When planning a summer trip to the Crimea, we, of course, recall the magnificent beaches, the warm sea, the gentle sun. Well, how can you imagine a wonderful peninsula without a beach holiday? Some sources claim that in Crimea there are five hundred and twenty different beaches, others believe that more. Nobody knows the exact numbers.
All beaches are beautiful and unique in their own way. Children love to relax on the sandy coast, the small pebble bottom will have a massaging effect on our tired legs, and stone coasts are preferred by lovers to bask in the sun, lying on hot huge boulders.
Probably, not everyone knows that, along with modern landscaped areas of sanatoriums and pensions on the Crimean coast, completely wild places that differ in their pristine nature have been preserved. One of them is General's beaches. They stretched along the eastern coast of Crimea on the Sea of Azov, near Kerch, and east of Kazantip. Fans of recreation on the peninsula call the General's beaches (Kerch) "Russian Thailand." An amazing vacation awaits you here, which can give amazing places not touched by civilization.
Natural park "Karalarsky"
General beaches, photos of which you can see in this article, are surrounded by the Karalar steppe - a unique natural monument. The coastline here is cut with steep ledges, open bays with beaches and rocky chaos. In the Karalar steppe, there are arched arches that over the centuries have created the sun, wind and water.
Rare species of vegetation that are characteristic of grass-feather grasses have been preserved on this land. The fauna of these places is also diverse - rodents and bats, many birds. On the territory of Karalar, there is a yellowfin (steppe viper) and Crimean lizard, along the seashore there lives a water snake, which during the hunt for bulls often causes a commotion among the spa guests. On this territory there are valuable in their combination samples of fescue-feather grass steppes that have no analogues in Europe.
Description of the beaches
A wild recreational zone stretches along the northern edge of the Karalar steppe, along the coast of the Sea of Azov, almost thirty kilometers from the village of Zolotoy to the village of Kurortny . Coastline with ledges and open bays with beaches. There are a lot of them: from very small to quite spacious, which can accommodate a large company.
In total, there are about thirty bays, each of which has its own name. Here are just a few of them:
- Bay of Joy.
- Soldier beach.
- Lilac Bay.
- Cow's Bay.
- Polyphemus Bay.
- Mulberry Bay.
- Suertash Bay.
- Badger Bay.
- Ivanova Bay.
- Wanderer Bay.
Even in the midst of the beach season, there are few vacationers here, nature has been preserved in its original form. Sandy and pebble General's beaches are very comfortable for vacationers - the sand is soft, and all thanks to the fact that it consists of shells frayed by waves. The water is clean, but compared to the Black Sea, it is not so transparent. The sand is so clean that you can see that all the grains of sand are exactly the same size. Waves ashore many beautiful large shells.
In the bays there are small arched vaults that were formed under the influence of natural phenomena. General beaches in Kerch have a characteristic feature - the presence of sand spits (shallow areas), which are washed up by the sea for a long time, away from the coast.
On the coast, the sea is shallow, with a flat bottom. The water here is always much warmer than in the Black Sea. This is definitely an earthly paradise, however, in its ascetic performance - there are not many trees, greenery and, of course, shade on the beaches.
Title origin
For twenty-five years (from 1947 to 1972), a military training ground was located in the Karalar steppe to provide (air) tests of hydrogen and nuclear weapons of the USSR Air Force. Radioactive materials were disposed of here. The territory was classified and closed to the public.
Nevertheless, people rested in picturesque bays. But it was only the top military leadership. Hence the name went - General's beaches.
Relaxation
Holidays in this wonderful place are best suited for romantics, who are attracted to life in tents and evening gatherings around the campfire. There is always a deserted and cozy corner. Tourists need to know that when coming to General's beaches, you need to stock up on fresh water, fuel and food. There are sources of life-giving moisture, but, as a rule, by the middle of the season they all dry out.
Nature
General's beaches (Kerch) attract tourists with their unusual landscapes. These places are famous for their special southern nature with aromas of herbs and unique natural beauties.
Lovers of photography will be very pleased here. They will be able to take stunning pictures that will long retain the memory of a “wild" vacation. General's beaches are distinguished by a unique landscape that has formed over many centuries. In some places, rocky massifs form beautiful arches, turn into small grottoes. Wind, sun and water gave the stones bizarre shapes.
On any part of this territory you can see fantastic compositions created by nature itself. Here everyone can become a real Robinson for a few days in a small bay, the entrance to which will be protected by stone sculptures resembling fabulous animals.
Vacation with children
Of course, young fun companies, not afraid of uninhabited beaches, come to the Sea of Azov more often. General's beaches, however, in recent years are increasingly of interest to couples with children. Holidays with kids on the eastern coast of Crimea are justified.
There is a shallow convenient entrance to the sea, shallow water off the coast, and the water always warms up well. Fancy seashells will take the attention of young travelers for a long time. Of course, it’s risky to come here with kids for a long time, but spending a weekend in nature will be useful. It is only necessary to take care of protection from the scorching sun, because, as already mentioned, there is practically no shadow.
What kind of entertainment is there on General's beaches?
Immediately we want to upset those who are interested in this issue. There is no entertainment here - only the warm sea, the gentle sun and pristine nature. Experienced travelers advise beginners to take sunshades with them, as there is nowhere to hide in the midday heat. Usually outdoor enthusiasts come here with their boats and ride them on the sea surface. Locals will be happy to rent you a skiff.
You can ask them to show you local attractions. We assure you that they will do it with pleasure and no worse than a professional guide. Holidays on General's beaches delight with its originality. This is especially felt by people who are accustomed to hanging out in hotels or pensions. Some domestic inconveniences are more than compensated by the incredible sensations that this “wildest” place in the Crimea causes.
If you seek solitude, want to gain strength, recharge with positive energy, then General's beaches - this is the option that you need.
sights
You may be surprised, but this place has its own historical monuments. Near Cape Zyuk, near the village of Kurortny, are the ancient ruins of the ancient city. The foundations of buildings and defensive walls, a sanctuary with altars and a sacrificial table, a necropolis with the remains of burial slabs have survived to this day.
Here you can find fragments of dishes made by ancient craftsmen from clay, and other artifacts, whose age is estimated at several thousand years. In these places, the settlement existed from IV to III century BC. e. Historians and archaeologists associate with the Caralar steppes the ancient country of Cimmeria, which was the birthplace of Conan Barbara. Wandering around the ancient city will be interesting not only to connoisseurs and lovers of history. According to tourists who have been here, this place has a very strong and bright energy. Such a walk will be remembered for a long time.
Many tourists would like to visit General's beaches. How to get here, they do not know. A little later we will tell you how to do this, and we hope that you will not postpone the trip to the long box. This place must be seen with your own eyes, not a single photo can convey its grandeur and beauty.
On the way to the bays you can see a stunning picture of a boundless steppe, strewn with wildflowers. In April and May, huge tracts are literally strewn with tulips. These small red flowers are fascinating.
Fishing
General's beaches can please fishing lovers, if, of course, they took care of the equipment in advance. In these places you can catch gobies and flounder, mullet and zander.
Tips of experienced tourists
Having decided to relax on a wild beach, each tourist should be prepared for the surprises that representatives of the local fauna can bring. On General's beaches in the water you can meet snakes; their bite is not dangerous, but, as a rule, beginners are scared of their appearance. In addition, there are also land snakes, the meeting with which is much more serious. Moreover, resting in these places, you can see the scolopendra and tarantula.
And another very important point that must be remembered by all who come to General's beaches is the observance of cleanliness. There are no special services to ensure order on the territory, so tourists themselves must monitor the cleanliness. After a great vacation, going home, think about the fact that after you someone else will come to these places. Leave the area clean so people don’t have to start their vacation with a grand cleaning.
How to get to General's beaches by car?
It is most convenient to get to the treasured vacation spot by car, but you need to know that in some sections the road, to put it mildly, is not very good. The most reliable iron horse in this case is an SUV. Cars with low landing will not be able to overcome some places. True, the locals deftly move around in small cars, but in this case, probably, the experience and knowledge of all the surrounding pits are affected.
You need to move towards Kerch - the beaches are twelve kilometers from the city. Take the “Feodosia - Kerch” highway off Novonikolayevka. The road to the village of Zolotoy is asphalted, then a primer.
General beaches: reviews
Probably, after reading our article, you realized that this is a place for campers and deserted, but very beautiful beaches. People who are attracted to just such a vacation are delighted with the trip - the warm sea, sandy beach, peace and solitude. A complete rest from civilization.
However, sometimes it also happens that a random person who never spent his vacation in such conditions falls into the company of vacationers. He went only because friends said that the rest would be memorable. In this case, you probably do not need to guess how he will respond about his pastime. That is why experienced tourists recommend not inviting beginners with them for the long term, maximum for the weekend.