Karadag nature reserve description and photos - Crimea: Koktebel (Topic)

Karadag nature reserve description and photos - Crimea: Koktebel. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photos and a map showing the nearest significant objects.

Photo and description

The Karadag nature reserve is one of the youngest in the former Soviet Union. There were good reasons for its creation in 1979: it was necessary to preserve a unique natural formation, the remains of an ancient volcanic massif, which conceals a lot of interesting and diverse information for geologists, biologists, and zoologists. At the end of the 70s, up to ten thousand people rested here every summer as savages, and twice as many tourists visited this picturesque place for a short time. The flora and fauna suffered greatly from such visits, the reserves of minerals and semiprecious stones, found in many places on the slopes and in the bays of the Kara-Dag, were predatory. There was a fear that in 20-30 years Kara-Dag would turn into a desert, cease to be a natural landmark of the world level.

The long respite was very beneficial. Many species of flora and fauna have recovered. Now the local flora numbers more than 10 thousand species, among which there are many endemics - plants that are not found anywhere else on the globe. 29 species of especially rare plants are included in the Red Data Books. The reserve is now home to 35 species of mammals, 130 - birds, 15 species of reptiles, many rare insects. 18 species of animals are listed in the Red Data Books. Behind these figures is a huge fruitful scientific, educational, security work of scientists and staff of the reserve.

Several years ago, an ecological path was opened here, along which scientific workers lead excursions throughout the season. Every year the popularity of the dolphinarium with trained dolphins and fur seals is growing - a real small circus on the water. An aquarium, a museum of exotic animals, an art gallery of gifts from artists who worked in the Kara-Dag and left a memory of themselves here have been opened.

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Topic: Karadag nature reserve description and photos - Crimea: Koktebel.