Description of the attraction
Cape Aya is located on the southern coast of Crimea, 8 km from Balaklava, and 20 km from Sevastopol. The cape got its name from the Greek word "agios", which means - "holy".
Cape Aya is a steep ledge of the main ridge of the Crimean Mountains, which stretches to the base of Mount Kush-Kaya (Bird Mountain). The highest point of the cape is Mount Kokiya-Kia (height 558 m). To the east of the cape there is Laspinskaya Bay, Cape Laspi, as well as the Batiliman tract. To the west, at the foot of the Krepostnaya and Asketi mountains, there is a small bay, and further - Cape George.
Cape Aya is formed of rocks composed of Upper Jurassic marble-like limestones. At the foot of the cape there are several grottoes, some of which were used in ancient times by the sailors of the Black Sea Fleet to adjust and zero ship guns.
On the mountain slopes of Cape Aya, relict Mediterranean woodlands grow. In general, the flora of the cape has about 500 species of plants, many of them are included in the Red Book of Ukraine. The forests of the endemic Stankevich pine give an amazing charm to this wild corner of nature. They are covered with dark green long needles and huge single cones. On the territory of the Crimean peninsula, in the form of natural light forests, the Stankevich pine can be found only on Cape Aya and in the Novy Svet nature reserve. Another significant representative of the green world of the cape is the tall relict juniper. These large, sturdy trees with dense, twisted trunks can be up to 4,000 years old.
Cape Aya is a nature reserve of rarities. Endangered and rare animal species live here. At the top of the cape there is a giant funnel with a picturesque covering of huge stones of various colors and shades: green, blue, red, with dark specks and light stripes.
Cape Aya is a fabulous corner created by nature itself. Since 1982, it has been a state landscape reserve.
