Southern shores and alluring mountain peaks are characteristic features of many Crimean regions. Created by nature, they have a fairly complex relief and diverse landscape. Minerals should also be noted separately - Crimea is full of mineral wealth, therefore it is simply impossible to not consider the peninsula in more detail in this aspect.
Mountain ranges in Crimea and features of a relief
The entire territory of Crimea can be divided into 3 ridges, with approximately 9% of it being allocated to mountainous terrain. The first to distinguish the main ridge. Her possessions are located in the southern part of the peninsula and go along the sea coast. It originates in the southwest, at the foot of the Kush-kaya mountain (this is not far from Cape Ayia), and reaches the Kara-Dag mountain, which is located in the north-east.
In the west, she has to move about 4 km from the sea. It is formed by arrays that resemble boards (the so-called eggs), which are inextricable lines. Such, for example, as Ai-Petrinskaya Yaila, Yalta Yaila, Nikitskaya Yaila, Babugan Yayla. It is important to note that such features of the geological structure largely determine the relief and minerals of the Crimea.
On the Bagugan-yayla massif there is the highest point of the Crimean ridge. It is called Roman-Kosh and has a height of more than one and a half thousand meters above sea level.
Sightseeing relief places in Crimea
In the south-west of the peninsula above the old resort town of Alupka, one cannot fail to notice one of the natural Crimean mountain peaks - Ai-Petri. More than 1200 meters in height is not the main advantage of the mountain. She draws special attention to herself with the original peak, on which a unique formation resembles a real giant trident. Ai-Petri is also considered the full owner of the South Bank in the western part of coastal lands. Here, by the way, natural resources are concentrated (what minerals are mined in the Crimea, it will become known later).
Most of the territory of these massifs is characterized by slopes that are steep in nature. A quite spectacular and memorable view can be observed in this place: hanging cliffs, the edges of which are too small a distance from the sea. Among these places, the most famous and popular for tourists are the Ayu-Dag mountain range (Bear Mountain) in Gurzuf, an amazing rock with the romantic name Diva in Simeiz, Cape Fiolent on the outskirts of Sevastopol and others. Well, who does not know Cape Ai-Todor? Of the millions of postcards and traditional souvenirs, even a child knows about it, because there, on one of the rocks that goes along a steep cliff into the sea, is the legendary Swallow's Nest.
From here you can also enjoy the picturesque horizon affecting the Karabi Yayla. Separated by deep depressions, these ridges have an impressive distance from the sea in the amount of six to eight kilometers. In sunny, clear weather from the southeastern part of Simferopol you can easily see the Chatyr-Dag massif (Tent-mountains), which stands out for its majesty.
Peninsula earthquakes
Thanks to soil studies, it turned out that the lowering of the mainland ledge at the bottom of the Black Sea continues to this day. Earthquakes are one of the components of the development of Crimea at the present level. Often they are accompanied by landslides, which affects the mainland ledge of the southern coast.
Strong earthquakes are a rare occurrence in Crimea. One of these is the 1927 earthquake. As a result of his action, the Monk rock near Simeiz collapsed, and Cape Ai-Todor, which is located at the Swallow's Nest, also suffered partial destruction. There is information about the cracks that covered the earth's crust in Balaclava.
Crimean territory resources
Not far from Sudak, the mountains again approach the sea surface, which significantly affects what minerals are mined in the Crimea. The main components of these mountains are sedimentary rocks such as limestone, clay, sandstone and many others. Since the salt level very often changed, so did the marine fauna. This has been widely reflected in soil debris and has affected minerals. Crimea has ample opportunities for independent domestic supply of natural raw materials precisely thanks to numerous resources, which will be discussed later.
Not all indigenous people know about what minerals are in the Crimea. And really, there is something to be proud of. Among the many natural resources, the main minerals of Crimea can be distinguished briefly:
- fossils of sedimentary origin;
- fossils of volcanic origin;
- fossils of marine origin.
For industrial purposes, inside the peninsula and beyond, the needs of the population were almost completely covered by their own reserves.
Iron ore reserves
Ore minerals of the Crimea not so long ago occupied a leading place in the USSR in terms of production. One of the first places in the Union was occupied by the Kerch iron ore deposit. As for the global scale, it was the largest in industrial reserves.
This iron ore deposit has about 38% iron. As for phosphorus and arsenic, their percentage content significantly exceeds the number in other deposits. Also here, geologists have long noticed small reserves of vanadium. The cost of ores mined in the Kerch iron ore deposit is not very high. This fact is explained by the fact that the costs of their extraction are minimal, since ore minerals are practically on the surface. Although Crimea is famous for its wealth of iron, this, as is already known, is far from everything that can be found in the bowels of the earth.
Non-metallic salt deposits
The variety of salt lakes (including Sivash) is characterized by a high content of table salt, glauber, as well as magnesium chloride, potassium salts and therapeutic sludge. Non-metallic minerals of Crimea are mostly concentrated in Lake Sivash. Previously, scientists measured its salt reserves in millions of tons. This is due to the fact that sea water flows there constantly and continuously, so they can be considered inexhaustible. At the same time, Lake Sivash and other salt bodies of water do not have an impressive depth. The exception is Lake Donuzlav, which is located on the Tarkhankut Peninsula.
Mining of Crimea is an important industry for the economy of the region and the state as a whole. Potassium and magnesium salts are widely used in the agricultural sector. Potash salts have a special demand due to the fact that several decades ago they successfully found their application as a fertilizer. Therefore, at the moment, about 94% of the total number of extracted resources from the salt mineral deposits of the Crimea sends to the needs of agriculture throughout the country.
Healing Crimean Lakes
Saki, Chokraksky and a group of Prisivash lakes, as well as many other reservoirs, occupy far from the last place in the economic activity of the peninsula. For example, lakes such as Sakskoye and Moinakskoye are considered resort and treatment areas, where many people come to take mud therapy courses. If we take as a basis all the chemicals that make up most of the salt lakes of Crimea, we can establish a continuous production of magnesium oxide. The bulk of this production process is limestone.
The production of magnesium oxide is due to the need to obtain such an indispensable material in the household as gypsum. In addition, gypsum plating on saline soils increases productivity by up to 70%.
Natural reserves for the construction industry
Materials intended for construction did not pass the peninsula. The leading place is rightfully occupied by bryozoans limestone, also known as Inkerman stone. In appearance, this stone contains pores and is characterized by a cream color. Its weight is insignificant, but in strength it is not inferior to a simple brick. There are no problems working with him; he is easy to handle. Inkerman stone is well established in the construction industry. Its main direction is the facing sphere.
But, in addition to bryozoans, Crimea is also rich in such types of limestone as nummulitic, shell rock, marble-like and many others. Limestone, regardless of its type, has found its wide application in the construction industry. Equally often used are many other minerals. Crimea using natural reserves fully meets the needs of the local population in building material.
Trace and Diorite
On the South Bank, a natural rock such as diorite, which was obtained as a result of a volcanic eruption, is very popular. Its largest locations are the territories between Alushta and Gurzuf. A considerable amount of diorite was also found not far from Lozovoy and Ukrainka, which are located on the south side of Simferopol. Crimean diorite can be fully compared with granite. Significant differences in their external similarities, as well as building qualities, are not easy to identify. Diorite is a gray stone with a slight green tint. It is very durable. Most often it is used in facing works, as well as for decorating steps and streets.
Tras, like diorite, was formed as a result of a volcanic eruption. The rock from the ashes, as it is often called, is widely used in the economy. Its largest deposit is considered to be Karadag. It is located 20 kilometers from Feodosia, in the village of Planersky. This volcanic rock boasts its greatest reserves.
Of particular value are materials for construction such as quartz sand and gravel mined in the mountains. Their main areas of production can be found near Sevastopol and Simferopol, as well as on the Black Sea coast, near the Saki region.
Combustible Resources
Fuel minerals of Crimea are a separate group of valuable resources. For example, the Kerch Peninsula is characterized by an abundance of oil. Thanks to oil fields, natural gas is constantly being erupted, which can be burned. Also, this peninsula is rich in sulfur formations.
Mountain Crimea boasts coal. But its deposits are insignificant, therefore it is used only for local use. But in the foothill areas you can find pretty decent deposits of bleaching clay.
Mineral waters in Crimea
Recent years have been carried out in thorough studies of the entire peninsula. Based on them, we can conclude that Crimea is the owner of a variety of mineral springs. For example, near Feodosia there is a spring with salt-alkaline water.
In some areas of Crimea , sources were found that produce mineral water, which in its composition is practically no different from the legendary Essentuki. For example, sources of warm nitrogen-alkaline water were discovered near the Salgir River and not far from Chatyr-Dag. Hydrogen sulfide water was also found near Feodosia, and carbon dioxide was discovered in Bakhchisarai.
Conclusion
The natural resources of Crimea are rich and diverse, and their clusters can be found in various parts of the entire peninsula. All natural resources can be combined into several groups according to economic affiliation and geographical feature:
- Steppe Crimea is rich in limestone for construction and large reserves of salt.
- Sources of mineral waters and a lot of raw materials for building materials were found in the mountains and on the South Coast.
- The Kerch Peninsula is an iron ore district, and also has promising fuel and energy reserves.