«…Past the island of Buyan, to the kingdom of glorious Saltan». These verses are from Alexander Pushkin’s famous fairy tale «About Tsar Saltan». And inspired the great Russian poet to write this tale, he saw in the Black Sea, a small island, which is located near the place Ochakov, Nikolaev region. Having been there once, Pushkin was so impressed by its extraordinary beauty that he created his own Buyan.
This miracle-island is called Berezan, which means «Island at the Wolf River» in Turkish. Proud and lonely it stands in the sea, at the outlet of the Dnieper and Berezan estuaries, surrounded to the north and east by the waters of the Bug and Dnieper, and to the west and south by the waters of the Black Sea. The island is small in size, only 850 meters long. Its present-day inhabitants are birds and amphibians, but once it was inhabited by the oldest ancient settlement in the Northern Black Sea coast. That’s when its history began. It was back in VII century BC, when natives from Miletus brought Hellenic culture to the island and founded their colony on its precipitous shores. 
Then Berezan had a connection with the land in the area of Cape Adzhiyask (village Rybakovka), and by its size was twice as big as today. But with the rise of water level in the Black Sea, the valley of the river, flowing into the sea, was flooded, and the peninsula separated from the mainland formed Berezan estuary. Then the local inhabitants left the newly created island and it became uninhabited for many centuries.
Life returned to this piece of land in the Black Sea in the times of Kievan Rus. A trade route passed by it, along which caravans of Slavic ships carried their goods to Byzantium. Berezan was used as a staging point before going to the open sea. In its northeastern part there was a quiet and safe harbor for sheltering merchant ships and storing goods. Here Russian merchants equipped their ships with sails, rails, oars and could rest for a few days before a long journey without risk and fear for their goods.
After the Mongol-Tatar conquerors seized the territories of the Northern Black Sea coast — the island was deserted for several centuries.
Strategically it became interesting again during the Russian-Turkish war, as it was located at the entrance to the estuary. For many years, the warring parties wrested its territory from each other. When the Turks once again took possession of Berezan, they erected a fortress on it, closing the exit from the Dnieper-Bug estuary to the open sea. They dominated the island until the Zaporozhian Cossacks finally conquered it at the capture of the fortress of Ocha-Kale, now Ochakov. They destroyed the Turkish fortress and left Berezan. The exit to the Black Sea was opened and the island lost its strategic importance. Since then Berezan became uninhabited.
Contemporaries call it Lieutenant Schmidt’s Island, in memory of the legendary commander of the revolutionary squadron of the rebellious 
Black Sea Fleet Lieutenant Pyotr Schmidt, who was shot on the island together with his companions. In their honor a monument resembling a sail — a symbol of the sea element — was erected.
In 1907 a «target fortress» with a labyrinth of dugouts was built in the middle of the island. At that time the island was used as an artillery range for testing long-range naval artillery. Nowadays, over the remains of these constructions, mistaken for the former Turkish fortress, there is a navigational sign in the form of a four-sided metal truss about 12 meters high and a lighthouse, which burns in the dark with green flashing lights and indicates the correct course to navigators.
Berezan is our fascinating historical past. This mysterious island attracts the attention of tourists and scientists all over the world. 
They are attracted there by the desire to get acquainted with the ancient culture of our ancestors. Archaeologists from all over the world have been excavating the island for more than a hundred years, and every day new evidence of different peoples and settlements, cultures and religions is being discovered. On the island found a huge number of household items from ancient times and the Roman era. But many of the mysteries that this island holds will remain unsolved, because they have long been buried beneath blocks of water, at the bottom of the Black Sea.
Berezan Island is a protected corner of nature. It is a part of historical and archaeological reserve «Olvia» and has national and world significance. Its numerous hills and steep banks are covered with steppe grasses and shrubs, which in spring bloom and intoxicate with their fragrant aroma. 
And from its high ledges you can see the vast expanse of the sea. The island is home to exceptionally rare species of snakes and lizards that are found only in these southern locations. It is a nesting and wintering place for a large number of birds. The Black Sea is not rich in islands, but, unfortunately, it is merciless to Berezan. Today this small piece of land in the immense basin is on the verge of extinction. Due to the gradual rise in the water level, the sea is taking away a piece of territory from the land piece by piece. The coastline of the island is constantly changing, and there is a possibility that the island will completely disappear under the black waters of the sea. And it is a pity that this island attracts not only people interested in its history, but also those who seek easy profit. Unauthorized excavations, which do not stop on the island, are gradually destroying its territory and disturbing its natural balance.
From the shore Berezan seems so unapproachable, but as soon as you step on land, it is hospitable and friendly. 
Today a huge number of people are eager to get to the island to see this miracle and touch the different eras that it has experienced. Excursions to Berezan are organized from the nearest settlements: Ochakov, Rybakovka, Lugovoye, Koblevo. The sea trip will take about 3 hours. During this time you will be able to familiarize yourself with the surroundings of this unique object, its inhabitants, plunge into its extraordinary natural world and look into its distant and interesting past, although most of it has long been at the bottom of the sea.
Welcome to our historical homeland, breathe in the clean air of Berezan and let the vast expanses of the sea make your head spin and fill your soul with peace.