This nature reserve is considered one of the youngest reserves in Ukraine, but during its existence it has already managed to become famous among scientists and tourists far beyond the Crimea. In the Opuk Nature Reserve you can see the rarest animals, admire mysterious and beautiful natural pictures and even visit the ruins of an ancient city.
Opuksky Nature Reserve was established in 1998 to study and preserve local landscape and biological diversity, it covered an area of 1.5 thousand hectares in the south of the Kerch Peninsula. It includes such famous natural objects as Mount Opuk (185 m), in honor of which the reserve was named, Cape Opuk, Priozernaya Mountain (44 m), Koyash Lake and legendary rocks Elken-Kaya 4 km from the coast, in total it includes more than 20 natural and landscape objects.
Before the establishment of the reserve, its territories were part of the closed military zone, where it was forbidden to enter. Today, anyone can walk around these picturesque places — you just need to make prior arrangements with the staff. Traveling through the Opuksky Reserve will leave a lot of pleasant emotions and vivid memories.
Among the most interesting natural objects of the reserve are the mountain and cape Opuk, formed by meotic reef limestone, with many cliffs, crevices and ledges, presenting an impressive picture, contrasting with the surrounding blooming nature. The visitors of the reserve are also attracted by Koyashskoe Lake, formed in the crater of an extinct mud volcano and rich in healing mud.
From the shore of the reserve you can see the Elken-Kaya rocks or Ship Rocks, as if emerging from the abyss of the sea, they are considered the most mysterious object, and the aura of mystery is enhanced by a local legend.
The legend says that the rocks, so strongly resembling sea ships, were really them once. According to legend, they sank here in time immemorial, and only two women managed to save themselves. Over time, these women have become a source of fear for the local population, who once sheltered them with care. And one day they were cursed by an old man: he forever turned them into two birds, their thrones — into Mount Opuk, and their ships — into the very rocks of Elken-Kaya, so that they would remind people that from the sea to them can come sorrow and trouble.
No matter how true the legend may be, archaeologists have discovered that there was indeed a large settlement in the area of Mount Opuk for almost a thousand years. It was a Bosporan settlement, among the remains of which were found ruins of a citadel, houses, food stores. The city of Cimmerik existed from the 5th century BC to the 4th century AD. 
A unique find was also discovered here — a stone stele with the image of a cross in a circle and a runic inscription of the second half of the IV century. Presumably, it could be part of the altar in the sanctuary of the ancient Germanic warriors — Gerul, who served the Bosporan kings in those distant times. Runes are known to be given magical properties, and supporters of such theories suggest that the Geruls were not just warriors, but magicians.
In addition to mysterious and mystical objects in this attraction of Crimea you can also see the amazing, unique flora and fauna. Here grows more than 700 species of plants, 32 of which are listed in the Red Book, insects and various species of animals here are represented by more than a thousand species, and rare of them — 39 species.
To visit the Opuksky Nature Reserve will be interesting to everyone who plans holiday in Kerch — it is really a beautiful corner of our planet, with a variety of fauna, beautiful nature and going back centuries of history.