If you find yourself in the village of Nikita, or are driving along the Alushta-Yalta highway (in any direction), and you have a little time (an hour or two), you should definitely stop by this wonderful place. This is a wonderful rest-respite for the driver and passengers during a long road trip.
The Nikitskaya Cleft is located above the trolleybus route on the outskirts of Nikita. Intuitively feeling that we are somewhere near our goal, we stop at a roadside grocery store in order to confirm our guesses. As it turned out later, the crevice we were looking for was located several hundred meters away, but people shrugged their shoulders to all our questions. A mini-forum was formed and then He Who Should Know appeared on the horizon. “Yura, Yura!”, the saleswoman waved her hands towards the local history expert. The “professor” looked rather rumpled, but he was happy to help and shared everything he knew. At the end of the lengthy explanations, Yura’s eyes began to sparkle with hope. Having received his honestly earned two hryvnias, the newly minted guide disappeared through the doors of the cafe.
The branch of the road to the Nikitskaya Cleft is located at the entrance to the village from Yalta, opposite the school. The inconspicuous narrow dirt road is blocked by a barrier, so we park our “iron donkey” (well, our equipment can’t handle a mustang or a horse!) on the side of the highway nearby.
Two hundred meters along a picturesque path, in the shade of slender cypresses, crimson ailanthus, golden figs, and we find ourselves at the entrance to the crevasse. The grandeur of the landscape appears so unexpectedly that it simply takes your breath away. “ The rocks form a dark, cold gorge here”, - this phrase, having once expressed someone’s impression of what he saw, is now floating around the networks.
Cold - yes: only for a short time it is illuminated by the rays of the Sun, from deep cracks even in the summer heat it draws cold.
But “gloomy” - no and no! It is bright, joyful, yellow-red-blue, with colored climbing flags on the walls. Nikitsky rocks are a favorite training place for climbers from 1 to 99 years old: routes for all ages and tastes. If you look closely in the rocks, you can find many clogged safety hooks. Many climbing routes are signed from below.
The boulders that fell from above at the bottom of the rocky corridor formed a stone chaos along which the path whimsically meanders, leading to the upper edge of the gorge. From here the crevice can be seen through and impresses with its wildness: junipers and pines climb on the cliffs like climbers. Lianas - ivy and clematis - hang like a green stole from the stone blocks.
The upper entrance to the chasm is crowned by the Solntsev pyramid, named after the famous landscape specialist. Climbing from this pyramid to the edge of the rocks, you can admire the picturesque panorama of the coast and mountains. From here, from a height of about 250 meters above sea level, the trolleybus route, the Yalta Valley, closed from the sea by Cape Ai-Todor, the Ai-Petri mountain range, and vineyard plantations are perfectly visible. From the crevasse you can follow paths to the mountains.
The formation of the Nikitskaya cleft is associated with a fairly rapid uplift of the Main Range of the Crimean Mountains in the last, Quaternary, period of the Earth’s history. During these processes, large masses of limestone broke off from the cliffs of the Main Ridge and gradually slid down the slope of the Southern Bank, consisting mainly of compacted clays. Some massifs stopped at the foot of the Main Ridge, others lingered somewhere in the middle (Red Stone, Paragilmen), and others “reached” the sea itself (Genoa rock, Adalary rock-islands in Gurzuf). When moving, cracks appeared in the limestone massifs, and some of them broke up into rocks and blocks.
Thus, Soviet filmmakers had a magnificent film set. Wild canyons, steep passes, mysterious caves filled with gold were filmed here. Each turn of the chasm opens up new landscapes, so when filming it is easy to create the illusion of a multi-day (and even multi-year) journey, as, for example, in “The Children of Captain Grant.” In the film “Treasures of the Burning Rocks,” a completely African waterfall was created here with the help of a fire truck. And the great Alexander Rowe actually worked fabulous miracles here.
The rocks on the northern side of the chasm are dark gray, sometimes black, and on the southern side they are light, orange. That's all it is, this amazing gorge - wild and sweet, grandiose and miniature.
July 2006
At an altitude of about two hundred and fifty meters above sea level, not far from Yalta, there is one of the Crimean attractions, which is definitely worth a visit for tourists who find themselves in these places. The name of this attraction is the Nikitskaya Cleft, or, as some call it, the Ayan Rocks. It is hardly worth highlighting these places as a separate subject for a trip, but as one of the components of a tourist route, or as a place to rest when driving along the Alushta-Yalta highway, the Nikitskaya Cleft can be recommended to all travelers. Attractive reliefs and the grace of the landscape cannot but please the eyes of those who visit this place.
Some information about the Nikitskaya Cleft
The crevasse is located on the outskirts of the urban-type settlement Nikita, on its western side. At the entrance to the village there is a branch road leading directly to the crevasse. Entry into the crevice by vehicle is prohibited for any type of vehicle, since these places have the status of a natural monument. Together with the Uchan-Su waterfall, it is part of the Yalta Nature Reserve. Passing through the crevasse presents no difficulties. At the very entrance there rises a limestone rock, as if cut into two parts. Bare steep slopes about 30 meters high hang over the gorge, creating a gloomy feeling. During the day, the sun's rays practically do not penetrate into the crevice, so it is always fresh and cool here. The length of the Nikitskaya Cleft is about 200 meters.
The beauty of these places is captured in cinema, in local folklore, and in paintings by artists.
Natural polygon
The rock surfaces are chosen by rock climbers for their training. The slopes of the Nikitskaya Cleft are perhaps the only and truly unique place for rock climbing in the Crimea. Groups of fans of this extreme activity can almost always be found in the gorge. The mild climate throughout the year encourages an influx of climbers to these areas. 85 routes of varying difficulty provide an opportunity for both beginners and experienced rock climbers to enjoy the climb. Groups from around the world regularly climb here.
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Nikitskaya Cleft is a natural monument, which consists of chaotically arranged almost vertical cliffs. However, all this rocky splendor frames a narrow path that tourists love so much. The Ayan Rocks are clearly visible from the highway, however, entry into the reserve territory by any vehicle is prohibited. Often the crevice becomes a “transfer point” that is not planned by the tour program. However, a walking tour of these places is still suitable for most vacationers.
What are they?
Rocks and huge stone fragments are located throughout the entire area of the chasm. The length of the route is only 200 meters, but you can wander around the natural attraction for several hours, admiring the dark beauty of the gorge. Almost no sunlight penetrates here, since the rocks hang over the crevice. The absence of light indicates a temperature that is lower than at the inlet.
At the entrance there is a guardian mountain, divided into two parts, which opens the entrance to the wonderful world of the Ayan Rocks. Also at the entrance to the crevice you can see a spring gushing from a crack in the rocky base. The height of the rocks is about 30 meters. If you climb to the very top, you will see a beautiful view of the South Coast and the Yalta Valley. Further from the crevasse, the ascent into the mountains begins. The Ayan rocks themselves look like a separated small mountain range.
The Nikitskaya Cleft corridor looks like a completely wild corner of nature. However, the western side was once a fortification: traces of pottery and other signs of human presence can still be found here.
Despite the fact that the chasm consists of sheer cliffs, here you can find more than 100 types of plants that have been able to adapt to the gloomy mountains. The upper edge of the rocks is a “green cushion”, where everything is covered with grass, ivy and blackberry bushes.
The unusual landscape became a film set for some Soviet films. For example, “White Explosion”, “Sannikov Land”, “In Search of Captain Grant”, “Sportloto-82”.
Legends are associated with the Ayan Rocks. One of them says that not far from the mountains lived a girl named Maria with seven brothers. One day, the Turkish Pasha came to her to take her to his harem. However, the brothers killed the Turk, after which they went into a crevasse, seeking protection from nature. In response to the murder of the pasha, a detachment of Janissaries was sent to the village, who tracked down the brothers and Maria. When the brothers fell in battle, the girl threw herself off the cliffs in order to remain free until the end.
Nikitskaya Cleft is the site of various competitions among rock climbers who come here throughout the year. The local climate is mild enough that it is possible to climb the rocks even in winter.
The name Maria is associated with another interesting story that happened in these places. The events took place relatively recently, during the Soviet Union. Maria Ivanova, together with a team of rock climbers, explored the Ayan Rocks. One of the particularly tricky routes was not easy for the climbers, so the girl encouraged her colleagues. She promised to kiss the one who climbed to the top of the cliff.
However, those who wanted to win Masha’s favor were never able to conquer the sheer cliff. And only Alexander Gubanov, an experienced rock climber, stubbornly moved towards the top. At the very last moment, when he had almost reached the peak, the climber could not resist and hung on the belay. So the Machine’s lips never kissed anyone. However, today this route is not considered so “impassable”.
How to get to the Nikitskaya Cleft
There is only one entrance to the nature reserve; it is located west of the urban village (the side opposite the sea), next to the Yalta-Alushta highway. There are bus and trolleybus routes that will take you to a stop near the reserve. Further, behind the green barrier, a walking path begins that leads directly to the Nikitskaya Cleft. You can walk to the natural monument in half an hour.
2004 information
Many thanks to the compiler, Andrey Vedenmeer, Yalta, for the materials provided.
NIKITA CLIMBING CENTER
The village of Nikita is located 3 km from Yalta. On the opposite side of the highway from the building of the environmental complex is the Nikitskaya Cleft. This natural monument is a clear illustration of the enormous power of earthly forces that change the relief of the landscape. As if cut by a giant sword, the rocks form a dark, cold gorge. Sheer walls 25-30 m high hang overhead, and a forest grows along the upper edge of the gorge. The 20-meter Nikitskaya chasm stretches from east to west for almost 200 m. The kingdom of gloomy rocks is complemented by stone chaos and scree, deep cracks in the limestone mass displaced along the mountain slope, from which cold emanates even on hot summer days. These rocks are a kind of natural condenser and moisture accumulator. All three exits from the Nikitskaya cleft are cluttered with majestic pyramidal salas. The steepness of the gorge attracts rock climbers, and the romantic beauty of the rocks attracts artists and filmmakers. Nikitsky rocks are the only and unique rock climbing center in Crimea. On Nikitsky Rocks there are 85 hooked routes of categories from 4 to 8c+.
| № | Name | Length | Col. from. | Category |
| Sector A | ||||
| 1 | Scam | 17 | 8 | 6b+ |
| 2 | Ratchet | 16 | 8 | 6a |
| 3 | Goliath | 19 | 10 | 6c |
| 4 | Fandanga | 22 | 10 | 7c |
| 5 | Repeat | 22 | 11 | 7a |
| 6 | Hype | 15 | 8 | 6b |
| 7 | Marilyn | 26 | 13 | 7a+ |
| 8 | Limpopo | 14 | 8 | 6b |
| 9 | Wise | 19 | 10 | 7c+ |
| 10 | Wanderer | 19 | 11 | 8a |
| 11 | Union | 18 | 10 | 6c+ |
| 12 | Esaul | 27 | 14 | 8a |
| 13 | Asteroid | 25 | 12 | 6c+ |
| 14 | Chameleon | 24 | 12 | 7a |
| 15 | Agate | 25 | 11 | 6b+ |
| 16 | Balm for the soul | 22 | 13 | 6c |
| 17 | Gusto | 21 | 11 | 7a |
| 18 | Indiana Jones | 21 | 11 | 6b+ |
| 19 | Tomboy | 22 | 12 | 6b+ |
| 20 | Matador | 14 | 8 | 8c+ |
| 21 | Centaur | 15 | 8 | 8b+ |
| 22 | Fantastic | 16 | 8 | 8a+ |
| 23 | Pilgrim | 26 | 13 | 7c |
| 24 | Caravan | 26 | 12 | 7b |
| 25 | Nerve | 27 | 13 | 7a |
| № | Name | Length | Col. from. | Category |
| Sector B | ||||
| 1 | Aborigine | 27 | 14 | 6b+ / 7a+ |
| 2 | King of the Hill | 27 | 12 | 6c |
| 3 | Scythian | 26 | 13 | 8b+ |
| 4 | Squadron | 25 | 11 | 8a |
| 5 | Helicopter | 21 | 10 | 7c |
| 6 | Car kiss | 19 | 9 | 6b+ |
| 7 | Quarry | 19 | 10 | 6c+ |
| 8 | On horseback | 23 | 11 | 7c+ |
| 9 | Anniversary | 22 | 11 | 7a |
| 10 | Benefit | 22 | 11 | 7a |
| 11 | Don't throw grandma into the nettles | 22 | 11 | 7c |
| 12 | Last rollout | 20 | 10 | 7a/7b |
| 13 | Monkey | 20 | 9 | 6b+ |
| 14 | The daring Pashka | 19 | 9 | 8a |
| 15 | Love games | 18 | 10 | 7a+ |
| 16 | Breeze | 17 | 8 | 8a+ |
| 17 | Clown | 16 | 9 | 7b |
| 18 | Mowgli | 15 | 8 | 7a |
| 19 | Call of the Jungle | 13 | 6 | 6b+ |
| № | Name | Length | Col. from. | Category |
| Sector C | ||||
| 1 | Thorn | 5 | 3 | |
| 2 | Tile | 9 | 5 | |
| 3 | Myth | 10 | 6 | |
| 4 | Red Fox | 25 | 13 | 7a |
| 5 | Little vampire | 16 | 8 | 6c+ |
| 6 | American Gregory | 21 | 11 | 7a |
| 7 | Abyss | 19 | 11 | 8 ? |
| 8 | North Pole | 20 | 11 | 5a |
| 9 | Bastion | 20 | 11 | 5b |
| 10 | Painter | 21 | 11 | 5b |
| 11 | Firefly | 18 | 10 | 5b |
| 12 | Cornice | 5 | 3 | |
| 13 | 9 | 5 | ||
| 14 | Kant | 5 | 3 | |
| 15 | 6 | 4 | ||
| 16 | KONG | 19 | 9 | 5s |
| 17 | Pinery | 18 | 9 | 5b |
| 18 | Fresh breeze | 15 | 7 | 4 |
| 19 | Chafer | 15 | 7 | 4 |
|
Name
We ask everyone who has already been to our climbing walls more than once and those who come for the first time to pay attention to the following information:
1. The length of the routes (even familiar ones) and the number of quickdraws. That is: it is advisable to have a rope 60 meters long and a set of guy lines of 15 pieces.
2. In connection with the equipment of climbing walls with modern descending devices - rigidly fixed carabiners - to organize the “top belay”, a quickdraw is additionally used, which is snapped into the descending device (carabiner) when setting the route, and then the top rope is snapped into the quickdraw. This allows you to save the trigger carbine.
3. Route categories are pre-defined. The information will be updated throughout the year. Current information on rock routes can be obtained from Andrey Vedenmeer (Yalta).
4. Carefully read the documents regulating your stay at our climbing walls. This will help create comfortable conditions for everyone: RULES for staying at the climbing walls of Big Yalta, RULES for safety when conducting classes at the climbing walls of Big Yalta
Best regards, M.S. Panferova, Honored Trainer of Ukraine, International Master of Sports.
