Crimean Nature Reserve

This is one of the oldest reserves in Ukraine, the reservation history of which dates back to 1913. Chatyr-Dag (1527 m), Kemal-Egerek (1529 m), Demir-Kapu (1542 m), and the highest mountain in Crimea Roman-Kosh (1545 m) soar up here. Vegetation adorns the slopes of the mountains like belts. Oaks and pines, beeches and hornbeams grow to a height of 1200 m above sea level, where they give place to steppes and meadows.

 

In spring, these mountains and elevated plains are covered with Crocus, fluffy flowers of the Eastern pasqueflower (Anemone patens), bright Gagea and primroses. 17 species of animals, 31 species of birds, 3 species of fish and 8 species of reptiles listed in the Red Book of Ukraine can be found here. They include such exotic species as the Euscorpius tauricus, Galeodes araneoides, and Empusa fasciata. The main representatives of the fauna among animals (mammals) are the red deer (Cervus elaphus), the roe deer (Capreólus capreólus), the wild boar (Sus scrofa), the mouflon (Ovis gmelini), the beech marten (Martes foina), the fox (Vulpes vulpes), the squirrel (Sciurus), the least weasel (Mustela nivalis), the hare (Lepus).

 

In addition, the “Swan Islands” in the Karkinitska Bay also belong to the reserve, where one can encounter 250 species of birds, 40 of which are listed in the Red Book of rare species of Ukraine.