Demirdzhi is a mountain range located in the Alushta region of Crimea, Ukraine. “Demirdzhi” translated from the Crimean Tatar language means “smith”. In the Middle Ages, the Greeks called it Funa – “smoking”.

Over time from exposure to wind and water the limestone collapses, forming numerous “sculptures” of the more solid rock. When the clouds are covering the mountains you can see mysterious silhouettes in the fog, which disappear in a moment.

(more…)

Tags: Alushta city · Crimea Republic

Yalta was founded by the Greeks approximately in the 1st century. The legend says that Greek sailors lost their way because of a storm, they searched the shore for a long time and when finally they saw the shore (“yalos”) they decided to call the founded settlement this way.

Yalta started developing as a health resort in the 1860s. By early 20th century a lot of representatives of Russian elite, including members of the emperor’s family and monarchs themselves had dachas and palaces in Yalta and Yaltinsky region.

(more…)

Tags: Crimea Republic · Yalta city

Belaya Skala (White Rock) is the rock in the Crimea, located near the village of Belaya Skala (up to 1948 – Aq Qaya), Belogorskiy area. The vertical white rocky wall rises over the valley of the river Biyuk-Karasu. The altitude is 325 meters, elevation between the valley and the top of the rock – 100 meters.

The name translates to Crimean Tatar language as Aq Qaya (aq – white, qaya – rock). In 1981 it received the status of monument of regional importance. Photos by Dmitry Mordolff.

(more…)

Tags: Crimea Republic

Karabi is a mountain karst plateau located in the Crimea, where on a relatively small area hundreds of caves can be found. The average height of the plateau is about 1000 meters above the sea level; the highest point is Mount Tai-Koba (1262 meters).

The plateau has an abundance of different types of karst cavities – caves, mines, and tunnels. Because of this the area is very popular among cavers.

(more…)

Tags: Crimea Republic

National dendrological park “Sofiyivka” is a park and research institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, located in the northern part of Uman city in Cherkassy oblast, on the banks of Kamenka River.

Today it is a place of rest annually visited by about 500,000 people. Total area of the park is 179.2 hectares.

(more…)

Tags: Cherkassy oblast · Uman city

The January weather in the Crimea and, in particular, in Sevastopol is pretty cold (about minus 10-15 degrees Celsius). The beach is empty and covered in ice.

Sometimes the beach is looking like the remains of the lair of aliens from the famous movie with all this slime and other strange objects. The photos were taken by aquatek-filips who miraculously escaped before the aliens came back :)

(more…)

Tags: Crimea Republic · Sevastopol city

Ukrainian Carpathians Mountains are the part of Carpathian mountain range, located mainly in western Ukraine on the territory of Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Zakarpattia and Chernovtsy oblasts.

The length of Ukrainian Carpathians from San River to the sources of Suchava River is 280 km, width – 100 km. The total area is more than 24 thousand square km. The absolute height of the mountain range varies from 120-400 m in the foothills up to 1500-2000 m along the main ridge.

(more…)

Tags: Chernovtsy oblast · Ivano-Frankivsk oblast · Lviv oblast · Zakarpattia oblast

Not far from the Ukrainian regional center Rivne there is a town known as Klevan. The main attraction of it is one of the most romantic places in the world called “The Tunnel of Love”. During the warm months of the year the trees planted next to each other form a fairy green tunnel along one kilometer long section of the railway.

The tunnel is very popular among lovers who like to make a wish and kiss there. If the love is sincere, then the wish will come true. Stunningly beautiful place! Photos by Oleg Gordienko.

(more…)

Tags: Rivne city · Rivne oblast

The Valley of Ghosts is a numerous collection of stone sculptures on the slopes of the Southern Demerdzhi Mountain located near Alushta city.

The shapes of stone figures resemble human figures, animals, mysterious creatures, objects, and, depending on time of day and lighting, their images are changing. In addition thick fog is common there.

(more…)

Tags: Alushta city · Crimea Republic

Welcome to “Feofaniya” – landscape art park-memorial of national importance located in Ukrainian capital city Kiev. Unique feature distinguishing the park from others is the harmonious combination of unspoiled nature with the masterpieces of landscape design on the background of St. Panteleimon cathedral.

(more…)

Tags: Kiev city