One of the main features of Kerch is its location at the confluence of two seas — the Azov and the Black. Being the easternmost point of the Crimean peninsula, Kerch is also a border city — behind the waters of the strait can be seen already Russian lands of the Krasnodar region. And, of course, it could not but happen so that crossing this amazing place of confluence of the two seas, from one country to another has become a fascinating event for all who come to rest in Kerch, on the Crimean peninsula.
Kerch port has existed for almost two centuries. And at all times the opportunity to cross the Kerch Strait by water attracted connoisseurs of vivid impressions, people who want to participate in the most interesting «attraction».
Back in the late XVIII century, Catherine II promised the Greeks that near the Kerch fortress will be opened «free and free» port. But her idea was destined to come true not under her. In 1821, the decree on the establishment of the port signed by Emperor Alexander I. Since then, life has been boiling on the shores of the Kerch Strait, and since the middle of the last century it has been boiling almost around the clock — powerful ships transport thousands of people and cars, tons of cargo from the Ukrainian to the Russian coast every day.
The ferry crossing «Port Kavkaz» — «Port Crimea» on the basis of the Kerch port was opened on September 22, 1954. It connects the Krasnodar region of Russia and the Kerch peninsula of Crimea by transport communication. The distance between the coasts of the two countries is about five kilometers, and the journey from one coast to the other by ferry takes about 20-30 minutes, excluding the time to pass customs control procedures. The emergence of ferries has made it possible to reduce the range of transportation to Russia from Ukraine, Moldova and Crimea by 270-1000 kilometers.
From the moment of opening and until 1990, the icebreaker ferries «Kerch» 1 and 2 and the car ferry «Yeisk» carried not only passengers and cars, but also railroad cars with cargo. Then the railroad ferry crossing was put back into operation in 2004.
Today Kerch ferry crossing serves annually about 330 thousand people, about 42 thousand cars and 7 thousand tons of cargo. Ferries run between the two coasts with a frequency of 2-3 hours, and anyone can get from the Russian side to the Ukrainian side and vice versa not by land transport, but by water, which is more exciting and interesting to all tourists of all ages.
The existence of this unique attraction of Crimea in 2010 was called into question: the presidents of Ukraine and Russia signed a document on the construction by 2014 of a bridge across the Kerch Strait, which will connect Crimea and Krasnodar Krai. If the coasts of the two countries are connected by the bridge, it is likely that the work of the ferry crossing will stop.
According to ancient myths, the Kerch Strait was crossed in time immemorial by Zeus’ beloved Io, who was turned into a cow by Hera. Now any guest of Crimea, arriving here or leaving the picturesque peninsula, can cross the same way. The panorama of the strait, the boundless sea and the coasts of the two countries that opens from the ferries is really impressive and does not leave indifferent any person who appreciates fascinating events and bright emotions.