In the Crimea you can find quite a few beautiful corners, vacation in which will bring great pleasure. One of these places is Laspi Bay, which is considered the warmest place on the South Coast of Crimea with the cleanest sea waters on the entire coast of the peninsula. You can come here to rest, or you can visit this attraction with an excursion or on your own.
Laspi Bay is located 30km east of Sevastopol, from the side of which it is bounded by Cape Aya, and its eastern border is Cape Sarych. The length of the coastline is about 10 km, and the Laspi valley goes into the coast for 2.5 km. The mountain belt isolates the bay and the valley from cold winds, so it is the warmest place in Crimea with an average annual temperature of +15 degrees Celsius.
The bay is remarkable for its picturesque scenery, and its favorable climate has become the reason that here in the wild grow such species of subtropical flora as small-fruited strawberry, tall juniper, Pontian needles, frankincense, Stankiewicz pine, bright red pyracantha, jasmine, about 20 species of orchids, including the rarest Comperia Compera. Many of these plants are listed in the Red Book and do not grow anywhere else in the Crimea in the wild. The nature of the Laspi Bay and valley is truly unique and impressive — there are trees about 1000 years old!
The name «Laspi» translates from Greek as «mud». The fact is that since time immemorial, there have been mud springs in the Laspi valley, stretching between Ilyas-Kaya Mountain and Cape Aya. As a result of an earthquake in 1790, many springs went underground and once inhabited valley depopulated. According to archaeologists, the bay was inhabited since prehistoric times: here were found stands of primitive man. Then, presumably from the middle of the I century BC, when the coast of Taurica was actively settled by ancient Greek colonists, there was a settlement here, which, like other settlements, after the Greeks passed into the possession of the Genoese and became part of the principality of Theodoro, then became part of the Crimean Khanate. It is known that during the resettlement of Christians in the Azov region in 1778 from Laspi left 128 Greeks, after which there were 30 ruined houses. This is the end of the past period of life of Laspi Bay, which began before our era. Numerous archaeological finds testify to these times: the ruins of medieval buildings, walls, temples. Laspi Valley is a whole archaeological complex, the mysteries and secrets of which are yet to be discovered by scientists.
The modern period in the life of the valley began in Soviet times, when in 1972 the road from Sevastopol to Yalta was built. In honor of this on the rock Laspi was installed a memorial plaque N.G. Garin-Mikhailovsky, a famous engineer and writer, who participated in the creation of the project of construction of the road. The valley, which had been a secluded, secluded corner since the middle of the XVIII century, became a promising resort place. Gradually, boarding houses and children’s camps were built here, and more and more tourists came every year.
Today Laspi is considered a holiday village, but does not have a permanent population, which leaves the bay and the valley is still a very attractive place for tourists who appreciate the opportunity to relax away from the cities. Well, those who stay in other parts of Crimea, come here to see with their own eyes the stunning beauty of this place, swim in the cleanest waters of the Black Sea on the coast, visit Mount Ilyas-Kaya at the ruins of an ancient Christian monastery and energize in the Temple of the Sun, which is located near this mountain peak. Also here you can visit the dolphinarium, visit the festivals held on the pier, a large stadium and in the green theater, walk along the shady alleys through picturesque groves, breathing in the purest air filled with the aromas of rare plants, visit the glade of fairy tales «Lukomorye» and admire the turquoise water. The water in Laspi Bay is so clean that there are mussel plantations where these mollusks are cultivated.
Among the remarkable moments in the modern history of Laspi Bay is its participation in the cinematography: the famous movie «Amphibian Man» was filmed here. It is interesting that just here in 1967. held the first time on the Black Sea. scientific experiments to explore the possibilities of a long stay of man under water. These events were called «Operation Ichthyander» and marked the beginning of regular exploration of the underwater depths of the Black Sea.
To visit the bay and valley Laspi will be interesting to all those who spend their holiday in Foros — the nearest settlement. People also come here from more remote places in Crimea, including those who spend holidays in Balaklava, Sevastopol, Yalta, etc. To get acquainted with such a picturesque corner of Tavrika will be interesting to everyone who is partial to the beauty of nature, interested in history and rare plants, just wants to spend time with pleasure.