When planning a summer trip to the Crimea, we, of course, remember 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 there are five hundred and twenty different beaches in Crimea, others believe that there are more. No one knows the exact number.
All beaches are beautiful and unique in their own way. Children are very fond of relaxing on the sandy coast, the small-pebble bottom will have a massaging effect on our tired legs, and stone shores are preferred by lovers to bask in the sun, lying on hot huge boulders.
Probably not everyone knows that along with the modern well-maintained territories of sanatoriums and boarding houses on the Crimean coast, completely wild, pristine places have been preserved. One of them is General's beaches. They stretched along the eastern coast of Crimea on the Sea of Azov, not far from Kerch, and east of Kazantip. Admirers of rest on the peninsula call General's beaches (Kerch) "RussianThailand". Here you will find an amazing vacation, which can give amazing places untouched by civilization.
Karalar Nature Park
General's 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 by steep ledges, open bays with beaches and rocky chaos. Arched vaults are located in the Karalar steppe, which over the centuries have been created by the sun, wind and water.
Rare types of vegetation have been preserved on this land, which are typical for forb-feather grass steppes. The fauna of these places is also diverse - rodents and bats, many birds. On the territory of Karalar there is a yellow-bellied viper (steppe viper) and a Crimean lizard, along the sea coast there is a water snake, which, while hunting for gobies, often causes a commotion among holidaymakers. On this territory there are samples of fescue-feather grass steppes, valuable in their combination, which have no analogues in Europe.
Description of beaches
Across the northern edge of the Karalar steppe, along the coast of the Sea of Azov, a wild recreational zone stretches for almost thirty kilometers from the village of Zolotoe to the village of Kurortnoye. Coastline with ledges and open bays with beaches. There are many of them here: 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:
- Bay of Joy.
- Soldier's Beach.
- Lilac Bay.
- Cow Bay.
- Polyphemus Bay.
- Mulberry Bay.
- Syuertash Bay.
- Badger Bay.
- Ivanov Bay.
- Wanderer's Cove.
Even in the midst of the beach season, there are few vacationers here, nature has been preserved in its original form. The sand and pebble beaches of the Generals are very comfortable for vacationers - the sand is soft, and all thanks to the fact that it contains shells rubbed 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 wash ashore many beautiful large shells.
In the bays there are small arched vaults, which were formed under the influence of natural phenomena. General's beaches in Kerch have a characteristic feature - the presence of sandy spits (shallow areas), which are washed by the sea for a long time, away from the coast.
Near the shore, 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 design - there are few trees, greenery and, of course, shade on the beaches.
Origin of the name
For twenty-five years (from 1947 to 1972) in the Karalar steppe there was a military training ground for (air) testing of hydrogen and nuclear weapons of the USSR Air Force. Radioactive materials were also disposed of here. Territorywas classified and closed to the public.
Nevertheless, people were relaxing in the picturesque bays. But this was only the top military leadership. Hence the name - General's beaches.
Rest
Recreation in this wonderful place is most suitable for romantics who are attracted by life in tents and evening gatherings around the fire. There is always a deserted and cozy corner. Tourists need to know that when coming to the General's beaches, it is necessary to stock up on fresh water, fuel and food. There are sources of life-giving moisture here, but, as a rule, they all dry up by the middle of the season.
Nature
General's beaches (Kerch) attract tourists with their extraordinary landscapes. These places are famous for their special southern nature with the aromas of herbs and unique natural beauties.
Photo lovers will enjoy here a lot. They will be able to take amazing pictures that will keep the memory of the “wild” vacation for a long time. General's beaches are distinguished by their unique landscape, which has been formed over many centuries. In some places, rock masses form the most beautiful vaults, turning into small grottoes. Wind, sun and water have shaped the stones into 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 guarded by stone sculptures resembling fabulous animals.
Holidays with children
Of course, young cheerful companies that are not afraid of deserted 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 gentle easy entrance to the sea, shallow water near the shore, and the water always warms up well. Fancy shells will keep the attention of young travelers for a long time. Of course, it is risky to come here with kids for a long time, but it will be useful to spend weekends in nature. You just need to take care of protection from the scorching sun, because, as already mentioned, there is practically no shade here.
What kind of entertainment is there on the General's beaches?
I want to upset those who are interested in this question right away. There is no entertainment here - only the warm sea, the gentle sun and virgin nature. Experienced travelers advise beginners to take sun tents 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. The locals will gladly rent you a skiff.
You can ask them to show you local places of interest. We assure you that they will do it with pleasure and no worse than a professional guide. Rest on the General's beaches delights with its originality. This is especially felt by people who are accustomed to spending time in hotels or boarding houses. Some domestic inconveniences are more than compensatedincredible sensations that this most “wild” place in Crimea causes.
If you seek solitude, want to gain strength, recharge with positive energy, then General's beaches are the option you need.
Attractions
You may be surprised, but this place has its own historical monuments. Near Cape Zyuk, not far from the village of Kurortny, there 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 pottery made by ancient craftsmen from clay, and other artifacts dating back several thousand years. In these places, the settlement existed from the 4th to the 3rd century BC. e. Historians and archaeologists associate the ancient country of Cimmeria with the Karalar steppes, which was the birthplace of Conan the Barbarian. Wandering around the ancient settlement will be interesting not only for connoisseurs and lovers of history. According to tourists who have been here, this place has a very strong and bright energy. You will remember such a walk 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 put off the trip indefinitely. This place must be seen with your own eyes, no photo can convey its grandeur and beauty.
PoOn the way to the bays, you will be able to see a stunning picture of the boundless steppe strewn with wildflowers. In April and May, huge areas are literally strewn with tulips. These small red flowers are mesmerizing.
Fishing
General's beaches can please fans of fishing, if, of course, they have taken care of the equipment in advance. In these places you can catch gobies and flounder, mullet and pike perch.
Advice from experienced tourists
Having decided to relax on a wild beach, every tourist should be prepared for surprises that representatives of the local fauna can bring. On the General's beaches, you can meet snakes in the water; their bite is not dangerous, but, as a rule, beginners are frightened by their appearance. In addition, land snakes are also found here, the encounter with which is much more serious. Moreover, while relaxing in these places, you can see scolopendra and tarantula.
And one more very important point that everyone who comes to the General's beaches should remember is cleanliness. There are no special services that 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 holiday with a big cleanup.
How to get to General's beaches by car?
It is most convenient to get to the cherished place of rest by car, but you need to know that in some sections the road, gentlyspeaking, not very good. The most reliable iron horse in this case is an SUV. Cars with a low landing will not be able to overcome some places. It is true that the locals are adept at moving around in small cars, but in this case, the experience and knowledge of all the surrounding pits probably affects.
It is necessary to move towards Kerch - the beaches are located twelve kilometers from the city. Turn off the Feodosia - Kerch highway near Novonikolaevka. To the village of Zolotoy the road is paved, then - dirt road.
General's beaches: reviews
Probably, after reading our article, you realized that this is a place for lovers of camping and deserted, but very beautiful beaches. People who are attracted by just such a vacation remain delighted with the trip - the warm sea, the sandy shore, peace and solitude. A complete break from civilization.
However, sometimes it happens that a random person who has never spent his vacation in such conditions gets into the company of vacationers. He went only because his 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 to invite newcomers with them for a long time, maximum for the weekend.
