The Karadag mountain massif is one of the main attractions of Koktebel. Its incredible panoramas, richness of flora and fauna, amazing, breathtaking beauty attract tourists for more than one century. A walk along the slopes of Karadag is a fascinating journey into the world of enchanting, unusual and diverse, multifaceted nature.
Karadag is a complex geological complex of volcanic origin, which is simultaneously rocky, steep and gentle slopes, dense oak forests and light pistachio valleys, groves of rose hips and hawthorns, steppe meadows and narrow and wide valleys facing the sea. The nature of Karadag surprises, the structure and forms of the massif — amaze the imagination: rocky protrusions resemble fairy-tale creatures or human figures and faces.
Karadag is the only well-preserved volcano in Europe, which was active during the Jurassic period. About 150 million years ago, volcanic dust was blowing up from it, and glowing lava was coming to the surface from the many vents of the group volcano. However, at that time this volcano was still underwater, tectonic forces made it part of the land, and then water and wind became sculptors of those amazing shapes and figures that can be seen on Karadag today.
The name Karadag from Krmyskotatar and Turkish languages translates as «Black Mountain». 
This massif stands out, stands apart against the background of light Crimean mountains made of limestone. Its rocky promontories, stone peaks and bottomless gorges attract with their mystery, mystery. The famous Golden Gates at the foot of the massif are covered with legends and legends. Ivan the Robber, Elephant, Sphinx, Falcon, Warrior, Frog, Kuzmich, Gingerbread Horse, Lion, King and Queen with their retinue, Pyramid, Sail, Lighthouse and many other bizarre «residents» of Karadag. Almost every rock and stone has its own name. Everyone, looking at this extinct volcano, can see something different, that is why Karadag delights and beckons artists, writers, photographers. To see Karadag — Koktebel became famous, including thanks to this unique natural attraction — all guests of the city strive to see it, often come here specifically for the sake of visiting this fantastic place.
Writer S.Ya. Elpatyevsky wrote about Karadag as follows: «»From the sea at a great height rise from below sharp, bare, devoid of vegetation cliffs, in a wild disorder piled on top of each other. And one cannot descend to them from above and cannot ascend to them from below.» From many vantage points it seems unapproachable, over numerous cozy bays overhang steep rocky cliffs several hundred meters high. The highest point of 
Karadag is the Holy Mountain, towering at 577m, on which, according to legend, a saint is buried who performed magic healings during his life. It is believed that at the tomb of the saint healings have been and continue to be performed.
Karadag is not as harsh and unapproachable as it seems — Koktebel is known as a place where one of the best natural reserves of Ukraine is located. The slopes of the extinct volcano are the habitat of many, including animals and plants listed in the Red Book. A walk along Karadag is an opportunity to touch the rich, peculiar world of flora and fauna of this amazing place. In order to preserve the unique natural monument, different species of plants and animals growing on Karadag, the Karadag Nature Reserve was established in 1979, which is visited by thousands of tourists every year.
Everyone who goes to holiday in Koktebel, is sure to make an ascent to Karadag, whether it is summer or winter and especially in spring or autumn, when the array is covered with a colorful or yellow-brown-red beautiful carpet. It is not for nothing that Karadag has won the fame of the most interesting attraction of Crimea and even the whole country — it is a unique in all respects, an amazing place.