The coast of the Sea of Azov is nice. It is gentle, covered with a carpet of sand and protected from the influence of the open sea by oblong spits, piled up by waves. Between the spits and the «mainland» part of Ukraine shallow bays are formed, filled with red-listed flora and fauna. One of such bays, which decorated the southern edge of Ukraine, became Utlyuksky estuary.
Utlyuksky estuary appeared in the waters of the Sea of Azov, in the extreme south of Zaporizhzhya region due to the formation of the longest, if not mentioning the Arabatska Strelka, cosmos of this part of the world ocean. Forty-five kilometer Fedotova Spit and Biryuchy Island, separated by a small strait, «cut off» from the sea territory, the width of which in some places reaches 20 km. Like its parent body of water, the Utlyuk estuary is extremely shallow. Its depth barely reaches 3.5 meters, which allows only small vessels — sailing yachts, boats and launches — to navigate the water area.
Due to its considerable length, there is a difference in the steepness of the northwestern and southeastern shores of the estuary, as well as a difference in the salinity of the main and northern parts of the bay, into which the Atmanai River flows.
Atmanay, Small and Big Utlyuk rivers flow into. Initially, all shores of the Utlyuk estuary were sandy, overgrown with hydrophilic and salt-tolerant vegetation — reeds and sedges.
These «Zaporozhye plavni» became the habitat of hundreds of thousands of birds, attracted by the multitude of fish, which gather to «underwater pastures» in the shallow waters of the Azov Sea. Therefore, the density of «herbivorous» animals and predators «watching» them — herring and mullet, hamsa and needlefish, pelengas and kalkan, stickleback and percarina, pike and Azov dolphin, is equal to the density of human population in the Ganges Delta, on the island of Java, in the Rhine Valley or New York Manhattan. Unfortunately, the project to turn a part of the Utyuk estuary into a modern fish farming enterprise similar to those that have long surrounded the shores of Japan, French Normandy and Norway failed.
Without becoming a «fishy Azov el dorado», the shores of the Utlyuk estuary became famous for a series of inexpensive and original resorts. These are Genichesk, Atmanay, Davydovka and the main star of the Azov region — Kirillovka. In an objectively short period of time the village, founded by a sect of peasant-spiritualists, turned into a balneological, climatic and mud resort of economic class.
Kirillovka offers its guests equipped sandy beaches, several dozen recreation centers, established infrastructure, the possibility of recreation on Peresyp or Fedotovaya Spit, and also treats the bulk fruit, cheap vegetables, melons and watermelons. Well, and do not forget about the fish caught in the Utlyuk estuary, bundles of which in smoked or salted form are hung for sale under the roof of every private house or in a private store.
Independently catch fresh mullet or hamsa in the bay, yes to roast it for dinner, will be able to everyone who comes to rest in Kirillovka. Since 2011, the country’s largest outdoor water park has been functioning in Kirillovka. Not far from it is a dolphinarium, luna park and equipment rental bases for water sports. Therefore, the opportunity to visit Priazove will soon become as prestigious as the tradition of vacationing at popular Mediterranean resorts.