Caves of Crimea - a journey into the world of miracles not made by hands. Crimean caves On your own in the caves of Crimea

Caves attract with their history and mystery, and the caves of Crimea are an absolutely unforgettable sight. Crimea is a wonderful peninsula where both sea lovers and mountain lovers can find amazing tourist routes. Both active and passive recreation are pleasant here, but the mysterious caves in Crimea are especially interesting. So, what are the caves of Crimea, how to get to them, what are they called, photos, videos, which caves of Crimea are open to the public, we will tell you below.

Weeping Grotto

Danilcha-Koba (Weeping Grotto) is a natural monument that attracts with its mystery and splendor. Several centuries ago, the temple of St. Daniel was located in it, so researchers believe that the name comes from the name of this saint. By the beginning of the twentieth century, the walls of the temple were only 140 centimeters, and then it was completely destroyed. The fact that there was once a holy place here can only be guessed from some traces near the exit.

The Weeping Grotto is one hall, the length of which is 12 and the height is 4 meters. In the middle of the hall there is a pond, the depth of which in some places reaches two meters. The water here is crystal clear and cold (about 7 degrees Celsius). There are also small baths around the perimeter of the grotto where tourists can discover cave pearls.

Binbash-Koba

Thousand-headed Cave - that’s what the researchers called it during the study. During the first reconnaissance, numerous skulls were found in the bosom of Binbash-Koba: these were the remains of both animals and people. According to the legend retold by the local population, residents once hid here from nomads. The barbarians were unable to get inside and decided to set fire to the entrance. As a result of the arson, everyone who sought refuge in this cave died. But researchers have refuted this legend. According to the examinations carried out, the people to whom the skulls belonged were quite advanced in age, which makes it possible to assert that this was a burial ground.

The cave located on Chatyrdag has a very narrow entrance, and then a tight tunnel that turns into a gallery leading to a small hall. From this hall two corridors lead into a large semicircular hall. Binbash-Koba stretches for as much as 110 kilometers underground.

Bottomless Cave

On the Chatyr-Dag plateau there is a beautiful and mysterious cave - Bottomless. It attracts mainly people who love adventure and danger, since not everyone can visit this miracle of nature. Only a person with specialized equipment can go down into the grotto, and even if this is not the first time, the company of a speleologist or a specially trained person (often athletes) is required.

At an altitude of 1000 meters there is an entrance in the very depths of the karst sinkhole. The length of the entire cave is 410 meters, and its depth is 190 meters.

The dive into the shaft begins with a 17-meter ladder leading to a shelf. The width of the shaft differs in size: if at the entrance it is 5 meters, then it increases to a maximum of 25. Due to the fact that the cave is vertical, in winter a lot of snow falls into it, which in the spring turns into a fascinating glacier.

Kiik-Koba

Not far from the village of Zuya there is a grotto called Kiik-Koba. The area is 50 square meters. Its name translates as “wild cave”, since it was here that the remains of ancient people were found (a Neanderthal site). Researchers in the grotto discovered the remains of a woman and child, approximately 100,000 years old. Also in the cave were primitive tools of ancient man and bones of extinct animals.

The discoveries that were made in the grotto turned the entire scientific world upside down, so if you want to touch history, be sure to visit Kiik-Koba and other caves of Crimea. Photo:

Iograph Cave

The Iograph Cave, located slightly above Yalta, is very attractive for tourists. At a time when the local population was persecuted by the Turks for Christianity (8th-9th centuries), the church of the Christian martyr Evgraf was founded here. During the first explorations of the cave, parts of lamps, various decorations (mostly copper and glass), an iron cross and fragments of an ancient marble icon were found here.

A visit to the cave will turn into an exciting journey, where tourists will appreciate the beauty of the rather cramped passages and one, but large hall. Also, no matter how hot the season is, the purest drops of water drip from the stalactites directly onto the altar.

Marble Cave

Crimea is a treasure trove of the most stunning places in the world. One of the most beautiful sights of Chatyrdag is the Marble Cave. The duration of all passages and halls is about two kilometers, and the depth is 50 meters. The Marble Cave is one of the five most beautiful caves in the world and is popular among tourists from Europe.

The first advantage of an excursion to this cave is that there is no need to be a rock climber or speleologist in order to move freely and safely along the route. The most important thing is comfortable clothes and shoes.
Having plunged deep into the cave, tourists find themselves in a fairy-tale world: the beauty of stalactites and stalagmites, stone waterfalls, corallite flowers, openwork pools and small baths of water, sagging on the walls. And if you add magical music and lighting to all this beauty, the impression will be indescribable, you will forever remember what the Marble Cave in Crimea is. The official website of the caves, where you can see their prices, is onixtour.com.ua.

Red Cave

The longest cave in Europe, Kyzy-Koba, is also located on the Crimean peninsula. Its length is 26 kilometers, and its total area is 64 square kilometers. The length of the corridors is constantly growing, since a river flows through the lower “floors”, which constantly washes away new and new corridors. It is difficult to follow them, but it is possible if you have a wetsuit (due to the low water temperature).

The cave is rich in various artifacts of the 7-6 centuries BC - these are bronze arrowheads, women's jewelry (beads, bracelets, rings), and remains of ceramic products.

The intricacies of labyrinths and tunnels form six floors. According to research, in front of the caves there was an ancient human settlement. Most likely these were the Cimmerians who lived more than 2500 years ago.

Tourists visiting the cave can plunge into the world of pristine beauty and history. Guides conduct tours from 2 to 5 hours in time. The group size ranges from 2 to 25 people. There are regular routes or extreme ones, where tourists, when equipped, can visit the red caves in Crimea, in which a river flows, and penetrate new halls and passages. The official website where you can find a description and what the Red Caves of Crimea are, prices for visits and schedules - kizilkoba.ru.

Viking cave

This is what the famous Red Cave of Crimea is sometimes called. This is due to the organization of the Viking cinema park, which is necessary for filming the film. The life of the era of brave people of the 8th-11th centuries is clearly depicted in a place located next to the Kizil-Koba cave. It is as mysterious as the Red Cave itself, where in ancient times there was an ancient sanctuary where bloody sacrifices were made to cruel gods. Legend says that a tribe of terrible Cyclops lived in an inaccessible dungeon. They guarded the wealth located in the cave. According to Homer, Odysseus encountered them during his travels.

The specific red color of the cave is explained by the high content of iron oxides. The length of the cave is 17 km. It is the longest underground cavity in Crimea. This is a 6-story labyrinth consisting of several caves. Two routes are organized for tourists. Basic, extreme. Having chosen the first route, you need to have a warm jacket. In the second case, a wetsuit is mandatory. At the bottom of the cave there is an interesting river that is part of the route. The only way to overcome it is by swimming. Groundwater forms the famous Su-Uchkhan waterfall on the surface. Inside the cave there is a waterfall called the Pink Jet. Red Viking Cave (Crimea) is considered to be actively growing. New sinter formations are formed in it, new halls and galleries are formed, created by underground waters. You can get here along the Yalta highway to the Red Caves sign.

Skelskaya

The Skelskaya cave is located in Crimea, along the southern slope of the Ai-Petri mountain range. Not far from the village of Rodnikovoe, which is easy to reach from Sevastopol. A marked path, laid from a place formerly called Skelya, indicates the direction to the cave. It appeared in marble-type limestones during a tectonic fault under the influence of the destructive force of groundwater. Originally it was a large hall, constantly decorated by nature with several separate galleries in the form of three levels, decorated with calcite formations. The structure of the cave resembles a staircase, which suggests that its name originates from the Greek word “skele” or staircase.

The opening of the cave is considered to be 1904. Extreme sports enthusiasts often penetrated into the depths of different levels of the cave. Organized tourist routes appeared in 2004 after the development of safe excursion routes to the underground kingdom, which is several million years old. The existing length of excursion paths is about 270 m with a total length of the cave of 670 m. All levels are connected by vertical wells. Access is possible with a guide. The lower level has deep underground lakes and rivers. The Skelskaya cave is considered to be the supplier of water to mountain streams and the Baydar reservoir.

In Crimea, the official website of the cave is speleotur.com, where you can find all prices and conditions for excursions.

Nowadays, pedestrian paths and unusual bridges are equipped with modern equipment that creates optical illusions that emphasize the mysterious beauty of calcite sinter formations. The fantastic kingdom of figures of strange animals is amazing, from the gopher to the sculptures of the Dolphin Hall, the lady in the Hall of Ghosts, the Phoenix bird, and numerous fairy-tale heroes. The outlines of the famous sights of Crimea, Swallow's Nest, Foros Temple, appear unexpectedly when illuminated, raising questions, delight, and surprise. Looking at this beauty, you begin to believe in the living spirit of the dungeon, created by the outlines of a strange figure in the Fireplace Hall of the cave. Or freeze when looking at the 7-meter figure of the Knight standing in the center of one of the halls of the Skelskaya cave. The unique speleofauna of the cave is listed on the pages of the Red Book. In summer, here you can admire the amazing blooming Comperia orchid, found only in Turkey.

Emine Bair Khosar - cave in Crimea

The cave is one of the five beautiful caves in the world. You can enter it through an artificial entrance located next to a natural vertical well. The Bair Cave (Crimea) contains numerous bones of animals that lived here in ancient times. Now a collection of the remains of a cave lion, mammoth, and woolly rhinoceros can be seen in the cave museum. Since 1999, a route has been opened for tourists, going through the upper halls, next to the underground lake, through the halls of Idols, the Monomakh, Main, Throne, and Dublyansky halls. The length of the cave is 1460 m, the depth is 125 m, the area of ​​the known galleries is about 12,000 sq. m. m, located on five levels. The lower level, covered by a huge boulder, is considered a reserve in order to preserve the natural miracle.

The first description of the cave was made in 1927 after descending into the well and discovering the first, large hall. For many years, the entrance to the cave was specially closed by speleologists to prevent the unregulated invasion of lovers of exotic dungeons. There are 700 m of walking routes for excursions. Bair Khosar Cave (Crimea) - this name comes from the Turkic words: Amy-oak, Khosar-well, Bair-slope. A well on a slope near an oak tree. You can get to the cave along a path leading from the trolleybus line through the village of Mramornoe, a holiday village, and a limestone quarry.

The main part of the cave is considered to be the halls of Nocturne, Red Poppies, and a huge dome. A film was made about the decorations of the cave made of multi-colored crystals of different origins. The journey through the internal halls takes place along a concrete, comfortable path. The walls are covered with cascades of smears, similar to buds of unknown flowers, burning with millions of bright stars in the rays of lanterns. Numerous legends still live about the underground lake of the cave. One of them tells about the fate of the girl Emine, who was thrown into a well by her father because of her love for a guy from an enemy family. To this day, the Emine Cave (Crimea) preserves her spirit, which is interesting to hear about under the arches of the cave.

Mammoth Cave (Crimea)

Another name for the underground kingdom of Emine Bair Khosar is the Mammoth Cave. Finds by paleontologists in the form of a whole mammoth skeleton were made not far from the entrance. They are considered a unique phenomenon requiring scientific research. Until now, scientists from different countries are trying to determine the reasons for the appearance of ancient animals in unusual conditions for their life. Perhaps he fell into a trap set by an ancient man about whom we have yet to learn. An invaluable asset in the form of preserved animal remains, stored in the cave museum, is a testing ground for valuable exhibits for scientific work, using modern knowledge and special equipment. Storing them in cave conditions prevents the rapid destruction of remains in the air. One of them is considered to be taphonomic analysis, which will make it possible to determine the exact time of the death of the mammoth, for example, during the Mousterian era, the Paleolithic. In addition to interesting excursion routes, Mammoth Cave (Crimea) has become a real scientific center for the study of human prehistory.

Soldier's Cave

In Crimea it is considered the deepest, most impassable cave in Crimea. High, steep wells and halls completely flooded with water are accessible only to experienced athletes. During a group visit, you must register with the local rescue service. Before entering the cave, leave a list of all participants. Strictly follow the rules prohibiting lighting fires in cave halls. When starting the descent, it is necessary to bring down weakly reinforced stones and loose rock. Be sure to leave movement marks in the branches necessary for returning.

The cave is located at an altitude of about 980 m near the Egis-Tinas lakes on the Karabi-Yayla mountain range. The cave was named after the soldiers who died in various wars. The path to it starts from the village of Krasnoselovka.

Three-Eyes on Ai-Petri

The cave has three holes through which descent is organized. The cave has been known to the local population for a long time. It was often used for long-term storage of food, prey for hunters and fishermen. Blocks of ice from their caves were supplied to the palaces of Crimea as refrigeration chambers. Sometimes that’s why it’s called Ledyanaya or Vorontsovskaya. Inside the cave there is a huge snowdrift. They throw coins at it as a souvenir, returning here again. The central entrance of the cave looks like an ice palace.

You can see the cave by taking the cable car up to the yayla. Or along the tourist trails Taraktashskaya, Korenzskaya. There are convenient signs everywhere.

MAN on Demerdzhi

The cave, located on the slope of Northern Demerdzhi, was discovered in 1963 by schoolchildren from the Small Academy of Sciences (MAN). The length of the cave is 30 m, the height is from 3.5 to 10 m. There were drawings on the walls that are poorly preserved at present. Experts studying the cave came to the conclusion that its appearance is associated with the bed of an underground river flowing in this place. A huge gorge between the mountains proves this assumption. At the end of the cave there is a vertical 30-meter well. At its bottom a large number of bones of various animals were found. Calcite, deposited in faults and cavities in caves, shines in the diffused light under the rays of the setting sun, creating fantastic pictures.

An altar-like altar-like altar stone formed above the ancient rock collapse, creating a special atmosphere in the cave. In ancient times, there was a sanctuary of the Taurians here. MAN does not have organized routes for tourists. You can get here along the path coming from the Angarsk Pass. It is not allowed to visit the cave, located near Alushta, without a guide.

Many people who have visited Crimea at least once for the purpose of a resort holiday admire its natural beauty and architecture.

The peninsula can be called a full-fledged open-air museum, but much is hidden underfoot: luxurious caves always fascinate with their mystery, because they were created by nature itself, and this cannot but delight.

Crimean caves are mostly low, which is sometimes not very convenient for travelers, but because of this you cannot refuse to visit them. You can’t help but admire the underground rivers and full-fledged lakes, so you can get more pleasure and vivid emotions than when visiting a geological museum. No other museum has so many luxurious halls and mysterious grottoes that beckon you to go in search of an ancient treasure. The historical mesmerizing setting is complemented by the play of light and shadows, so even skeptical tourists will certainly appreciate it.

The mountain range is considered the richest in various caves, because it is here that the most famous and beloved by tourists are located. By the way, they became accessible to tourists not so long ago, since their existence was first discovered in 1987, but this did not prevent them from taking their rightful place among the five most interesting caves in the world. Marble-like limestones, of course, make the caves incredibly beautiful and mesmerizing; this rare combination of natural resources and beautiful natural landscapes amazes with its grandeur; the special atmosphere allows you to relax for your own pleasure.

For the convenience of tourists, literally two years later the caves were equipped with stairs, paths and lighting, and several unique routes were laid out so that tourists had the opportunity to explore the most luxurious places in the caves. This is what made the Marble Caves the most visited place among tourists and guests of Crimea.

No less popular among guests of Crimea is Emine-Bair-Khosar, which is called the Mammoth Cave. The entrance is designed in the form of a trap for large animals; there is a possibility that mammoths were caught this way in ancient times. Hence the name.

It should be noted, because it is considered one of the largest throughout the Crimea. Its length is more than twenty kilometers; inside there are many routes for tourists, interesting halls and mysterious caves.

Summer holidays in the caves of Crimea are especially pleasant for tourists and guests of the island, since the air temperature here does not rise above 12 degrees Celsius. Here you can not only explore interesting natural attractions, but also take a break from the heat in a comfortable, cool environment.

Crimean caves will be able to diversify your vacation, giving a lot of positive emotions and pleasure from your visit. While in Crimea, do not miss the opportunity to visit at least one natural attraction of the peninsula, created by nature itself.

Emine-Bair-Koba - ancient cave of Chatyr-Dag

Near the famous Crimean village of Mramornoe there is a cave Emine-Bair-Koba. Sometimes you can hear the name Three-Eyes, which arose due to three exits, 2 of which are shaped like a nostril, which gave birth to another name. The grotto became widely known in 1927, when a scientific article about it appeared in the magazine “Crimea”.

It has been proven that the Emine-Bair-Koba cave was formed thanks to a mountain river that flowed through Chatyr-Dag more than 10 million years ago. Now all that remains of it are cavities, thoroughly washed out by powerful water currents.

For excursion groups and individual visitors, access is only possible 70 meters deep into the cave. Professionals can go further and see another 140 meters of underground beauty, but they will need special equipment. There is nothing there except safety rods, rope handrails and poor lighting.

Usually tourists are shown 2 halls, which are located near the main entrance on 2 levels. Sinter formations are similar to corals. You can see pebbles here and there. Speleologists are still trying to figure out how it got there.

Below is a catalog where you can choose and book excursions to the caves of Crimea

Red Caves - Kizil-Koba

The Kizil-Koba cave offers more than 27 kilometers of beauty. It was formed approximately 2.5 million years ago. During this time, an ancient man even managed to settle there. Historians have proven that this happened 70 thousand years ago. You can also find the name “Red Caves”. It appears due to the reddish tint of the sediments and multiple entrances providing access to each of the 6 levels.

The Kizil-Koba cave is located near the village of Perevalnoye, Simferopol region. Inside you can see the mountain river Kizilkobinka, whose waters serve to fill the Su-Uchkhan waterfall. The miraculous stalagmite sculptures are impressive: the Master, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Dwarf.

It doesn’t get hot in the cave labyrinths: the temperature is constantly +10 degrees, so you need to dress warmly, because the excursion usually lasts an hour. Tourists are guided along a half-kilometer-long route. It is also possible to order an extreme tour, which will take about 6 hours. To overcome this path you will need special suits and equipment.

Skelskaya - four-tier cave

At the beginning of the last century, not far from the village of Skelya near Sevastopol, a grand discovery was made: a local teacher accidentally discovered a huge underground cavity, which later received the name Skelskaya cave. Access to its depths was not opened immediately, but only after half a century. During this time, smooth paths, steps and lighting appeared there, which was a prerequisite for receiving tourists.

The length of the passages is almost 700 meters, while the total area of ​​the cave is 1500 square meters. m. The halls and galleries are located on 4 tiers. Their height is so great that it made it possible to create 3 viewing platforms. From there you can admire the overall picture, which consists of sinter formations and huge stalagmites. Particularly impressive is the “Knight”, whose height exceeds 7 meters. Watch an interesting video tour of the attraction:

When planning to visit the Skelskaya Cave in Crimea, you should prepare for the fact that it is very damp and cold inside. The temperature stays at 12 degrees all year round. Tours here last about 50 minutes, so you need to take warm clothes with you.

Geophysical - cave with luminescent glow

On the territory of the Yalta Mountain Forest Nature Reserve on Mount Ai-Petri there is a Geophysical Cave, which was opened to tourists only in 2009. It was here that the luminescence of the formations was first noted: due to the fact that they contain manganese and copper, when hit by light from a flash, the growths and nodules begin to glow in shades of green, yellow and blue.

To get to the halls of the cave, you will have to overcome a 28-meter spiral staircase, which is located in a vertical shaft 60 m deep. The grotto is 140 meters long. You need to be prepared for the temperature inside to be about 10 degrees.

Below, complex galleries and halls open before the tourist. Pearl surprises with numerous pointed formations on the walls and vault, which have a pleasant green color. A geophysical cave in Crimea attracts travelers who want to look at a 6-meter stalactite. That's great rarity. Also in one of the halls there is a bizarre sinter formation, very similar to a multi-tiered wedding cake.

Many stalactites, united with stalagmites, turned into stalagnates. Due to the characteristics of the breed, they acquired a yellow-mustard color. There is even a small lake with clear water at the bottom of the cave.

Yalta - cave with stone jellyfish

The Ai-Petri mountain range contains many cavities, but not each of them has been fully explored. More recently, at the end of the 20th century, the Yalta Cave was discovered. And the first tourist came there only in 2007, when conditions were created for receiving visitors. There are 2 halls inside. For ordinary people, there is only access to the main gallery. The second, which is located at the lower level, requires special training and equipment.

The entrance to the dungeon is very convenient: the steps go very shallow. Typically the excursion lasts 25 minutes: the area of ​​the equipped area is only 180 meters, so this is enough time to carefully examine everything. The vault is decorated with pasta stalactites of varying lengths and thicknesses, and stone jellyfish adorn the walls. Special lighting creates a feeling of magic.

Three-Eyes - Ice Cave

There are many different grottoes and cavities on Mount Ai-Petri. Among the most famous and visited is the Three-Eyes Cave. It is named so because of the presence of three cavities that are similar to the eye sockets, albeit empty. To get inside, you will have to overcome a long staircase leading to the bottom.

You can also find the name Ice Cave. It was given because of a huge snowdrift that formed in the main hall. Over the years, the snow turned into ice, some of which was removed for use as a cold accumulator. With its help, food and wine located in the cellars of Count Vorontsov were cooled.

The main hall of the Trekhglazka cave occupies 150 square meters. m. The walls and vaults consist of rock layers and sand-colored sinter formations. There are also ice stalactites that grow at high speed. The grotto is equipped for tourists. There is lighting and comfortable handrails. The only peculiarity is that it is very cold there. When going on an excursion to the Ice Cave, you should take warm clothes with you.

Iograph - cave-temple

The southern side of Mount Ai-Petri is known for the natural monument of Crimea located there. The Iograph Cave has long been used for Christian worship. In a spacious hall measuring 18x10 meters, a temple was equipped with an altar, icons and lamps, where believers gathered.

The nearest settlement is Yalta, so tourists heading to the Ai-Petri Plateau have the opportunity to visit this attraction. Not far from the entrance stands the Worship Cross. There was a time when the grotto fell into disrepair - an accumulation of garbage appeared there, and even cattle were brought in to wait out the midday heat. But in the 90s of the last century, a group of caring people put the cave in order - the rubbish was taken out, icons appeared on the walls.

Iograph Cave in Crimea belongs to karst formations. Initially, water accumulated in the cavity, but then the rock parted. This created an entrance and the liquid left the reservoir. Inside there are recesses in which cave pearls were found. The walls are decorated with stalactites, and in one sinter formation the outlines of a human face are clearly visible.

Bottomless well - Tyupsyuz-Khosar cave

Not far from the village of Mramornoe, which is located between Simferopol and Alushta, there is an amazing underground cavity in the Chatyr-Dag mountain. It attracts those who want to penetrate hard-to-reach places and discover something new in Crimea. The Bottomless Well Cave is a real treasury with natural pearls and 10-meter-high icicles on the walls.

The Tyupsyuz-Khosar Grotto (this is its middle name) is accessible only to people with special training and equipment. And although you can go down the stairs a little there, you won’t be able to reach the bottom without protective equipment. The lowest point of the cave is at a depth of 195 meters. There are 3 horizontal tunnels leading from the main shaft. At the end of the last century, they managed to find a well with 2 halls there.

The Bottomless Well Cave has the shape of a jug, expanding towards the bottom. Its “walls” are dotted with various cavities-pockets. Snow drifts can be seen there all year round. Snow falling inside is perfectly preserved. At the lowest point, a 15-meter snowdrift even formed.

The grotto is famous for its abundance of cave pearls. And although visually it looks like sea water, it is formed using ordinary calcite, which is layered on grains of sand. Its diameter can reach 3 cm. Once speleologists managed to find more than 15 thousand of these pearls.

Zmeinaya - cave of sacrifices

Not far from Simferopol, near the village of Chistenkoye, there is an unusual karst formation - Snake Cave. Its name is rather symbolic, because there are no reptiles in these places. And they called it that because of its long, narrow and winding passages, which are somewhat similar to snake holes.

This is a three-story cave, more than 300 meters long. The lower tier is rich in crystalline calcites, which in the light of lanterns begin to play with different colors. Unlike other caves, not a single sinter formation can be found here - stalactites and other growths cannot form here. Too dry and warm.

During the study of the cave, fragments of dishes and many animal bones were found. Thanks to this, it was concluded that the Snake Cave in Crimea was used as a place where sacrificial rites were performed.

It's pretty quiet there now. And if you take a few powerful flashlights with you, you can admire the unusual tunnels and bends. You just need to be prepared for the fact that on the way you may encounter a tiny bat with a big name - the great horseshoe bat. Fortunately, she does not pose a threat.

Bolshoi Buzluk - Ice Well

The east of Crimea is famous for the most interesting and huge Karabi-Yayla mountain range. It is of interest due to the huge number of different karst formations. One of them is the Bolshoi Buzluk cave. The nearest settlement is the village of Generalskoye, where excursions usually start from.

The grotto is a vertical 20-meter funnel that descends 81 meters. You can't get there without the equipment. Its length is no more than 160 meters. The second name of the cave is Ice Well. Inside you can see ice growths, stalactites and columns. The temperature stays around 0 degrees.

A couple of centuries ago, the Bolshoy Buzluk cave in Crimea was used as a cold storage chamber. Livestock breeders stored sheep carcasses there for sale to Europe. Researchers have proven that the age of ice in certain places exceeds 50 years. This is rare for Crimea.

Despite the abundance of ice and snow, at the bottom of the cave, in a kind of well you can see a small underground river. Thanks to constant movement, the water in it never freezes.

Binbash-Koba - Thousand-Headed Cave

One of the least visited places in Crimea is the Binbash-Koba cave - 2 centuries ago, many human bones and skulls were discovered in it. This fact contributed to the emergence of another name - Thousand-Headed. Now there is no trace left of the remains. They were barbarously stolen. People did not hesitate to take with them cave stalactites, which were cut down with a special hatchet. And for the sake of heritage they left “memorable” inscriptions on the walls.

The Binbash-Koba cave is located in the lower part of the Chatyrdag plateau, not far from the village of Mramornoe. The entrance to this grotto is quite inconspicuous and resembles an ordinary crevice. But after walking a little inside, you can find yourself in a huge hall 7 meters high. The total length of the passages is just over 100 meters. Anyone can go there - admission is free.

The peculiarity of this grotto is the special shade of the sinter formations. In appearance, it resembles soot that occurs after a fire. It is still not known whether the cave was really set on fire, according to legend, or whether this is a special reaction of the rock to oxygen. Black stalactites and swells look gloomy, but there is no need to be afraid - this is just a special karst cavity, unlike others.

Shaitan-Koba Grotto - the dwelling of an ancient man

Not far from the village of Skalistoye, Bakhchisarai region, the Bodrak River flows, on the right bank of which there is the mysterious Shaitan-Koba cave. In Crimea it is of particular value: in the 30s of the last century, an ancient human site was discovered there. Upon detailed study, it became clear that people lived there during the Paleolithic era.

The dimensions of the cave are small. It goes 4 meters into the rock, gradually narrowing. The height is only 2 meters, and the total area does not exceed 28 square meters. m. Archaeological excavations yielded colossal results: a cultural layer 30 cm deep contained tens of thousands of scientifically valuable things that primitive people once used. These were flint tools (about 25 thousand) and bones of birds and animals that were hunted in those days - magpies, donkeys, mammoths, bison, arctic foxes and others.

The Shaitan-Koba cave is translated from Crimean Tatar as “devil,” but there is nothing frightening or mystical about it. The picturesque surroundings attract no less than the ancient grotto, so tourist groups accompanied by guides often visit here.

What impressions will excursions to the caves give?

Having become acquainted with the amazing world that the caves of Crimea carefully preserve, you will remember unforgettable pictures created by the forces of nature. Stone flowers, jellyfish, stalagmites impress with their different shapes and sizes, unusual colors and age. Tourists return to some of the caves more than once to explore every corner more thoroughly.

Many caves in Crimea can be accessed throughout the year. According to statistics, in the off-season there is a slight decline in tourist activity and you can walk through the underground labyrinths as part of a small excursion group. But there are also grottoes that are closed for the winter. Therefore, before visiting, it is advisable to check the opening hours of the ticket office and tour guides.

Fortunately, you don’t have to pay to see many Crimean caves. The main thing is to try to preserve natural resources and not leave traces of being in them, so as not to disrupt the natural course of events.

Greetings, friends!

If you are attracted by the mysterious world of caving, but you are not so experienced and brave as to tie yourself with a rope and step into the darkness, go to the caves of Crimea that are open to the public.

And so that you don’t have to listen to stories about “put on your equipment, but I don’t have a helmet for this five-year-old toddler,” I’ll tell you where it’s best to dive into such dungeons that your heart will ache, your breath will catch, and at the moment you lose your balance with happiness , there was a handrail and an experienced guide at hand.

Speleology in Crimea began its active activity in the 50s. During this time, more than 900 cave objects were explored and discovered, many of which still remain inaccessible to ordinary tourists - too difficult, dangerous and unpredictable sections are found on such routes.

Therefore, only specialists or well-trained people involved in sports tourism, for example, can go down into these dungeons. Descent into such caves requires professional equipment and teamwork.

The karst caves that we are going to have long been prepared for tourists, and the routes run through equipped, safe and incredibly beautiful galleries. And since the activity of nature in the underground continues, specialists will always have to study, discover, record and tell us about their discoveries.

Most of the karst caves of interest are located on the plateau of Chatyr-Daga, Ai-Petri, and the Dolgorukovskaya Yayla and Karabi-Yayla mountain ranges.

So, the top 5 Crimean caves for a safe, exciting and educational excursion in 2019!

The Marble Kingdom and its retinue

According to statistics and visitor reviews, Marble Cave is the most visited and attractive.

Along the route, which is more than 1 km long, there are spacious galleries decorated with fantastic sinter formations, patterns, crystals, and miraculous sculptures. The labyrinths of the dungeon attract tourists deeper, where more and more new pictures are revealed.

The Marble Cave is recognized as the most beautiful geological object, which is included in the top five such attractions in the world.

Mammoths in Crimea? See for yourself!

Not far from Mramornaya there is the second most beautiful cave - Emine-Bair-Khosar or Mammoth.

It is known for its underground lakes, both “dry” and deep, with the purest water.

The kingdom of ancient and very young stalactites and stalagmites once became the last refuge of wild animals (possibly from the Ice Age, yes, yes!), otherwise how can we explain the skeleton of a small mammoth and other animals that have long been unseen to us that were found here?

From sacrifices to scuba diving

This is an interesting chronicle of events that can be traced in the depths of Red Caves or Kizil-Koba - the most voluminous and extensive cave system in Crimea.

Over millions of years of its existence, thanks to river flows inside and sediments outside, various rooms were formed in this dungeon - halls, wells, mines, tunnels, galleries, corridors, manholes and canyons.

You will not be offered much to explore, only 500 meters, but the interior design and content will leave vivid pictures in your memory for a long time.

And if you still decide to extreme scuba diving in an underground river , with negotiating a water tunnel to explore hard-to-reach halls beyond the usual tourist route, you can consider yourself a caving guru!

Dive for details !

Man-made cave with a ghost and inscriptions from Karaite tourists

It is located on the territory of a cave city.

But keep in mind that excursions and descent into the well are carried out separately from visiting the cave city.

History and speculation

The problem with fresh water in Crimea, as can be seen from history, has always existed. Residents of cave cities and monasteries prudently created various pools and containers to collect sediment.

But in ancient writings there was mention of some secret hydraulic structure. Our archaeologists slept and saw a mysterious well, and now, after thinking carefully and studying all kinds of manuscripts, the location of Tik-Kuyu was discovered in 1998 !

The fact is that the well was filled with earth, and it took three whole years to open it and clear it of soil, and then another time to put the object in order.

The well was a tunnel that had a descent deep underground, and there branches began and other rooms were found.

And now it has become not entirely clear whether the well performed only a hydraulic function for collecting and settling fresh water or whether there were other purposes.

For example, it could be an excellent refuge during a siege of the city, or there were sanctuaries here.

Why climb into the well?

At first you have to go down stone and steep steps, then the tunnel turns into a narrow stepped gallery. Subdued light and limited space (2 by 2, 20 m) are impressive.

Along the way, you will come across strange encrypted messages, tables or maps on the walls, and traditional, but uncharacteristic for that time, inscriptions in Karaite and Latin, such as “Vasya was here...”.

Below there will be a gallery with hollowed-out containers - baths for collecting and storing water.

Here the guide will tell you some interesting facts about a valuable treasure found not so long ago (a whole pot of gold!), and show you where your procession is being watched from ghost of the Tik-Kuyu well .

How to get there

You need to get to the cave city. From the Bakhchisarai bus station you need to take a shuttle bus to Staroselye stops . From there, follow the signs, walk for about 15 minutes and you are there.

Excursion cost

Tickets can be purchased directly from the venue. You may have to wait until the group is full.

Ticket price for an adult – 300 rubles, a child – 150 rubles.

Photo and video shooting is free. A big plus is that after the lectures there is free time for inspection and photography.

Habitat of the forest cat and seven-meter knights

In 1904, an ordinary rural teacher from the town of Skelya (Rodnikovoe) discovered a unique cave, which was later named Skelskaya or, as it was also called, the Teacher’s Room.

Speleologists approached it only in 1960, and it was opened for excursions even later, in 2003.

Skelskaya Cave is unusual for its internal location. Whereas other dungeons involve diving deeper, the route of this cave is directed upward. How can this be? Come and see for yourself!

Once upon a time, the remains of ancient animals were found in this dungeon - a forest cat, a saiga antelope. And also, deep-sea lakes were discovered somewhere in the lower tiers.

The walk, during which you will visit five halls, will take about 50 minutes. The decoration here is really rich - stalactite and stalagmite sculptures, all kinds of “icicles”, petrified fringe and cascades, arches, sinter formations frozen in incredible forms.

Where is it and how to visit

Skelskaya cave is located between two settlements in the Baydarskaya valley - Razdolnoye And Rodnikovoe .

How to get there, how much it costs and when is the best time to visit this site can be found on the official website:

speleotour.com

The fact is that although the cave is open all year round for tourists, during floods it cannot receive guests.

Where else can you go in Crimea?

You can explore other caves, not so majestic, equipped or artificially decorated, but attractive with their legends and secrets.

Chatyr-Dag and scary stories

Thousand-headed or Binbash-Koba - a large ancient burial of human remains was discovered here. A very atmospheric place, around which there are many legends.

Ai-Petri and eternal ice

Trezglazka or Emine-Bair-Koba – you can get here by booking an excursion at the Onyx Tour caving center only in the warm season. Because in this dungeon the ice does not melt even in summer, and in addition to ordinary stalactites, you will also see ice ones.

Echki-Dag and extreme

The Ear of the Earth is a completely inconspicuous cave, which is a crack in the rock, but upon closer examination, the “crack” is the entrance to a narrow well.

Here it is better to have experience as a climber or enlist the help of a reliable friend - the cave has vertical and deep manholes, which it is better not to go down alone.

Good to know

If you went to “conquer” the mountainous or cave Crimea, try to leave your coordinates to close people – there have been a lot of cases where tourists got lost, climbed to the wrong place or were injured this year.

It’s better not to give in to curiosity and do not visit alone unknown, and most importantly, unequipped cave objects. When planning to visit a particular area, find out in advance what interesting things are nearby that you can look into without fear.

so or subscribe to my blog, Join on social networks – read the necessary information and don’t hesitate to ask questions!

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The caves of Crimea, open to the public, are real natural museums that attract tourists from all over the world. Speleologists have already found more than 900 underground creations. Most of the caves are concentrated in Chatyr-Dag, Ai-Petri, and Karabi villages.

Emine-Bair-Khosar is one of the most unusual. People gave it the second name “three-eyed” because of its 3 entrances. The cave is located on the Chartyrdag plateau. The first mention in chronicles dates back to the 20th century. The second name of the cave is “Mammoth”. She received this “nickname” because of the skeleton of an ancient animal that was found in one of the rocks.

At first it was very difficult to enter the cave. Initially, it began in the form of a 16-meter well. It was only in 1944 that a route convenient for visiting was laid out. Speleologists managed to enter the grotto in 1927. First, they explored two halls and then forgot about this place until 1964. Only in 1995 did the cave become open to visitors.

Its length is two kilometers, one is included in excursion tours. The cave consists of five levels. The lower one is at 180 meters. The temperature inside the grotto is five degrees.

Several halls were opened:

Red poppies;
treasury;
kechkemet;
Gurovy;
pink;
nocturne;
idols;
freedom;
crystal;
lake;
housewives;
camp.

You just can’t see all of the things listed. The lower grottoes are closed and have the status of a nature reserve.

There is a mineralogical museum next to the grotto. The following were found in the cave:

Tour;
mammoth;
ancient rhinoceros;
cave bear;
rhinoceros.

Milky Way;
Monomakh's hat;
owner of the cave;
niche with gems;
2-storey calcite pond;
owner of the cave.

The most beautiful hall is Kecskemet. At the entrance there is a sag that resembles a volcano, and in the center is the “owner of the cave.” In the grotto there is an underground lake, in the hall of idols there are stalagmites, the height of which reaches up to 10 m, and on its walls there are multi-colored deposits.

The Marble Caves are the most unusual and visited. These are the main attractions of Chatyr-Dag. They are located on its lower plateau and are part of the underground complex. The Marble Caves were discovered in 1987. A couple of years later they became accessible to tourists.

The caves were discovered by a shepherd looking for a lost sheep. He called the place “Afghanka”. However, they were officially found by Simferopol speleologists. When it was discovered that the caves were 90 percent marble-like limestone, this is how the complex got its name. The entrance is located at an altitude of 920 m. It was found that the caves were formed due to the erosion of limestone rocks.

The main decorations are also fancy figures that are created by minerals and water. The halls are equipped with artificial lighting and amaze with their beauty. The figures made of minerals resemble animals, fairy-tale characters, and blooming flowers. In some places, stalactites simply hang down like natural transparent chandeliers.

Under your feet you can see openwork pools and baths and it seems that their bottom is strewn with pearls. There are dark grottoes, rare “kisses” - these are pillars of fused stalagmites and stalactites. Near such a place, tourists are supposed to make a wish. At the moment, only some caves are open to tourists, but new routes are already being prepared.

Marble caves in Crimea, official website:

Marble caves are located at the address: Russia, Crimea, Simferopol region and have an official website: http://www.onixtour.com.ua/

The complex is divided into several halls:

1. The Fairy Tale Gallery is located on the top level. All excursions start from here. On the water, tourists are greeted by the “Master of the Mountain”. This is a huge beautiful stalagmite. Along the road there are other unique formations - the Frog Princess, the Baby Elephant, and the Mammoth.

3. “Perestroika Hall” is 150 meters long. It contains the Minaret, large Zombie and Dragon stalagmites.

4. In the "Palace" there is a king and queen.

5. “Glinyany” is located on the upper level, but is temporarily closed to the public.

On the lower level there is also a series of halls, but so far you can only get into “Vernadsky”, “Pink”, “Lustrovy”, “Nadezhd” and “Teatralny”.

Marble Cave (Crimea): operating hours in 2018

The working hours of the Marble Caves are from 8.00 to 20.00, without breaks and weekends. However, the schedule may change due to inclement weather. You can get into the caves in summer only with a tour and a guide. In winter, individual service is provided.

There is no public transport to the caves. You can get there by car or bus to Simferopol. From there, choose a flight to the village of Mramornoe. Then walk 8 kilometers to the lower level plateau. If you get to the village by your own transport, then you need to take the Simferopol-Alushta highway, follow the sign on it.

What other caves to visit in Crimea?

There are no less interesting other caves in Crimea, the photos of which are mesmerizing. The Russian resort boasts amazing sights. In addition to the above, there are a number of caves in Crimea:

1. The iograph was found in the Yalta Mountains. The cave was named in honor of St. Evgraf. The length of the grotto is 18 m. The cave has many stalagmites and beautiful stalactites, and there are natural depressions where pearls were previously mined.

2. Emine Bair Koba (otherwise “Three Eyes” or “Nostril”) is located on the Chatyr-Dag plateau. The cave received its second name for its 3 exits, similar to eye sockets, and its third name for the shape of the entrance holes. The unequipped part of the dungeon has two lakes. Excursions to the hall with stalactites last 20 minutes. In 1.5 hours you can walk along the speleological route.

3. Yalta was discovered by a child when he threw stones into the gap. He noticed that there was no sound from their fall and reported this to the adults. Then speleologists took over this place. The grotto was explored and opened in 2007. The cave with stalactites consists of 2 halls, but only the 180-meter one is accessible. To get to the other one, you need to overcome a 40 m long well.

4. Skelskaya is located in the Baydarskaya valley. The cave has three levels. Only the top two are accessible - the bottom one is completely flooded. Some stalactites in the halls resemble the Phoenix and churches. This cave contains a hall of ghosts inhabited by bats.

5. “Three-Eyes” was discovered on Ai-Petri. This is a huge grotto with three halls. Ice from the cave was delivered to Count Vorontsov. Inside the grotto there is a huge snowdrift. Visitors throw coins into it for good luck. The floor in the cave is like a winter skating rink. Therefore, it received a different name - “Ice”.

6. Thousand-headed cave. According to legend, a large village perished in Thousand Heads. People were hiding from enemies, but did not survive - they simply suffocated. According to chronicles, there were approximately 1000 people in the cave. This is where the name came from.

7. Ozernaya - Danilcha-Koba is a small 12-meter cave. The second title is “Crying”. The cave contains the remains of an ancient temple, and there is a small lake that was used for pearl mining. The stalagmite at the entrance resembles a giant mushroom.

8. The ice cave (otherwise Bolshoi Buzluk) is part of the Karabi massif. It is very cold in the cave; stalagmites and stalactites form oddly shaped ice columns. At the bottom there is a natural well, in which, according to ancient legends, residents stored meat and then sold it in Taurida.

9. The Soldier's Cave is an entire gallery named in honor of the fallen heroes. The cave was discovered in 1969 by speleologists from Feodosia. Soldatskaya has its own records. The cave is considered the deepest - 517 m and the most difficult to pass. At the entrance there is a deep well in which the river bubbles.

10. Kizil-Koba (or Red Caves) is the calling card of Crimea. The grotto resembles a huge 6-story natural mansion. The area of ​​the cave is 64 square meters. m. The walls are brick-colored due to iron oxide. A small waterfall flows down at the entrance, and there is an underground river inside. The cave has three halls - Chinese, Indian and Griboedov. They contain stalagmites of various shapes - “Father Frost”, “Leaning Tower of Pisa”. You can get to the Red Caves by trolleybus.

11. Kiik-Koba near the river. Zooey is a rocky structure. The cave was discovered in the 20th century. The remains of ancient people, flint tools, and bones of rare animals (giant saiga and deer, cave bear) were found in it. The cave consists of two halls. The total area of ​​the grotto is 50 square meters. m.

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