Despite the small height of the Crimean mountains, steep cliffs and slopes attract many climbers, because these mountains are considered quite difficult for climbing.
It should be noted that most of the mountains of Crimea are either nature reserves or nature reserves. About these fantastically beautiful places, about what mountains exist, and where is the highest point of Crimea, about their height and much more will be discussed in this article.
Briefly about the geology of Crimea
The very foundation of the Crimean mountains is composed of rocks of the Triassic and Jurassic periods. These are quartz sandstones and clay shales, and a little higher are conglomerates (Upper Jurassic sedimentary rocks), clayed sandstones and volcanic rocks. Even higher are the Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous occurrences, represented mainly by limestones.
The boundary layer between these conglomerates and limestones is the water-repellent layer along which the water that has leaked through the karst formations flows into the valleys.
The Crimean bulge (anticlinorium) under the influence of underground forces, lasting millions of years, was divided into 3 ridges, which are steps. It is easier to imagine this in the form of 3 waves running from north to south, and with an increase in their height from the first to the last (from the Outer to the Main Ridge).
The highest mountains of Crimea, and the whole island are the results of centuries-old hibernation of the surface of a piece of land under the thickness of sea water. Once upon a time, the peninsula rested on the seabed, where it also accumulated a huge amount of sedimentary rocks, composed mainly of marls, limestones, shales and sandstones (these rocks are observed underfoot). Applying scientific terminology, we can say that the surface of the main ridge of the peninsula is the Mediterranean karst.
Crimea mountains height
The highest mountains of Crimea are not so high.
In the lists of the highest peaks of Crimea, in the first place, are the mountains of the Babugan-Yayly massif.
Their heights are up to 1.5 thousand kilometers above sea level. These are Roman-Kosh, Boynus-Tepe, Uchurum-Kaya, Zeytin-Kosh and many others. And the Gurzuf plateau is also quite high. The city of Demir Kapu rises above it. The Yalta Yaila at the junction with Gurzufskaya is higher than in the west. This is also confirmed by the height of the Kemal-Egerek peak, which is 1, 529 meters. The massif extends 180 kilometers from the northeast to the southwest of the peninsula.
The mountains of Crimea comprise a great many small ridges. Many of them do not exceed 3-4 kilometers in length.
More often these ridges extend in the meridional direction, some of which are spurs of the plateaus. But among them there are also magnificent mountain ranges, for example, Sinap-Dag. Three peaks in it have a height of more than 1300 meters. And the most beautiful are the mountains of Kizil-Kaya and Balanyn Kayasy, adjacent to the Yalta plateau.
The highest point of Crimea
Above sea level, Mount Roman-Kosh rises to a height of 1545 meters. Of course, these are not the majestic Alps and the mighty Everest, but many also aspire to visit this highest mountain of Crimea.
Roman-Kosh is located on the aforementioned Babugan-yayla. Here one of the Crimean nature reserves is located, and Roman-Kosh is its integral part. It is known that the name of the mountain translates as “supreme peace” and is of Indo-Aryan origin.
The highest point of Crimea has numerous caves. According to legend, pirates and robbers hid in them with looted treasures. Therefore, in those days, this mountain was called "Rogue." It is known that later in the caves khans and governors hid from enemies and stored jewelry and gold in them.
Despite all these amazing legends of wealth, not a single gold coin was found in Roman-Kosh caves.
A little bit about the Crimean reserve
The highest point of Crimea belongs to the territory of the famous Crimean reserve and is located near the Arbor of the Winds (a stone colonnade on top of a falcon rock).
Due to the fact that the soil consists of water-soluble limestone, rock salt and gypsum, underground karst caves are often formed here.
The grass cover in summer and autumn is rather scarce. When descending below the summit, you can find melt snow among the fragments of limestone, which creates excellent conditions for the rapid growth of yarrow, oregano, elecampane, etc. Of the animals you can see deer or roe deer on the slopes of the mountains.
Ten of the highest mountains of Crimea
Below are the highest points of the peninsula in order of elevation.
1. Quail Mountain (1320 m).
2. Kush-Kaya (1338 m).
3. North Demerdzhi (1360 m).
4. Circassian-Kosh (1395 m).
5. Hangar-Burun (1453 m).
6. Eklizi-Burun (1527 m).
7. Kemal-Egerek (1529 m).
8. Zeytin-Kosh (1537 m).
9. Demir Kapu (1540 m).
10. Roman-Kosh (1545 m).
Slightly lower than the mountains: Black, Tai Koba, South Demerdzhi, Ai-Petri, etc.
