Tarkhankut: Memories of the Future
A story about the pristine beauty of the legendary cape of the Crimean Peninsula.
Ihor Halushchak. "Krymska Svitlytsia" newspaper, 2016, issue No. 41
Currently, when most Ukrainian citizens, hopefully only in the coming years, cannot see Crimea like their own ears, everyone who has ever visited the peninsula feels sorry for their once-beloved piece of Crimea. For instance, visiting tourists categorically disagreed with the translation of the name of the secluded Crimean cape Tarkhankut from Crimean Tatar as 'Devil's Corner.' Indeed, for many, it was their favorite Crimean resort. It is one of the most beautiful places on the peninsula, with its pristine, wild, and picturesque nature. Therefore, Tarkhankut, like a magnet, attracted a significant number of vacationers every year.
If you look at the map, you can see that the cape is washed by the Black Sea from the north, west, and northwest, and by Lake Donuzlav from the south. The area of the Tarkhankut Peninsula is 1.5 thousand square kilometers. But the main resorts are Olenivka, Chornomorske, Mizhvodne, Maryino, and Okunivka. Moreover, it is one of the very few currently ecologically clean corners of the Black Sea coast. And the water in the sea is so transparent that it would be easy to hold international diving competitions or underwater photography here.
In general, Cape Tarkhankut, with its caves, mysterious underwater world, endless sandy beaches, and majestic cliffs, is a real dream for extreme tourists, divers, surfers, and archaeologists. It is probably not by chance that in the Soviet past, filmmakers loved this place so much. It was on the territory of Cape Tarkhankut that such famous movies as 'A Hero of Our Time', 'Pirates of the 20th Century', 'People and Dolphins', 'Amphibian Man', and many others were filmed.
In addition to relaxation, one could significantly improve their health here. Indeed, in the area of the village of Olenivka lies Lake Sary-Gol, which contains therapeutic brine that is not inferior in its healing properties to the muds of Saky and Yevpatoriya. The summer season here usually begins at the end of May. Due to the dryness of the air, it is very hot on Tarkhankut in summer, even compared to other resorts on the Crimean Peninsula. After all, there are about 280 sunny days a year here!
In the period from April to October, the sun shines brightly on the cape, and the sea water in July-August warms up to +28 degrees. Therefore, the Tarkhankut air, saturated with sea salts, is considered an excellent natural inhaler and is very beneficial for the respiratory organs. Not far from the village of Chornomorske, there are Scythian burial mounds and the ancient Greek polis Kalos Limen. At a short distance from Olenivka, smaller capes tower: Malyi and Velykyi Atlesh. The length of Malyi Atlesh reaches 100 meters, and a tunnel runs straight through it. Velykyi Atlesh, on the other hand, is a huge arch, 40 meters long, with grottoes and caves.
The area is also famous for its reserve 'Dzhangul Landslide Coast', where one could view landslides and rocks of bizarre shapes, and further on—the steppe expanses. There is also an ancient lighthouse on the cape, built in 1816 from Inkerman limestone. Its height is 38 meters above sea level. The number of spiral steps is 142. The range of light is 16 nautical miles. In addition to the main lens, which contains two powerful lamps, there is also a backup lighthouse located outside the dome, on the terrace.
True, the local nautophone, that is, an electroacoustic membrane-type device for sending high-pitched signals to ships during fog or gloomy weather, had been mothballed in the period prior to 2014. After all, the operation of this unique device was once replaced by modern electronics housed in the building next to the lighthouse. However, judging by how the new authorities manage Crimea, they will soon have to revive this relic equipment. By the way, next to the lighthouse, an underwater museum called 'Alley of Leaders' was once created. And it seems that the current 'leader' of a well-known country belongs exactly there!