Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Crimea
POP 2.3 MILLION / AREA 26,200 SQ KM
Why Go?
It might be attached to the mainland by a narrow isthmus, but in every other respect
Crimea is an island, with its climate and inhabitants markedly different from the rest of
Ukraine. From Romans to Russians, empires tried to grab this tiny gem of a region, but it
always slipped away.
In Crimea's south, mountains rise like a sail as if trying to carry it away into open sea.
Protected from northern winds, the coast is covered in lush subtropical vegetation. This is
where Russian royals built summer palaces, later transformed into sanatoriums for work-
ers.
The mountains are the heartland of Crimean Tatars - a nation of survivors, who brought
back from 50-year exile their traditions of hospitality and excellent food. They live sur-
rounded by limestone plateaus - a magnet for trekkers and cyclists who come here for
great vistas and to explore ancient cave cities.
When to Go
