stones in the water, especially in the rain. In the vicinity of the village of Morozovka, you can see the ruins of an old German bridge. A little further - a monument to the partisans, and the so-called partisan meadow.

Climbing the rocks, you can admire the views. Awesome sight! Approaching the reservoir and remembering that the restricted area begins, you need to turn right on the road that appears perpendicular to your path. locality Wide.

Uzundzha canyon

Another gorge worthy of the most rave reviews surrounds the Uzundzha River. This small river eleven kilometers long, however, proved to be persistent enough to cut its way in the rock into the Baydar Valley.

Uzundzha begins from the Suuk-Su spring, which falls just above the waters of the waterfall of the same name. After passing through a picturesque canyon, the river flows into the Black River near the source of the latter. described in the article on the site.

It is only necessary to add that the hike along this canyon is easier and shorter than the one along Chernorechensky. An option to continue the route is a trail along the Uzundzhi tributary of the Topshanar River, which in spring is full enough for small cascading waterfalls.

Waterfall Kozyrёk

If we have already mentioned the waterfalls, then it is imperative to talk about the beautiful ten-meter Kozyryok waterfall. It is located north of the Chernorechensky reservoir, on the outskirts of the Baydar Valley. The third tourist route leads to it.

Near the waterfall there is a tourist camp "Mulovskoe Lake". The canopy is unique primarily in that water falls from a stone shelf hanging over a rounded grotto. Unusual and beautiful. The waterfall is seasonal, so you need to choose the appropriate time of visit. It is located on the Kobalar-Dere River, which a little higher gives several more of the same inconstant waterfalls, but of a smaller size. The river connects two lakes - Nizhnee and Mulovskoe.

Skel menhirs

The discovery of the Skelian menhirs is a major archaeological success. Objects of this size neither in Crimea nor in the European part Soviet Union have not found it yet. In total, four boulders were discovered, hewn by a human hand about four thousand years ago. Menhirs served, apparently, for astronomical purposes.

There are two menhirs in Rodnikovsky. One is 2.8 meters high, the other is one and a half meters, and the smaller one stands behind the fence of the fallen soldiers and partisans of the Great Patriotic War. Find these interesting objects you can in the clearing in front of the local club.

Tash-Koy. Stone village in the Baydar valley

On the outskirts of the village of Novobrovskoye, you can find an ancient stone burial ground, represented by the so-called "Taurus boxes". There was probably a settlement nearby. Many of the boxes are broken, but you can still find a dozen whole, staring into open sky... This burial ground has long been looted, but archaeologists have already met such objects in an intact state on the territory of the Crimean Peninsula, so scientists have an idea of what Tash-Koy used to be like. A meadow overgrown with grass hides the barely noticeable remains of a stone wall, which apparently surrounded the burial ground.

Routes from the Shaitan-Merdven pass to the Baydar valley

Three popular among amateurs lead to the Baydarskaya Valley from the tourist camp "Devil's Ladder", which is located very close to the Shaitan-Merdven pass. active rest route. The Kapurkai trail leads to Rodnikovskoe, Kalendskaya - to Podgornoye (Kalendy is the old name of this village), the trail along the Multash-Uzen ravine - to Pavlovka.


Lake near the village of Podgornoye in the Baydar Valley			Baydarskaya valley. Near the lake in the area of Podgorny

In the area of the tourist site (next to a fork in the road there is a monument to the partisans), the slopes of the mountains are overgrown with a gloomy beech forest, most of the road he will accompany you along any of these three routes... In winter and spring, in the vicinity of the fork, roads broken by cars turn into small lakes. But as soon as you go out into the river gully, it becomes easier to walk.

The Kapurkay trail runs along the narrow Bosa River, along a ravine littered with tree trunks and stones, where water is collected in ponds and baths during floods.

The river along the Kalendskaya trail is even narrower than Bose, but this trail often leaves the forest on the rocky and beautiful slopes of the neighboring mountains at any time of the year. This path is also described in the corresponding article on the site.

The road along the channel of the Armanka River along the Maltash-Uzen ravine (sometimes called a canyon) is much longer than the previous ones. However, she is as picturesque as her neighbors. Translated from the Crimean Tatar, its name sounds like "trading beam". The most beautiful place of the trail is located between the slopes of the Kalenda-Bair (715 meters) and Biyuk-Sinor (738 meters) mountains.

In the Baydar reserve:

You can often hear that the Kalendskaya trail is the same Roman military road, some believe that this road goes from the Skelskaya cave, on which there are traces of paving. There are other versions, although there is still no authoritative opinion. Be that as it may, but the road was, in this historians are unanimous.

Other routes of the Baidar reserve

The route along the Uzundzha canyon has already been mentioned. From the tourist camp "Uzundzha" in the village of Kolkhoznoye, which is located on this route, there is another one, to the north-western border of the reserve, where the tourist camp "Ai-Dimitriy" (29th tourist route) will meet. This road goes around the gorge in the upper reaches of the Uzundzhi River to the west and goes to the tourist camp and the source of Ai-Dimitriy in a picturesque tract.

Near the parking lot, you can find a monument to the forester Ivan Duma, who was tortured to death by the German invaders in 1941. On the way, you can visit the Sundyurlyu-Koba cave near the mountain of the same name (790 meters), for which you will need to give a small detour to the west. Ai-Dimitriy is the point where most of the routes to the east of the Chernorechensky reservoir converge.

Having mentioned the caves, it is imperative to say a few words about Skelskaya. It lies on the way from the village of Rodnikovsky to the tourist camp "Uzundzha". on our website. Immediately, we note that there is a large juniper grove next to the cave and that the most noticeable part of the Roman road is believed to go from the cave, which in the Karadag forest becomes an ordinary path that goes far beyond the Baidar reserve.

To the west of the middle part of the Kapurkay trail there is Nasson's cave, near the groundwater of which the warmest water among the Crimean cave drains is recorded (+10.2 Celsius).

We have already mentioned that the third tourist route leads to the Kozyryok waterfall. And it starts from the same tourist station "Uzundzha", passes through the villages of Rossoshanka, Novobobrovskoe and Peredovoe, until, finally, it leads to the famous waterfall. Route 2 runs from the Peak outside the Baydarskaya Valley and the reserve to the Goristoye tourist site.

Route 28, which connects the Ai-Dimitriy and Bogatoye Gorge Campaigns, is also very popular with tourists. Last title connected with the village of the same name located a little to the north (it is also called Kokuluz).

The road passes along the Kordon-Bair ridge and passes the Bechku (or Kabaniy) pass, on which there is a monument to the partisans. The pass lies on the northern border of the Baidar reserve. The "rich gorge" from the south is supported by the mountains Lysaya (798 meters), Karaman (695 meters), Irita-Kaya (777 meters). There is a good dirt road across the pass connecting the villages of Peredovoe and Putilovka. On the dirt road closer to the first of the named villages there is a tourist camp "Kordon Peredovoe".

Another route starts from the Ay-Dimitriy camp. This time the road leads to the Maly Babulgan tract outside the reserve. The road lies in a picturesque valley between Topshanar (977 meters) and Sarpakha (1065 meters) mountains.

Flora of the Baidar reserve

As already mentioned, the Baydar Valley is devoid of forests; around the Chernorechensky reservoir, steppe vegetation prevails, diluted with small thickets and shrubs.

The southern part of the reserve between the Shaitan-Merdven pass and the Orlinoe-Rodnikovskoe line, on the contrary, is a dark and cool forest, mostly beech. Such a forest covers the beams of numerous streams and streams, preventing other types of trees from entering the company.

The beeches, especially along the Barefoot gully, are of great height and solid diameter. Closer to the Baydar valley, oak, hornbeam, and ash appear. The dominance of these trees is facilitated by the height above sea level - 400-600 meters, where these species feel comfortable.

Closer to the plateaus, on which already stony soils predominate, the terrain rises, and tall trees give way to small and mostly thorny - rose hips, thorns, hold-tree.

The karst formations of the plateaus are covered with a sparse soil layer and generally admit only grasses and flowers. From the height of the plateau, you can clearly see how forests cover the lowlands between the mountains of the Baydar reserve, and the tops of the mountains often remain bald.

To the north and west of the Baydar Valley, there are also dense forests cut by numerous ridges and rivers. Deciduous forests predominate, all the same beech, hornbeam, oak, ash, maple.


	Primroses in February. Baydar Valley, near Rodnikovsky

The territory of the Baidarsky reserve is popular among tourists.

Firstly, all interesting objects are accessible, despite the huge area of the reserve. In the villages of the Baydar Valley, you can come to public transport from the Yalta-Sevastopol highway and continue your way to the objects of interest. A considerable part of the travelers gets to the Baidar reserve through its southern gate - the Shaitan-Merdven pass, from which trails and paths run along the Ai-Petrinskaya yayla and the forests lying to the north. Read more about the pass in the articles on our website. In the same place, get information about another entrance to the reserve - the famous Baydarsky Pass, which admits the Old Sevastopol Highway into the Baydarskaya Valley.

Secondly, there are no absolutely protected objects, so you can, and should, visit and see as much as possible. And large tourist routes, stringing equipped tourist camps, and numerous branches from them allow you to see all the corners of this beautiful land.

Thirdly, the Baydarsky reserve amazes with a variety of landscapes and picturesque landscapes that open to the eyes of a tourist. Here are plateaus and valleys, mountains and forests, river valleys and beautiful lakes.

And, of course, the Baydar Valley, the most beautiful pearl in the necklace of wonders of the Baydar Landscape Reserve.

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