Unique natural riches, including rare and endangered species of animals, plants listed in the Red Book, mysterious historical places that keep the secrets of the past, wonders created by nature itself — all this and much more can be seen on the territory of the unique Crimean Nature Reserve.
Protected areas of Crimea attract tourists for many reasons. Where else can you walk through a fairy-tale forest with bizarre century-old trees, or see the whole Crimea as in the palm of your hand from the top of a picturesque mountain range, hiding in its depths real works of natural art?
Crimean Nature Reserve is the largest nature reserve not only on the peninsula, but also in the whole Ukraine, its territory is more than 44 hectares. 
The history of the reserve began with the foundation of the Imperial Hunting Reserve in 1913, but the Tsar’s hunting lodge was built near the legendary source Savluh-Su and Kosmo-Damianovskij-monastery long before that — in 1870. Up to our time from the royal house reached the pool, which can be seen by anyone who wishes.
For a long time tsar’s persons came to rest in these beautiful places, and after that Soviet leaders — L.I. Brezhnev, N.S. Khrushchev — liked to hunt on the territory of the future reserve. In spite of the fact that in 1923 the territories were proclaimed reserved, the hunting of local inhabitants continued until 1991. But the most difficult for the reserve was the war period until 1944. Fires destroyed 1.5 hectares of protected forests, many deer and roe deer died, and bison were exterminated.
Nevertheless, since 1944, when the reserve began to be actively restored, people working on the preservation of natural riches managed to do a tremendous job, as a result of which today the reserve is once again thriving and pleases all those wishing to see the unique Crimean natural riches with its amazing beauty.
Crimean Nature Reserve occupies the territory of the central part of the Main Ridge of the Crimean Mountains, and its branch «Lebyazhie Islands» is located on part of the water area in the Karkinitsky Bay of the Black Sea. The nature of the reserve is majestic mountain massifs, including the famous Chatyr-Dag, beautiful centuries-old oak, beech, pine and hornbeam forests, numerous rivers, healing springs and even waterfalls, steppes and spacious islands of the «Lebyazhie Islands».
The «Lebyazhie Islands» branch of the reserve is of special interest. On six huge islands nest flamingos and pelicans, gray and white herons, herring gulls, different types of ducks, cormorants and other birds, a total of about 25 species of birds live here. However, you can see many more birds at different times of the year: the reserve is located on an important part of the migration route of birds to Asia and Africa from Europe, so you can also admire graceful swans. In total, about 265 species of birds can be seen on the Swan Islands.
The fauna of the main part of the Crimean Reserve is equally diverse. Climbing one of the mountain massifs you can see the rarest birds of prey — white-headed sip and black vulture, soaring over the picturesque expanses, in the forests lurk rare long-eared owls, and gray owls can be seen in many places here. Among the rare animals living on the territory of the reserve Crimean scorpion, freshwater crab, black stork, owl, mouflon and many others. 
The Crimean red deer — the largest and most beautiful animal in the mountainous Crimea — is rightfully considered the master of the reserve.
No less rich and the flora of the Crimean Nature Reserve — here grows half of all the plants found on the peninsula.
As it is impossible to embrace the immense, so it is impossible to tell about all the wonders of the Crimean Nature Reserve — this blooming, magnificent, unparalleled spectacle should be seen with your own eyes.
When planning holidays in Crimea, give yourself a visit to this unique Massandra attraction.