Golden Gate Rock. Kara-Dag and the Golden Gate. Why is this place worth visiting?

Crimea, Golden Gate - sounds romantic and attractive. At first it seems that we're talking about about some kind of architectural miracle, but this is not at all true; The Golden Gate of Koktebel is an extraordinary rock that has turned into an arch due to the sea waves that have punched a hole in it for many years. She enters the impressive mountain range Kara-Dag, from the nearby mountains of which a breathtaking view of the famous “gate” opens…

Photos of tourists:

Some useful facts

The rock got its name not by chance: it consists of an unusual volcanic rock - yellow basalt; in the sun's rays it acquires a light golden glow. The width of the Golden Gate is about 6 meters, the height is approximately 15. The landmark has long become the main symbol of Koktebel; it is depicted on postcards, magnets and souvenirs.

Golden Gate - view from the sea [Video]

Story

Once upon a time, a formidable active volcano, but ruthless water element drained his strength. Now only the rock remains, but the legends associated with it would be the envy of the Cathedral of Peter and Paul itself.

Once upon a time, the gates were not called golden at all, they were called devilish, because they said that a fisherman, who once crashed on the coastal rocks, was forced to make a deal with the devil himself. He agreed to save him and forced the man to swim through the very arch that tourists are now admiring. The fisherman did this, but after swimming under a seemingly small rock, he lost 20 years of his own life, but time is the most valuable thing we have...

Why is this place worth visiting?

It seems to me that once you look at the bizarre shapes of this rock, but the way the foamy waves lick its foot, how the mountains rise around you, you understand that you should not return from Crimea without seeing this place.

If you close your eyes and imagine that you are already there, it begins to seem that you hear the cry of seagulls, whose voice echoes in a small bay, the salty breeze hitting your face. And what photographs there are! Breathtaking, exciting views are the calling card of Koktebel, I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.

In addition to the Golden Gate rock, nature has endowed this region with wonderful landscapes that you can enjoy while visiting this site.

How to get there - route

Interestingly, there are many ways to get there, so everyone can choose what they like. Fans of water travel will love Boat trip. Ships leave the port in Koktebel. During the trip you can enjoy the scenery and sea beauty. Any flight must visit the Golden Gate, some sail under the arch, others do not, it is worth checking with the captain before starting the trip.

For lovers of walking there is a wonderful alternative. Walking alone in the mountains in this area is prohibited, and even with a map it’s easy to get lost here, but special walking excursions have been created for tourists here.

To begin with you need to minibus or by car to get to the Karadag Nature Reserve. Then you should purchase a ticket to the territory and find any excursion group heading to the Golden Gate.

Important information: The path is quite difficult; you will have to cover about 8 kilometers on foot, including not only flat roads, but also ups and downs. Be sure to take plenty of water with you, because it is hot in these parts from early morning until evening, choose comfortable shoes and light clothing suitable for hiking in the mountains.

Golden Gate on the map of Crimea

GPS Coordinates: 44°54’52″N 35°13’53″E Latitude/Longitude

Today's story is about one of the three visual symbols of Crimea - the Golden Gate rock.
Along with Swallow's Nest and Bear Mountain, this rock can most often be found in various souvenir photographs, postcards, magnets in Crimea, as well as in articles and on the covers of magazines telling about Crimea.
One of the favorite places of tourists is natural natural object, created by an ancient volcano, and then “modified” by sea waves and wind.
In ancient times, the rock was called by a completely different name - the Four Gates (or Sheitan-Kapu) and it was believed that here was the entrance to the Underworld...

The most famous rock of Crimea is located in the east of the peninsula, at the foot of the ancient extinct volcano Karadag.
Volcanic activity many millions of years ago created many incredible formations, some of which I already talked about a few days ago. One of such formations is the Golden Gate.

It was later that the storm and the wind expanded the natural opening to enormous sizes, through which even a small pleasure boat could sail. But first there was a volcano. Just look closely at the structure of the rock.
Remember my recent post about the volcano at Cape Fiolent? Doesn't the rock look like anything?

Why are the gates golden?
First of all, at dawn, they really look golden. Although not everyone can see the sunrise from the right point, because the rock is located on the territory of the reserve and access to wild beach at the foot of Lion's Dyke is prohibited and protected by gamekeepers of the reserve.
But the rock becomes “golden” again during the day - at about 13-14 hours. At this time in the summer, the sun is in such a position that the falling rays of the sun change the color of the rock to close to gold. She is beautiful even at sunset.

Why is this happening?
The fact is that the rock is completely covered with yellow lichens, which play in the sunlight.

However, recently its upper part has become more white than yellow. This is due to an increase in the number of the red-listed crested cormorant, which nests in these places. And his droppings increasingly cover the surrounding rocks.
Despite its seemingly small size, the rock is quite massive. Its height is 8 meters and its width is 6. Just two years ago, almost all pleasure boats that carry tourists from Koktebel, Kurortny or Feodosia passed through the opening, and tourists threw coins for luck.
However, from the beginning holiday season In 2012, by order of the Ministry of Nature of Ukraine, a ban was introduced on the passage of boats under the Golden Gate, and the entire a tourist route along the marine part of the reserve, which now runs at least 100 meters from the coastline.
This measure, in my opinion, is quite justified, taking into account the eco-culture of our tourists and the damage that dozens of ships cause in the summer, invading wild nature.
To the opponents of these innovations, I can only say the following: over these few years, which occurred after the tightening of access to the territory of the reserve (and this also affected the mountain-forest part), the reserve has changed a lot for the better. It became much cleaner, dozens of well-trodden paths were overgrown with grass, I began to see again. ecological trail wild animals with the naked eye, the number of wild birds has increased and this is the only reserve in Crimea where I saw absolutely no garbage (!!!). Neither on the shore, nor in the mountains.

The Golden Gate, Lion's Dyke and Devil's Fireplace Gorge are traces of the activity of an ancient volcano.

Minutes when the rock has a golden color.

Dawn at the Golden Gate. Of course, the most famous shots are when it is possible to shoot the sun directly in the opening of a rock, but this is only possible a few days a year...
Who knows, maybe one day you will see this shot in my magazine...

P.S. The filming was carried out with official permission from the Karadag Nature Reserve from a service boat.

Writes aquatek-filips: Today’s story is about one of the three visual symbols of Crimea - the Golden Gate rock. Along with Swallow's nest and Bear Mountain, this rock can most often be found in various souvenir photographs, postcards, magnets in Crimea, as well as in articles and on the covers of magazines telling about Crimea.

One of the favorite places for tourists is a natural object created by an ancient volcano, and then “modified” by sea waves and wind. In ancient times, the rock was called by a completely different name - the Devil's Gate (or Sheitan-kapu), and it was believed that here was the entrance to the Underworld.

Why are the gates golden? Firstly, at dawn they really look golden. Although not everyone can see the sunrise from the right point, because the rock is located on the territory of the reserve and access to the wild beach at the foot of the Lion's Dyke is prohibited and is guarded by the rangers of the reserve.
But the rock becomes “golden” again during the day - at about 13-14 hours. At this time in the summer, the sun is in such a position that the falling rays change the color of the rock to close to gold. She is beautiful even at sunset.

Why is this happening? The fact is that the rock is completely covered with yellow lichens, which play in the sunlight.

The most famous rock of Crimea is located in the east of the peninsula, at the foot of the ancient extinct volcano Karadag.
Volcanic activity many millions of years ago created many incredible formations in this place. One of these formations is the Golden Gate.

The Golden Gate, Lion's Dyke and Devil's Fireplace Gorge are traces of the activity of an ancient volcano.

Minutes when the rock has a golden color.

Dawn at the Golden Gate. Of course, the most famous shots are when you manage to shoot the sun directly in the opening of a rock, but this is only possible a few days a year...

Location:

Near Koktebel, at the foot of the Karadag mountain range

Often called business card Koktebel. Over the hundreds of years of their fame, they have acquired a mass of traditions and legends, romantic and blood-chilling, mysterious and alluring.

The Golden Gate is a rock at the foot of the famous landmark of Ukraine, the Karadag mountain-volcanic massif. Directly from the sea, a massive gate with sharp stone protrusions of a bizarre shape soars up to a height of about 15 meters. The Golden Gate attracts all guests of the city; everyone who comes to Koktebel must take a boat trip to this amazing place.

For many years, this landmark of Koktebel had a completely different name - Shaitan-kapu, which is translated from Crimean Tatar as Devil's Gate. For several centuries they were considered the entrance to the underworld. The arched shape of a rock rising above the surface of the waters of the Black Sea, sharp stone peaks cutting through the air - the amazing location and shape amazed, frightened, and surprised many who saw it. Even A.S. was no exception. Pushkin, who drew a gate in the margins of the manuscript of Eugene Onegin.

Pushkin remembered the Golden Gate so vividly that 3 years after what he saw, he depicted it accurately and almost topographically. However, the writer could not help but illustrate his impressions of the mysterious rock: just below the gate he depicted a demon, around which little imps are jumping and dancing, and nearby a witch is flying on a broomstick. Next to the drawing, Pushkin wrote:

He who lived and thought cannot
Do not despise people in your heart;
Whoever felt it is worried
The ghost of irrevocable days...

Those who saw the rock associated traditions and legends with the Golden Gate. Thus, even the ancient Greeks believed that it was through them that one could enter the underground kingdom of the dead, which was owned by Hades, and that such ancient heroes as Odysseus, Hercules and Orpheus passed through these gates.

The bizarre rock received the name Golden Gate not so long ago. Because of the yellow lichen, which in the light of the sun gives the rock a reddish tint, they began to be called that way, and the dark legends that connected Koktebel and the Golden Gate with the entrance to the underground kingdom or Hell are a thing of the past. It is believed that if you drive through the Golden Gate arch on a boat, your wish at that moment will certainly come true.

The fantasy of nature is limitless, and such sights of Crimea as the Golden Gate are a clear confirmation of this, as everyone who has seen this amazing rock with my own eyes. For all guests of the city of Koktebel, the Golden Gate is an opportunity to see a unique natural monument, gain the brightest impressions and even touch the legends of Ancient Greece.

If you decide to spend your summer vacation in Crimea, then I highly recommend staying in Koktebel. This small seaside village is ready to offer you not only a clean and warm sea, cozy beaches, comfortable hotels and numerous entertainment venues, but also natural attractions of amazing beauty.

Perhaps the most famous of them, in my opinion, is the Golden Gate rock. It is located just a few kilometers from the town. You can get here on foot, along the picturesque sea coast along a path that runs through the majestic Karadag. In addition, regular sea excursions are organized here in the summer. This miracle of nature has its own legend, which they will definitely tell you local residents.

When going to the Golden Rock, be sure to take your camera with you. I am sure that you will get stunningly beautiful photographs that will remind you of your trip to Crimea for a long time.

How to get to the Golden Gate

The attraction is located in the environmental protection zone of the Karadag Reserve, which somewhat complicates the road to it.

The fact is that you most likely will not be able to get to the Golden Rock on your own. You can explore the rock only as part of an organized excursion group. The easiest way to do this is from the sea, taking advantage of the numerous offers from local boatmen who stand in large numbers on the embankment.

The rock rises above the sea about seven kilometers from the village. You can get to it on foot along a mountain path that runs through the Karadag Nature Reserve. It starts from Naberezhnaya Street.

I want to say right away that walking in this conservation zone are permitted only as part of excursion groups.

If you are used to traveling with your own vehicle, then you can leave your car at any parking lot in Koktebel. The average cost of parking in the village is 50 rubles per hour. Second way to inspect Golden Rock– buy a ticket for a sea excursion.

This can be done right on the central embankment at the distributors. In any case, you will not be allowed to get lost, and you will definitely see this majestic block of stone.

Legends and myths about the Golden Rock

There are several legends regarding the Golden Gate, each of which, in my opinion, has a right to exist. I think most interesting story is the one that is connected with the other world. The fact is that this rock has its second name “Sheitan-Kapu” or “Devil’s Gate”.

As the guide told us, according to legend, in ancient times, in these places, a fisherman’s boat crashed on the rocks, and he himself was thrown ashore. To get home, he had to make a deal with the devil, the essence of which was that he had to swim through the arch of a rock that grew in the sea. The fisherman, having fulfilled this condition, lost twenty years of his life. Since then, many local residents believe that one should not approach the landmark, so as not to invite trouble.

In fact, this formation arose several tens of meters from the coast, as a result of one of the eruptions of the Karadag volcano, which occurred several thousand years ago. The arch itself is a consequence of storms and winds, which in these places are winter time happen regularly. The water slowly but surely sharpened the volcanic rock, thus forming a fairly large hole.

The height of the attraction is about fifteen meters, the width is about six. The name Golden Gate itself was established relatively recently. The fact is that the stone block is covered on all sides by lichen with a yellow tint, which under sunlight takes on a stunning golden tint. The guides will definitely tell you all this; moreover, they can significantly embellish the story.

Features of the visit

As I wrote above, you can only visit the Golden Gate as part of organized groups. Tickets for walking and sea excursions to the rock can be purchased on the central embankment of Koktebel.

Hiking

Price walking tour is 500 rubles for adults and 400 for children, duration is about four hours. It starts from the biological station, which is located in the neighboring village of Kurortnoye.

You will be taken here by bus, the fare of which is included in the price of the excursion. Next, in the company of a guide, you will take a trip through the Karadag Nature Reserve, you will see many picturesque views and finally, you can watch from above the Golden Gate.

The sight, let me tell you, is truly stunning, especially when the sun shines brightly, making the landmark playfully shimmer with a golden hue.

By personal experience I can say that you can take wonderful photographs from the top of Karadag. As a piece of advice, I can definitely recommend wearing comfortable shoes and light clothing. Also take enough water and sandwiches with you, as you will not find any cafes or shops along the way.

Boat trip

For those who don't like to walk a lot, I recommend exploring the Golden Gate from the sea. To do this, you should contact the distributors on the main embankment of Koktebel. There are always many small pleasure boats here, ready to take you to attractions at any time. The cost of a sea excursion starts from 400 rubles and depends on the size and comfort of the vessel.

The average journey duration is about two hours. There is always a guide on board each boat who will tell in detail all the existing legends about the rock, and also point out others interesting objects who will meet along the way.

Many of these excursions include swimming near the attraction, of course, if so desired. Personally, I definitely recommend taking a dip near the Golden Gate and making a wish. According to locals, it will come true in the very near future. I want to say that I liked the boat trip to the rock more. Our captain made several circles around it, which allowed us to examine the block of stone from different angles.

Nearest infrastructure

All infrastructure closest to the attraction is located in Koktebel. Here you can easily find a place to spend the night.

The village has many small hotels and private villas, in which summer season rent out rooms to vacationers.

On average, the cost of living in an economy class room for one person starts from 900 rubles without meals.

There are also many different cafes and restaurants in the village. Lunch on the embankment will cost about 700 rubles for two people without alcohol. More cheap option- this is a canteen where you can have a snack for 200 rubles. In Koktebel there is a large number of and grocery stores.

Almost throughout the village in the summer season you can find tents with a variety of souvenirs.

As I noticed, not a single such locally produced gift item is complete without the outline of the Golden Gate. Tourists are offered:

magnets of various shapes with a colorful image of a rock for 50 rubles;
souvenir plates with a scanned photo of the Golden Gate, 250 rubles each;
T-shirts with images of landmarks, the cost of which starts from 200 rubles.

The attraction is also depicted on the products of the winery of the same name, which is located in Koktebel itself. As a souvenir of your visit to the rock, I would recommend purchasing a bottle of local wine, as well as a simple but colorful magnet depicting, of course, the Golden Rock.

As a conclusion

The Golden Gate is what is considered the symbol of Koktebel. It is she who is depicted on all souvenirs that are offered to tourists as a souvenir of their visit to the village. The rock is really worth seeing.

The stone block rises majestically above the sea and, in my opinion, is a wonderful backdrop for photographs. I would like to note that during the summer season, excursions to the attraction are regularly organized, both by sea and on foot through the Karadag Nature Reserve.