Devil's Gate

Along with the Swallow's Nest and Bear Mountain, this rock is most often found on various souvenir photographs, postcards, magnets in the Crimea, as well as in articles and on the covers of magazines telling about the Crimea.

One of the favorite places of tourists is a natural object created by an ancient volcano, and then "modified" tectonic forces, sea waves and wind.

In ancient times, the rock was called completely different - the Devil's Gate (or Shaitan-Kapu). It was believed that here is the entrance to the Underworld.

Just next to the Golden Gate are several parasitic volcanoes, dikes and lava outcrops, so it's hard to imagine exactly what was happening in these places at that time.

Lava and the sea wereboiling, the rocks were spliting, went under the water and rose from it.

That's exactly what turned out to be an amazing arch rock at 85 meters from the shore. Right below the line the depth of the sea is as much as 15 meters - the rock literally stands over a dip in the ground. Apparently, not just so in ancient times it was considered a gateway to the Underworld.

Why are the gates golden?

First, at dawn, they really look golden. Also, the rock becomes "golden" and again during the day - about 13-14 hours. At this time in the summer the sun is in such a position that the falling rays of the sun change the color of the rock to the one close to the golden one. It is beautiful at sunset. The fact is that the rock is completely covered with yellow lichens, which play in sunlight.