Karadag Nature Reserve is one of the most famous reserves in Ukraine. The extinct volcano Karadag, preserved almost unchanged for millions of years, the richest flora and fauna with many rare animals and plants, magnificent natural pictures, mysterious and legendary corners of nature of the reserve attract tourists from many countries of the world.
The birth of this unique reserve began in 1901, when an outstanding scientist T.I. Vyazemsky decided to purchase a neglected estate near Karadag and built a scientific biological station in it. Gradually, the institution founded by Vyazemsky turned into a huge reserve, which a century later — in 2001 — was declared a national treasure of Ukraine.
Today the Karadag Nature Reserve occupies almost three thousand hectares. Its territory includes not only the volcanic massif Karadag, but also the vast water area of the Black Sea of 809 hectares. It stretches from Koktebel to Otuz valley, covering a huge area of nature, which has been preserved in pristine condition since ancient times.
The Karadag Extinct Volcano is the most famous site of the reserve. 150 million years ago this place could hardly be imagined as it can be seen today — picturesque, impressive with bizarre landscapes. From its numerous vents, which during the Jurassic period were at the bottom of the sea, hot lava was bursting out, «devouring» everything in its path. But time has done its work, and now the former once hidden underwater formidable volcano has turned into a unique, unlike anything else part of the land. Nature, having completed its next ingenious creation, as if on purpose put it on display for everyone to admire and admire. Karadag today is a fantastic natural picture, a real geological museum in the open air. The unique look of this attraction of Koktebel consists of numerous bays and rocks of bizarre shapes, then gentle, then precipitous, mountain slopes and spacious plains. On the slopes of the mountains, the highest of which is Svyataya Mountain (577 meters), there are not only sparse forests, but also bushes, steppes, and even hornbeam and rock-oak forests.
The flora of the reserve is more than three thousand species of plants. 50 of them belong to endemic (growing only in Crimea), more than a hundred species — to rare and endangered, among them are Eremurus Junge, Pupavka Trenshel, Stevens’ jasper and others.
The local fauna is equally rich — it is more than five thousand species of animals, 18 of which are listed in the Red Book. In the reserve you can see roe deer, wild boar, stone marten, fox, hares, hedgehogs and many other animals. Rare birds such as black vulture, field harrier, bustard come to Karadag for wintering, and yellow herons, vultures, black storks and other rare species of birds use it as a stopover during migration.
Another interesting corner of the reserve is its water world. Past Golden Gate, a legendary rock-island near Karadag, and in its bays you can see all three species of Black Sea dolphins: Afalina, Azov and white-sided dolphin. And the coast is home to crested cormorants — amazing sea birds.
To admire the beauty of these protected areas will be interesting to all who prefer informative, active tourism in Ukraine — there are two ecological trails in the reserve. One of them leads from Koktebel to Gravel Bay, the second — «Big Karadag» 7 km long — from the biostation through the entire mountain massif and to the village of Koktebel.