The Red Stone rock is located near the village of Krasnokamenka. The easiest way to get to it is by Partenit bus: the distance from Partenit to Krasnokamenka is 10 km.
From the Krasnokamenka bus stop, you need to climb the stairs to the old Yalta highway - and then turn left onto the road leading to the mountains and to the limestone quarry. After about 20 minutes, the Red Stone will open.
A massive brown rock with bluish streaks rises above the hilly slope of the southern coast, inclined towards the sea. It is in sharp color contrast with the green forest approaching from above and the brown soil visible in the gardens and vineyards.
The rock is compressed vertically and looks like a huge stone drum laid flat on the ground. The height of the Red Stone is 48 m, the diameter is 120-130 m. Its strictly vertical walls with reliable holds have long been chosen by climbers for training.
For other people, the rock is inaccessible and only from the side of the Main Ridge can you climb it along a short stone ridge 15-20 m high.
The base of the battle tower has been partially preserved on the ridge. The fortification was completely built. A foundation of limestone blocks is laid on the rocky base, and walls are built on it from local stone and lime mortar. The width of the walls is about a meter, length 5.5 m. The western wall has been preserved to a height of 2.5 m.
It is believed that on the ridge there was a small fortress of the 12th-13th centuries, connected by a smoke alarm with other fortified points on the South Bank. It closed the approaches to the Main Ridge pass into the river valley on the opposite slope of the Crimean Mountains.
From Red Stone to the Main Ridge it is directly about three kilometers, and from here the mountainous terrain is perfectly visible. Behind the Red Stone, two links of the Main Ridge are connected - Nikitskaya and Babugan-yayla, limiting the vast Gurzuf mountain amphitheater from the north.
If you face the mountains, on the left you will see the rocky spur of the Nikitskaya Yayla, transverse to the sea, with the gloomy gorge of the Avunda River lying underneath it, flowing through Gurzuf. To the north, the spur turns into a higher and more massive Nikitskaya yayla, above the cliff of which in good weather the Gazebo of Winds, built at the edge of the highland, hovers in the clear air.
The Nikitskaya yayla goes down to the right and turns into a deep depression - a pass into the Kachi valley.
On the right side of the Gurzuf saddle, the highest of the Crimean highlands, Babugan-yayla, begins with the main peak of the Crimea - the mountain (1545 m above sea level) and several more “one and a half thousand meters”.
And although they rise quite significantly above the hilly yayla, they are located in the depths of the highlands, and they are not visible either from the Red Stone or from any other part of the South Coast, except Partenit.
Even further to the right you can see an incision into the edge of Babugan, cut through by the Putamish River, which flows through Krasnokamenka and.
The far right place in the panorama of the Gurzuf amphitheater is occupied by the dome-shaped Karaul-Kaya mountain, completely covered with forest.
It is not part of the main line of mountains, but is located slightly to the south and the distant rocky slope faces the Partenitka valley. The ridge extending from Karaul-Kai stretches towards and limits the Gurzuf amphitheater from the east.
The red stone is composed of dark gray dense, slightly rough limestone at the fracture, formed in the Late Jurassic era of geological history. In some places, small calcite crystals are detected in the rock by light reflections. The limestone is broken by numerous cracks, inclined into the slope at an angle of 35 - 40°. There are especially many cracks in the ridge, with which it seems to be excised.
The flat, slightly convex top of the Red Stone is slightly inclined towards the sea. The surface is rocky, and only in places there is soil in the depressions and cracks of the rock. However, the vegetation at the top of Red Rock is quite varied.
Pistachio blunt-leaved and tree-like juniper, groves of rose hips, Crimean jasmine with black round berries, and cotoneaster grow here. And the birds do not ignore the Red Stone. White-bellied swifts swiftly swoop over the rock, falcons hover for a long time, and wild pigeons fly by.
It is worth paying attention to the isolated position of the Red Stone on the southern coastal slope and the fact that it lies on alien compacted clays and sandstones of the Tauride series.
With normal occurrence, Middle Jurassic platy greenish sandstones lie under the Upper Jurassic limestones, and only under them do clays and sandstones of the Tauride series appear.
The red stone, like other limestone rocks on the slope of the South Coast, arose during the long-term destruction of the edge of the Main Ridge. During landslides, rocks and blocks of limestone were torn off from the cliffs of the highlands and collapsed. This was also facilitated by the tremors of destructive earthquakes, which were repeated many times in the last period of geological history and in historical times.
The collapsed rocks and blocks were initially located at the foot of the Main Ridge, and then gradually slid down the clay-sandstone slope of the South Coast.
The destruction and retreat of the cliffs of the Crimean yayls has been going on for several million years. But how quickly does it happen? Where did the Greek colonists, who sailed to the shores of Taurica 2500 years ago, see the Yaila wall? Where was she 180 years ago, during Pushkin’s visit to Crimea?
The yayla cliff recedes at low speed. It can be approximately determined by the volume of rocks and boulders that have accumulated at the foot of the yayls over a certain period of time. Calculations have shown that the rate of retreat of the cliff is on average about 2 mm per year.
Thus, 2500 years ago, during the time of the Greek colonists, the cliff was 5 meters further south, and during Pushkin’s stay in Crimea it was only 36 centimeters further south. In historical times, the cliff did not change its position in any significant way.
Vineyards, peach orchards, tobacco and lavender fields came close to the Red Stone. The world famous “Red Stone” white muscat, awarded with gold medals at international wine exhibitions, was prepared from local grapes.
2016-11-07In this post:
Rest with a tent - Red Stone rock in Gurzuf
There are more than enough places to relax with a tent in Crimea: forests, mountains, wild beaches. But among them there are special places that are impressive at first glance. On their list is Red Rock Rock. It is ideal for an active pastime in the lap of nature.
Description, location
Previously, the rock, located at the northern tip of the village of Krasnokamenka, was called Kizil-Tash. Then the name was simply translated into our language, it turned out “Red Stone”. The nearest settlement was named after the hill. At one time, archaeological excavations were carried out there, as a result of which an ancient outpost was discovered.
Due to its unique features and location, the mountain was once a serious strategic object. It monitored the trade routes that ran at the foot. On the map, the Red Stone rock borders the village. It is clearly visible from almost anywhere in the Gurzuf Valley.
In fact, it is a huge limestone outlier of a mountain range, slowly but surely moving towards the sea. The height of the cliffs of the rock formation in some places reaches 70 meters. The total length of the platform at the top is more than 100 meters, the width is about 50 meters. The site is surrounded on three sides by steep cliffs, which is especially pleasing for climbers. You can meet them here in whole groups. Rock climbing is the most popular and exciting entertainment.
It is possible to get to the top only from the north side, along a narrow winding path. You can't get through it with a car. If you look at the rock from afar, its steep slopes will appear bright yellow, sometimes even red. This is due to the rock that makes up the hill - marble-like limestone of pinkish-yellow color. It is thanks to the rock that the rock received its name.
Not far from the Red Stone rock, the very tasty “White Muscat” grape grows, from which delicious Crimean wine is made. In education itself, you can often meet people who prefer a wild holiday away from noisy civilization. Sometimes there are a lot of tents. Mostly these are climbers who come to the heights for new experiences and achievements.
Even if you're not into rock climbing, you'll have a great time here. The air is intoxicating, fresh, and breathtaking. The views from the top of the lake, the city, the sea and the majestic are capable of stunning everyone. The only drawback is carrying your belongings far from the car. But such an unforgettable experience is worth a little effort. If you stop by the lake, the car will be next to you and fresh water too.
How to get to the Red Stone in Gurzuf
Naturally, if you are going on a wild holiday in a tent, then you should go by personal transport. The exact coordinates on the map are indicated below. Travelers who just want to spend a few hours in one of the most beautiful places in Crimea get by bus No. 2, going from the center of Gurzuf to Krasnokamenka. You need to get off at the last stop in the village. The 60th trolleybus comes here from Yalta. From the stop you will walk through the village towards the cliff. She is noticeable, you can't go wrong.
Photo
Red stone 
Red Stone rock in Gurzuf on the map (tent sites near the lake), GPS coordinates: 44°34’11.1″N 34°17’15.6″E (44.569748, 34.287659)
A holiday on the Red Stone in Gurzuf will bring a lot of new, bright, memorable emotions. From here Crimea opens up from a completely different side. Unforgettable landscapes, majestic elevations and complete freedom are just some of the advantages. Have a pleasant, unique holiday everyone!
There are many unique natural structures in Crimea, and the picturesque and incredibly beautiful Red Stone rock is one of them. It has been considered a natural geological monument since 1969. The rock is surrounded on all sides by vineyards, which have become popular and famous throughout the country - the name of the rock is even immortalized in a wine variety, and Massandra winemakers created the "Red Stone Muscat".
Historical data
Taking into account the data of archaeological excavations, the top of the Red Stone rock had a sentinel fortification in the Middle Ages. In modern times, the dimensions of the fortified platform on top of the Red Stone reach 120 meters in length and 50 meters in width - it was built by Genoese merchants (during the colonization of Crimea), but was almost completely destroyed during the time of the Crimean Khanate. Its northern part can only provide an opportunity to get to the rock along a steep path. Red stone in Crimea consists of marbled limestone of red shades. In fact, this rock is clear evidence of the slow, many-million-year destruction of the main mountain range of the Crimean Mountains - the rocks on which it is located have a completely different geological structure.
Description of the place
Considering the low popularity of this natural monument to the resort, a huge number of tourists come here. Rock climbing enthusiasts love to practice in this wonderful and historical place. Every year a huge number of tourists come here and spend a detailed acquaintance with the natural monument; relaxing in tents gives an incredible feeling. The rock has a fairly impressive size - a height of more than 48 meters and a transverse size in the lower part of about 130 meters.
For an ordinary person, the strict walls of the Red Stone in Crimea are impregnable; they can only be climbed from the Main Ridge, along a ridge whose height reaches more than 20 meters. From the side of the Red Stone rock, parts of the Main Ridge of the Crimean Mountains are visible - Babugan-Yayla and Nikitskaya Yayla, limiting the local natural amphitheater. From the rock to these natural landmarks in a straight line no more than 3 km.
Climbing to the top of the rock you can see beautiful landscapes of nature and meet the remains of a tower that evoke the turbulent events of the past.
Having visited Red Stone in Crimea, you can have a wonderful rest, admiring the panorama of sea and mountain landscapes. This place, like the Adalary rocks on the coast, will give tourists a wonderful experience and will leave its mark in the memory of everyone who has visited this natural monument.
There are many attractions in Crimea. The most famous of them are: the Grand Canyon, Mount Ai-Petri and Swallow's Nest. However, there are other very interesting, but, unfortunately, little-known places on this peninsula. The Pink Lake also falls into the category of such attractions. In Crimea it is the saltiest.
Where is it located?
This interesting tourist attraction is located on the territory of Cape Opuk, approximately 30 km from Kerch. Once upon a time there was a military training ground in this place. But not so long ago the Opuk Nature Reserve was created here. The area of this reserve is not too large. But at the same time, a huge number of different kinds of rare birds live on its territory. Opuk was removed from the command of the military training ground in 1998. At the moment, it includes not only this cape itself, but also part of the coastal territory, as well as outcrops standing in the sea, called “Ship Rocks” for their unusual shape.
The Pink Lake itself in Crimea is located on Opuk in close proximity to the Black Sea. This body of water is separated from it only by a not too wide sandy embankment.
A little history
Story ( bcnjhbz) near the Pink Lake in Crimea is quite interesting. It belongs to the group of volcanic ones. That is, it was formed a very, very long time ago. In fact, even today its bottom is a dormant volcano. Not so long ago, Pink Lake was part of the Black Sea. However, later the surf brought a lot of sand here. Because of this, an embankment-lintel was formed.
Brief description
So, we found out where Pink Lake is in Crimea. It is located near Kerch. Its official name is Koyashskoye. This unusual body of water is quite large in size. Its total area is about 5 hectares. The lake reaches 4 km in length and 2 km in width. You will not be able to swim in this reservoir. Its depth in spring reaches only 1 meter. By autumn, the lake dries up completely. This reservoir is actually very salty. Therefore, practically no living creatures are found in it. The salt concentration in it reaches 350 grams per liter. This is definitely a lot. Koyashskoye is the saltiest body of water on the Crimean peninsula.
The mud in this lake is healing. They are mined and supplied for the treatment of vacationers to local sanatoriums. You won't be able to swim in this lake. However, you can smear yourself with mud on the shore. There is enough water to wash them off.
Why pink?
The main feature of this reservoir that attracts tourists to it is, of course, not its shallow depth or high salt content. Of course, it was not for nothing that the lake was called pink. The water in it really has this color. This body of water looks especially beautiful at sunset. In fact, the name Koyashskoye itself translates as “the lake in which the sun hides.”
In spring, the water in this reservoir has an ugly brown-brown dirty color. However, already in June, with an increase in air temperature, its shade begins to change quickly. This is primarily due to the vital activity of algae breeding in the lake Dunaliella Salina.The beta-carotene it produces gives the water a delicate, juicy pink hue.
When is the best time to go?
In spring, the water in Lake Koyashsky is not very beautiful. But you can admire the surroundings of this reservoir in April-May. At this time, a huge number of tulips bloom along the shores of the lake. They almost cover the local hills with a carpet.
In order toappreciate beautyhimselfPink lake in Crimea, it’s worth coming here in mid-late summer. It is during this period that algae develop most actively, and the water acquires a truly beautiful shade.
Closer to autumn, the lake, as already mentioned, dries up. But even at this time it looks quite impressive. The fact is that the beta-carotene contained in its water turns salt pink.
Later, in the fall, due to rains, the lake begins to fill with water again. At this time of year, the layer in its bowl is not too large - about 2 cm. But because of it, the lake looks like a huge clear mirror. Tourists walking along the pond at this time of year feel like they are floating in the air due to the reflecting clouds.
How to get to Pink Lake in Crimea?
Get to this unusual natural siteon the peninsula you can follow the Feodosia-Kerch highway. At the sign "Marfovo-Marevka",not reaching about 20 km to the city,you need to turn towards the Black Sea. The road ahead will not be very good. You should be prepared for this. Having reached the village of Maryevka, you need to turn straight towards the coast onto a country road. It may not be possible to drive through it in a regular car, as it is heavily rutted. Some part of the journey will most likely have to be covered on foot. But get to the cape by jeepThe dough will turn out without any problems.
Opuk Nature Reserve
Where is the Pink Lake in Crimea located specifically -It's clear. But it’s still not worth going on an excursion to see him spontaneously.Illegal entry into the reserve territoryat Cape Opukprohibited. In order to get into the reserve, you needat firstobtain a pass by first submitting an application to its administration. Hereshouldindicate the purpose of the visit, the number of people wishing to see the cape and their age.You don't need to travel anywhere to apply. Do itYou can, for example, via the Internet. The reserve has its own VKontakte group.
Other Pink Lakes of Crimea
Koyashskoye actually looks very beautiful. However, in Crimea there are other salt lakes of the same pleasant color. In this case, the effect is caused by the same algae. Lakes such as Krasnoi and Staroye, for example, have a pink tint on the peninsula.
Both bodies of water are located on the territoryKrasnoperekopsk City Councilin the west of the peninsula. These lakes also look very impressive.
In Crimea there are many natural places that are recognized as natural monuments. One of them is the “Red Stone”, also known as Kizil-Kaya or Gelin-Kaya - a huge rock located on the outskirts of the Yalta Nature Reserve, not far from Gurzuf. It is a popular tourist attraction that annually attracts a large number of vacationers.
Natural miracle of the Gurzuf basin
This unique natural attraction looks like a huge boulder, as if it came from outer space. In fact, the Red Stone is a so-called “outlier” - a part of the rock that broke away from the main Crimean mountain range and is slowly sliding towards the sea. Red stone is a rock with a flat top and vertical walls, about seventy meters high from the surface of the earth and four hundred and thirty meters above sea level. The transverse size of the rock below is at least one hundred and thirty meters. Scientists claim that the speed of the rock’s sliding is such that in two hundred thousand years this block will already be in the waters of the Black Sea. Of course, for us this time period is incomprehensible, but by the standards of geology and history of the Earth we can say that the Red Stone slides down on light clay, as if on a sled down a snowy hill. This natural landmark got its name from its color.
The walls of the rock are made up of marble-like limestone of a pink-yellow hue, and the flat top is completely red. The rock looks especially impressive during sunrises or sunsets, when it is all painted in various red shades.
The color contrasts at this time are very clear and this makes it look even more picturesque. Next to the Red Stone there is a wonderful lake. It is very beautiful here in the spring, when scarlet poppies bloom along its banks against the background of green grass.
Legends of the Red Stone
This unique natural attraction is also called the Bride’s Rock and this name is associated with an existing legend. One day a young girl was hurrying on a bay horse to meet her fiancé. However, his insidious mother, who was an evil witch, cast her spell on the beauty and turned her and her horse into a large rock. This is how this enchanted Rock of the unfortunate bride has stood for a long time. According to another legend, a young girl climbed a rock to escape persecution. However, seeing that there was no way to hide, she simply threw herself down from the top of a high vertical cliff. By luck or God's providence, the fall was successful, and the girl remained unharmed. In honor of this significant event, local residents built a monastery on this site.
According to another version of this legend, the girl managed to hide on the top of the mountain. From then to the present, she lives there and waits for her chosen one, with whom she is ready to share love and the treasures stored in the depths of the rock.
If you look at the huge block of stone from the northwest, its gigantic cliff in its outline resembles the multi-meter profile of the leader of some Indian tribe. They also say that inside this huge rock there is a secret cave where partisans hid during the war, although there is no modern evidence of this. One can only guess how many more mysteries and secrets this natural miracle holds.
Tent holiday
The red stone has only one relatively flat side - this is the northern part with a rather steep path, which in ancient times was a road. It is not without difficulties, but without the appropriate preparation and necessary equipment you can climb to its top. The remaining walls are vertical on all three sides, so they are always popular with climbers who are not looking for easy ways and come here to hone their skills. Conveniently, there is a lake with cool water nearby, which is fed from underground springs; on the western side, Red Stone is washed by the Putamish River, and on the eastern side by a spring with clear ice water.
Climbers and just hikers set up tent camps here, so it’s extremely difficult to be alone with this natural wonder.
Perhaps at the top, where another surprise awaits everyone who climbs the rock - the ruins of the ancient fortress of Gelin-Kaya - an isar built in the thirteenth-fourteenth centuries.
Medieval Isar Gelin-Kaya
Today, the remains of the ancient fortification that occupies the peak are about one hundred and twenty meters long and up to fifty meters wide. The views from the top of the rock are simply amazing: the entire Gurzuf basin between Mount Ayu-Dag and Cape Nikitsky, a seaside strip with wonderful parks and large vineyards, picturesque panoramic views of the main Crimean ridge. It is simply impossible to tear yourself away from these natural landscapes. The flat top of the rock is divided into two parts by a fault and is practically devoid of vegetation. Here you can find only prickly juniper, a few rose hips, grass and a lot of stones.
A small but practically impregnable fortress was built during the period of the Genoese colonization of Crimea. It performed the tasks of a guard post and controlled the routes from the steppe regions of Crimea to the southern coast.
The fortress had a square tower ten meters high. It occupied a dominant position, especially over the northern part of the fortification, and carried out not only defensive and combat missions, but also performed patrol functions. If you look closely at the ruins, you can see the preserved corner of this tower, which is taller than a man. It was built from rubble stone, cemented with lime mortar. In addition to the tower, the passage to the plateau was blocked by a rather powerful defensive wall, thirty meters long and one and a half meters wide. Its size is evidenced by several rows of stone masonry that have survived to this day. An analysis of the ruins shows that the ancient military architects and builders, assessing the unique topography of the area, did the opposite: first they placed a tower, then a fortified passage and after that the main fortress wall with a gate. That is, we got a kind of inside-out fortress, where everything was done very thoroughly and rationally. The only thing that the builders of the fortress were unable to do was provide water. It was partially collected from tiled roofs, and mostly delivered in wineskins, creating a reserve in large pithoi.
Obviously, despite the inaccessibility of the isar, its small size, small garrison and known problems with water made the fortification unviable during a prolonged siege.
At the same time, the fortification existed until the time of the Crimean Khanate. Today, the ruins of the ancient Isar consist of individual stones, rock cuts and fragments of tiled roofing.
In the southern part of Red Stone there was previously a small church and other buildings. Currently, a cross has been erected on the site of the church. Archaeologists have found here parts of ceramic products from the Greco-Byzantine era of the sixth to tenth centuries: amphorae, pieces of roofing tiles, fragments of glazed cups and bowls, jugs, parts of pithoi. In fact, the finds are few, but they give a sufficient idea of the life and activities of man in these places in the Middle Ages.
Another attraction of this area is the excellent wine “White Muscat”, which is obtained from grapes from local vineyards located around the rock. The quality of this wine is evidenced by the fact that at prestigious competitions it received eighteen gold medals, it was twice recognized as world wine No. 1 and awarded the corresponding Grand Prix cups.
Muscat was highly valued by Queen Elizabeth II of England herself, who was sent a two-hundred-liter barrel of this sunny drink every year in the sixties of the last century.
Getting to the Red Stone with the ruins of an ancient fortress is easy. It is enough to get to the village of Krasnokamenka. The rock is visible from everywhere, it takes no more than fifteen minutes to walk to it and it is simply impossible to accidentally pass by.