«Port of Sevastopol. Wonderful! It seems that the bountiful nature poured all the bounties on it and gave everything that is necessary for the best port in the world.
bounties and granted everything that is necessary for the best port in the world.»
Admiral M.P. Lazarev
Sevastopol is a glorious city with a rich history, which is interesting from many different aspects, including as a place where many natural beauties are nestled. One of these beauties is Sevastopol bays, on the shores of which the city lies amphitheater. These are priceless natural treasures, there are many of them and each of them is beautiful in its own way, has its own history. The largest bay of the city is Sevastopol Bay, it is the sea gate of the city and its main natural attraction.
Sevastopol Bay is the longest and largest, its coastline is about 8km. Its completion on the west side is the open sea, and in the east it passes near the famous ancient landmark — Inkerman Monastery, in the Black River. This bay divides the city into two parts: North and South, so it is regularly used by water transport, both tourist and ordinary, necessary for moving around different parts of Sevastopol its residents.
It is impossible to imagine a city without this bay: it not only creates its unique appearance, but also influences its rhythm of life, making it peculiar, characteristic only for maritime cities. In the center you can meet fishermen, here and there by the sea shores people relax and enjoy the scenery, and to get to the other side of the city you should not make a dull trip through dusty streets, as it happens in many cities that do not have such a natural treasure, but enjoy a peaceful walk along the sea surface by water transport — isn’t it beautiful?
Sevastopol Bay received its name at the founding of the city, and earlier it was called Ctenus Bay, Akhtar Bay, Inkerman Bay, Big Bay, Chersonese estuary, etc. It was the birthplace of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.
Being a convenient parking lot for ships, from the very beginning of Sevastopol’s modern history it has been the location of a variety of ships, and since the 20th century — battleships and cruisers. Of course, this could not affect its history: not once in these waters were bloody battles, and the seabed became the last refuge of military vessels. It was so during the Crimean War of 1853-1856, and during the Russian-Turkish War of 1877-1878, and during the most difficult years of World War II, when in 1941-1942 there were heavy battles for 250 days. The sea depths of Sevastopol Bay keep the memory of these tragic events to this day.
Sevastopol Bay includes smaller coastal bays (Alexandrovskaya, Martynova, Yuzhnaya, Korabelnaya, Kilen-bukhta, etc.). Among them, the most famous because of its location in the heart of the city is Artillery Bay. This bay is a favorite place for walks of citizens and tourists, cultural and business life is concentrated here.
It got this name because artillery warehouses and workshops were located on its shores. Today here you can see not only these buildings, but also appeared in the early XIX century beautiful houses in the style of classicism. Active development of Artbukhta began in 1820, when it was opened a commercial port for domestic trade. Today among the most famous buildings of the bay is the building of the Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas named after A. O. Kovalevsky. The first floor of the building houses the Sevastopol Marine Aquarium Museum, Lunacharsky Drama Theater, Palace of Childhood and Youth (former Palace of Pioneers).
Walks on Artbukhta and Sevastopol Bay in general, both pedestrian and marine on tourist ships, bring great pleasure to all guests of the city. Without getting acquainted with this treasure of the city, it is impossible to feel it — this sevastopol attraction allows you to fully appreciate the beauty of the city, its uniqueness and unique atmosphere.