Cape Sarych
Cape Sarych is the southern “pole” of the Crimean Peninsula, located between Yalta and Sevastopol. It is a picturesque place with stony wild beaches, juniper thickets and diving sites, which has not been reached by the noise and infrastructure of Big Yalta. On Sarych go not for comfort and civilization benefits, and for unpretentious rest “in the Soviet way” – in a tent, around the campfire, under the peaceful gurgling of a wok with freshly caught rapans.
History of the cape
There are two versions of the origin of the name of the cape. According to one of them, the place is named Sarych in honor of the bird of prey of the hawk family, which is found in the southern part of the Crimean coast. According to another – the name goes back to the Turkic word “golden woven”, which the geographical object was christened for the abundance of limestone deposits that have a pale yellow hue.
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Tourist history of the cape is usually counted from 1898, after a lighthouse was erected here on the initiative of Nicholas II. Sarych has long had a reputation as a dysfunctional area with a rich shipwreck “biography”. However, if you look in the documents, it will become clear that the territory was developed in the early XIX century, when they “grew” estate landowners Komperov. Actually, it was the Compers who offered their lands for the construction of the lighthouse. They also later made a claim to the tsarist government with a demand to pay compensation for the lease of a favorable, according to their ideas, place.
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In the early 20th century, references to Sarych could be found on the pages of all Russian and then Soviet newspapers. In November 1914 at the cape there was a battle between the Russian and German squadrons, which ended with serious damage to Russian cruisers and the deaths of three hundred sailors. In 1941, near the shores of Sarych exploded on a mine and sank the passenger steamship “Lenin”. The transport was carrying evacuees from Odessa. The catastrophe happened so quickly that more than 2,500 people went to the bottom together with the ship.
.Sightseeing and diving in the vicinity of Cape Sarych
Most travelers characterize Cape Sarych as a protected corner, which has preserved its own ecosystem, and an ideal place for a wilderness holiday. In fact, the rocky mini paradise is not so far removed from civilization – the distance from the cape to the nearest settlement (the village of Foros) is no more than 5 km in a straight line. Except that the scenery in these places is so deserted and pristine that in the neighborhood is one of the most expensive resorts of Big Yalta, it is hard to believe.
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Why go to Sarych? First of all, to imagine yourself the only person on the planet, surviving after an imaginary technological apocalypse and enjoying complete solitude. Here you should also sunbathe in wild rocky bays (the approaches to the sea are terribly extreme, but the water is the clearest), snorkel in search of “stone gardens” mentioned by travel bloggers, and just walk among the green thickets.
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On Sarych grows relict juniper, crafts from which are sold throughout the South Coast of Crimea. By the way, to repeat the feat of local merchants and break branches for their subsequent transformation into authentic handmade is highly undesirable – the plant is rare and valuable. In addition, thanks to the essential oils released juniper, the Crimean air gets such a wonderful aroma and has healing power. Of the “red-listed” plants on the local slopes can be found pistachio blunt-pollinated and strawberry small-fruited, as well as unprotected, but no less beautiful oaks, hornbeam, bush jasmine and needles.
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The main fans of Cape Sarych, in addition to fans of tent rest – divers and snorkelers, which is generally natural. The depth of Laspi Bay, located between Cape Aya and Sarych, allows you to arrange a full-fledged journey through the underwater world with a subsequent photo report on the way. Swim among the “stone gardens”, once served as a natural setting for the movie “Amphibian Man”, to observe the life of Black Sea inhabitants, catch fresh rapans and mussels for dinner – all this can be done in the vicinity of the cape.
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Experienced divers, who prefer atmospheric places, should get to the rack of the steamer “Lenin”. The remains of the iron giant, which transported Odessa refugees, are still resting on the Black Sea bottom. There are also legends among divers about the “golden cargo” sunk near the shores of Sarych, which was allegedly on board the steamer. So, if youthful dreams of sudden enrichment still trouble your soul, explore the bottom within the dive site. Maybe you’ll be the lucky one.
How to get there
The easiest way to get to Cape Sarych is to take any bus running on the route Sevastopol – Yalta. The stop is so called – “Cape Sarych”. The landmark is usually a TV tower, installed here at the request of Mikhail Gorbachev, in the 80’s visiting his dacha in Foros.
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Important: since 2017 the road to Cape Sarych is closed to tourists, and the only available way to relax in its vicinity is to go a few hundred meters to the west, towards Laspi Bay. Camping, which every season offered travelers places for parking next to the cape, has also stopped working, so if you want to stay in these parts, get ready to pitch a tent.
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