"Summer is a little life", — such is the lyrics in a popular song. And though the coronavirus pandemic intervened in this "life", it still does not prevent us from dreaming and making plans for future travels after the restrictions are lifted. Experts agree: tourism will be different from now on. But by all means, people will continue to strive for recreation and leisure. Including those in Crimea, that is associated with the generous sun, hospitable sea, unique nature.
The most hot Crimean summer
The hottest summer on the peninsula, according to the Crimean Hydrometeorological Center, happened in August 2010: the maximum temperature in Simferopol was +39.5°C (103.1°F), while the absolute maximum was recorded in the Chernomorskoyeh and Razdolnoyeh + 41°C (105.8°F)! The weather forecasters say that temperatures above this mark, have not been recorded in the entire history of meteorological observations in Crimea.
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It is not surprising that the driest period also occurred in August 2010. Extreme heat on the peninsula happens with the tropical air masses invasion.
Ласточкино гнездоThe Swallow"s NestThe most "refreshing" Crimean places in summer
Sometimes the Crimean heat becomes so persistent that you simply don’t see any other way out than to "hide away" somewhere. According to weather forecasters, it is always cooler in the foothills, in the mountains and by the sea. And, of course, is air is more fresh on the seashore than in the steppe. You can also get fresh air in canyons, near waterfalls and rivers in gorges − guides say.
However, in the height of the sunshine heat you still should not rush to the sea: it is better to stay at home and turn on the fan (or air conditioner). Go to the beach either early in the morning, or after 05:00 p.m. Doctors insist that July and August are the months to be cautious about diseases of the cardiovascular system, heart attacks and strokes, so older people should take care.
Vacationers on the beach of YaltaSeas of Crimea: the most small and one of the largest
Most tourists travel to Crimea in summer to plunge into gentle and invigorating sea waves. The peninsula, as you know, is washed by two seas: from the east − the Sea of Azov, from the south and west − the Black Sea. The Sea of Azov is considered the most shallow on the planet: its maximum depth is only 13 meters, the area is 39 thousand square kilometers. The Sea of Azov is also one of the warmest; in summer the water may warm up to + 32°С (86°F).
As for the Black Sea, it is among the TOP 10 largest seas of Russia, its area is 422,000 square kilometers (the Bering Sea is the first in the list with an area of 2,315,000 sq. km, and the last is the Baltic − 415,000 sq. km). The water temperature of the sea surface in summer is up to + 26°С (78.8°F).
Отдыхающие купаются в Черном море в СудакеSummer Holidays in SudakThe most "luminescent" sea
"Myriad of stars, hundreds of the Milky Ways swam underwater. They either plunged, to the very bottom and die out, or flared, floating up to the surface of the water…" − this is how the writer Konstantin Paustovsky once described an amazing natural phenomenon that can be observed in Crimea in summer.
The sea water heated up to 24 degrees and above, glows bright blue at night. This is due to unicellular microscopic algae noctiluci (night lighters), which, with any movement in the water, emit such a "disco dancing" luminescent light.
"Such a spectacular show can be seen starting from July. I personally saw the luminous sea in Simeïz, at the Cat Mountain foot. To have a swim at such a night – as if to have a space flight!", − the guide Svetlana Zinkovskaya shared her impressions with us.
Море на рассветеSea at dawnThe most diverse beaches
Pebble beaches prevail on the South Coast of Crimea, and on the western and eastern coasts the beaches are mostly sandy. And every year the number of organized beach areas is increasing.
"The Crimean coast is diverse. There are white sand beaches − on the Tarkhankut peninsula, there are yellow beaches − in Eupatoria and Theodosia. The most unusual beaches − with black volcanic sand − are in the Sudak region and the southeastern part of Alushta", — the guide Dina Mulyanova told the Travel Portal.
Пляжи Boy on the beachThe most summer-time films shot in Crimea
Crimea has long attracted creative people: writers, artists, musicians, and, of course, filmmakers. After all, where else, if not on the sunny peninsula, with its magnificent landscapes, to make perfect field footage?
So, in summer time many popular Soviet films were staged in Crimea: The Kidnapping, Caucasian Style; Sportlottery-82; Amphibian Man, The New Adventures of the Elusive Avengers; A Man from Boulevard des Capucines; Pirates of the 20th Century, Kingdom of Crooked Mirrors; The Headless Horseman; The Lady with a Doggie; Don Quixote, Three Plus Two (filming began in August and ended in November 1962).
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Other contemporary Russian films shot under the Crimean summer sun include Savages (Dikari); Hamlet of the 21st Century; The Other Side Turn; Yulenka; The Photo of My Girl; Son of the Raven; Mio, My Mio; the series Mistress of the Taiga – 2; the fourth season of the series The Relatives-in-Law, and others.
Кадр из фильма «Гамлет ХХI век»Shot from the movie "Hamlet XXI Century"The most extreme summer fun
Crimea in summer becomes a magnet for extreme sportsmen. For example, here you can go diving with scuba in one of the underwater grottoes of Cape Tarhankut. By the way, close to the cape, in the village of Olenyovka there is a sandy shore and the winds, suitable for kitesurfing and windsurfing, blow there from June to August.
You can row a sea kayak along the cliffs to the wild beaches of Balaklava, walk along the adrenaline suspension bridge on Ay-Petri, or try rope-jumping − jumping from rocks with a rope or elastic band on a shock-absorbing safety system. For such jumps the rocks of Kachi-Kalon, Ilyas-Kaya, Shaan-Kaya are excellent.
And what about a parachute jump or paragliding? This can be done in Sevastopol, Greater Yalta, Bakhchisaray, Simferopol, Kacha and, of course, in Koktebel − the center of domestic hang gliding. Another extreme idea is to go down to the Red Cave and under the supervision of an experienced instructor go through the "siphon" and to have a swim along the underground river.
Спорт и экстрим SkydiversMost popular summer travel routes
"In summer you must definitely visit one of the Crimean pink lakes, Koyashskoyeh or Sasyk-Sivash, because it is in summer that they acquire their amazing pink hue. I also advise you to spend a night or more on a plateau of the Crimean mountains to observe the star fall in August and to see the dawn in the mountains. And you can meet the sunrise in the east, drive the entire peninsula through during a day and see the sunset in the west. In Crimea, this is quite possible!", — the guide Olga Vysokoglyad shared with Travel Portal.
And, of course, Crimea in summer offers a wide selection of excursion routes and events.
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"In summer sightseeing tours are popular rather than excursions, because tourists prefer to get acquainted with the main attractions of Crimea in one or two days. Hiking trails are gaining popularity, as many are interested in the natural wealth of the peninsula. And not only young people prefer to go to the mountains or canyons, but also older people. The most popular route is the Golden Ring of Crimea, which runs along the South Coast: it can be either a bus, or a motor boat tour − to the choice of travelers. This is a one day sightseeing tour with five different sightseeing sites. The Palaces are also of great interest", — the guide Dina Mulyanova told the Travel Portal.
By the way, according to the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Crimea, the most visited in Crimea are: the Alupka Palace with the Park Museum-Reserve; the Bakhchisaray Historical, Cultural and Archaeological Museum-Reserve; the Sudak Fortress Museum-Reserve; the East Crimean Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve in Kerch, and the Livadia Palace-Museum.
Туристы в Ливадийском дворцеLivadia Palace