This photographic journey leads to the northwestern parts of the black sea. The Crimean peninsula has a variety of landscapes and cultures. The Tartars lived here since many hundred of years together with Russians, Ukrainians, Greeks, and Genoese. The Crimea has in its northern stretches vast steps and here is also its logistic center - Simferopol. The southern beach is separated by the rocks of the Crimean mountains that stretch out from the west to the east and reaches heights of up to ca. 1600 meters before it sharply drops down just a few kilometers north of the rocky beaches of Jalta, or, a few kilometer east, the village of Nikita - famous for its splendid botanical garden and aboretum. In fortress towns of Balaklawa and Sewastopol in the southwest are known for their cultural heritage, such as the excavated town of chersoness and old Genoese fortresses in Balaklawa. Sewastopol is also a center for marine biology of the black sea. About 40km north, in a lower mountain range and surrounded by bizarre rock formations, lies the old Tartaric capital of the Krim, Bakhechyssarai. Today, the palace of the Tartaric Kings ("Khans") can be visited - where the fountain of tears inspired Pushkin to one of his famous poems.
On the western side of the black sea lies Odessa, often called the pearl of the black sea because of its beautiful historic city center that, whith its Rokoko architecture and park cafes reminds of France, and it was home of many famous scientists and Russian writers. Besides its old town, also its colorful black sea harbour and the white sandy beaches invite for a visit.