On the southern coast of the Crimea, dividing Big Alushta and Big Yalta, towers the mighty mountain Ayu-Dag, or Bear Mountain . This is truly an amazing natural monument that preserved for the descendants of many ancient archeological artifacts . The mountain is also unique geologically: it is composed of deep magmatic rocks of gabbro-diabase, which in itself is not characteristic for the Crimean mountains. . The bizarre "bear" outlines of Ayu-Dag are explained by geological origin - in fact it is a failed volcano, magma which did not have enough "pressure" . Data related to the early history of the mountains surrounding, fragmentary . During the excavations at the foot here were found flint artifacts dating back to the Neolithic Age (30-10 centuries BC . e .) . From the Bronze Age in the Ayu-Dag area there were traces of the Taurus settlement (5-1 centuries BC . e .) .
More reliable information about the Middle Ages period. Since the 8th century, the monastery of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul operated here, and at the eastern foot of Ayu-Dag there was its main basilica. The modest ruins of the church of the apostles Peter and Paul can still be seen in the sanatorium of Partenit.
Around the monastery on the mountain slopes, small settlements are gradually being built, but they all declined in the late 15th century. For one reason, this is due to the Ottoman conquest, on the other - to the consequences of a powerful earthquake in 1468, as a result of which the area of the mountain was deprived of fresh water. It is assumed that now the springs come to the surface of the earth already at sea, in the area of the Monastery Cape.
The legend of Mount Ayu-Dag
There are also more romantic legends describing the origin of the famous Crimean mountain . Once upon a time -a long time where the awesome mountain Ayu-Dag now rises, lived a whole beast flock with a large old bear-leader . After one shipwreck the baby carried an ashtray, an old bear took pity on the baby and took it for education . The years passed, the girl grew up, it was time for her to fall in love with a charming youth shu, and he, as usual, responded with reciprocity . The lovers decided to leave the bear lands and one day sailed on the sea . Returning and not finding the girl in the usual place, the leader of the pack became furious and together with other bears began to draw sea water . To save oneself from angry beasts, the girl sang in a sweet voice . The whole pack was fascinated by her singing and broke away from the water, and only the leader was determined to drink all the Black Sea . So his body remained to be turned, in a huge stone with abysses, for a month those heads grew an acute rock, and the skin turned into a dense forest . So there was a terrible Bear Mountain .
Excursion to Ayu-Dag
By tradition, an excursion to the Bear Mountain from Partenit begins with an inspection of the memorial complex of John of Gotha with the tomb located on the territory of the sanatorium "Crimea" . From here begins the hiking trail - an ancient road that existed in the times of medieval settlements in Ayu-Dagh . In some areas the path from the scree protected masonry, traces of which have survived until now . To Oga will first take you to the observation deck and then re-run to the secluded beaches . Enjoying yourself a lot of the Crimean sun, you can go back the way . At the same time, do not try fate - to storm the Ayu-Dag ridge or go towards the motorway . On the side of the checked and well-groomed roads await risky cliffs and screes, impenetrable thickets, wading through which an untrained tourist will be problematic . At the same time the security, for example, of the Artekovskaya trail is tested by generations of Soviet pi oners .