Koba-Kaya Mountain is one of those mute giants that flank the picturesque New World from all sides. This mountain is majestic, proud, conceals a lot of interesting things and is considered one of the most popular attractions of the village.
The name of the mountain from Tatar translates as «cave rock». This peak received it because of the huge natural grotto, which in the thickness of the rock was carved by sea waves. But it also has another name — Eagle, although such a comparison does not seem obvious. If you look at Koba-Kaya from the side of the New World, it seems elongated, and from the sea and mountains Karaul-Oba — sharp, cone-shaped. Looking at it from certain vantage points, you can see that the top of the mountain is really very sharp, which makes it spectacular, even fantastic. The height of the mountain is about 165 meters, it is an ancient coral reef, like Sokol, together with which Koba-Kaya limits the Green Bay, along which the village of Novy Svet is spread out.
Koba-Kaya is located between Green and Blue Bays, limiting the former from the western side. At its foot, the famous Golitsyn Trail begins, which is considered the main attraction of New World.
The path in the Koba-Kaya massif was cut in the late XIX century by order of Prince Golitsyn. It wraps around the entire mountain, passing at a height of about 30 meters above the water surface. There is an interesting story connected with the construction of this path.
Workers were cutting the path, being in «cradles» suspended on the steep slope of the mountain, to which they were delivered from the sea. Once, when there was a strong storm and no boat could dock on the rock, they had to spend several days in the cradles until the storm stopped.
However, there is an even more interesting story, or rather a legend, which is connected not with the path, but with the grotto.
Some researchers assume that in the famous «Odyssey» by Homer was described this very grotto in the mountain Koba-Kaya. From here, they believe, Odysseus, captured by the nymph Calypso, looked into the sea distance:
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«By the shore to the dark grotto he went, where the light-haired nymph’s dwelling was ….
Densely grown, everywhere the cave was surrounded by poplars, alders and sweet pouring spirit cypresses;
A network of green grapes grew on the walls of the deep grotto, and heavy bunches of grapes hung on the branches;
Four springs ran by the side of the grotto in a bright stream…».
Indeed, in ancient times the grotto was surrounded by cypresses and other trees, grapes grew in it, in the depths of the grotto ran several springs of pure water, of which only one has reached our time, and to get into it until the XIX century was possible only from the sea.
Visiting the grotto of Koba-Kaya Mountain is an exciting event. It is a large, spacious, picturesque cave, the most interesting creation of nature. In the Middle Ages it was a monastery, and in the XIX century, after the arrangement of a stone terrace in the grotto for festive dinners and wine tastings, it began to be visited by high-ranking guests. Among such guests was the last Emperor of Russia Nicholas II, who tasted champagne here with his entourage and family.
In addition to the fact that the Koba-Kaya mountain hides two of the most famous attractions of Crimea — Golitsynsky grotto and trail, it is also known for the fact that at the beginning of the last century in its depths was cut 7 km of tunnels for storing wines Golitsynsky plant. Besides, behind the cape of the mountain there is an underwater cave «Legend» with a lake with fresh water, stalagmites and stalactites, which can be accessed only from the sea, and the slopes and the top of Koba-Kaya are part of the reserve.
Everyone who decides to conquer the summit of Koba-Kaya Mountain, opens a stunning view of the New World, its beautiful bays, capes, Sudak, Kapsel Bay and the endless sea distance. For all those who decided to spend their holiday in Novy Svet, a tour of Koba-Kaya Mountain will be one of the most fascinating moments of rest and will leave a lot of vivid impressions.