Mountain range Demerdzhi

How to get from Alushta  
- In the village can be reached at Radiant commuter taxis departing from the Soviet area.  
- Stay on track Alushta - Simferopol before turning to the village of lavender, then later - in the village of Radiant.   Demerdzhi array is to the east of the road.  

For this tour requires comfortable, better sports, clothes, shoes, hats, water supply.

Array Demerdzhi, beautiful views of the views from the route Simferopol - Alushta, consists of two separated by a saddle of the mountains - North (1356 meters) and South (1239 meters).  

Legend of the forge on the mountain top  
In ancient times, nomads, surging in the Crimea, arranged on top of an impregnable mountain smithy, which forged their weapons and armor.   Brutal conquerors were taken away by force the locals to work in the smithy.   From the blazing fire in the furnace cracked earth, dried up streams and rivers, gardens and stunted forest.   And then a girl named Maria, went up the mountain to speak with the owner of the forge - a giant black-bearded-smith.   She tearfully begged him not to kill people and land, but the blacksmith just laughed in her face, and deprived Maria of life.   Did not survive the mountain of the evil: the earth opened up and swallowed him and the blacksmith forge.   Fossilized pieces of the conquerors still stand around the hill.   But since then the mountain called Demerdzhi, which means smith

The route begins at South Demerdzhi from the village of  Radiant.   From the bus stop move in a northwesterly direction to the town of  Lavender.   Go straight on the highway.   Two kilometers away from the trolley tracks cross the dry riverbed, which is filled with water in the spring because of severe flooding.   At 10-15 m from the bridge turn left onto the path leading to a rocky hill on the slopes of which increases  cornel garden.   Climb the trail up the hill.   Having overcome the ascent, you arrive at the  foot of Demerdzhi,  under the steep south-western slopes of which are the ruins of  the fortress Funa  (translated from the Greek for "smoky").  

Funa fortress  
Funa settlement was founded in the XIV century, it was pretty big in those days, and after a century the rulers of the principality of Theodoro erected a fortress here - one of their  outposts in the South Coast.   Besides the castle, a trade route, which linked the foothills to the coast.   In 1459 the fortress suffered during the conflict and earthquakes, has been capitally reconstructed and considerably strengthened.   However, after only 15 years of destroying the Ottoman Turks who invaded the Crimea.   From the serfs of the buildings survived only church of Saint Theodore of Tyrone.   It has functioned for several centuries and was destroyed only at the beginning of the XX century.   Near the ruins of the castle is  blocky chaos  - pile of huge boulders and stones.   It was formed as a result of a grand crash of 1894, completely burying the village of Funa.   From the castle, follow the trail to the spring where you can collect clean water and a snack.   From the source follow the collapse along a country road, which meanders between groves hips, to the southeast.  
After going a mile from the source, go up the right bank of the ravine.   Having overcome the ascent, you will find yourself in front of the famous  Valley of Ghosts  - a picturesque canyon with giant sculptures of natural origin.  

Ghost Valley  

Mountain Demerdzhi composed of shale, conglomerate and limestone.   In the process of geological change as a result of weathering and atmospheric precipitation on the mountain formed  the gigantic columns,  reminiscent of the famous stone statues of Easter Island.   The most characteristic sculptures even have names.   There is and Catherine II, and the Dwarf and the Giant, and Frog.   Especially a lot of whimsical sculptures collected by  Devil's meadow,  situated slightly closer to the top of the mountain.  

Rocks massif Demerzhdi dangerous to climbers because of the fragility of the breed.   Despite this, in 1963, the 250-meter sheer wall Demerdzhi was subdued by two climbers Simferopol - the master of sports and Oleg Flu Constantine Averkieva

Climb the trail up the canyon.   Overcoming the rise, which may take you 30 minutes to one hour, depending on your fitness, you go on the hill to the rock  cliff conical shape.   From the cliff, follow the path, skirting the massif of South Demerdzhi.   You will leave you to the rock, which is called the Head of Catherine II.   Near the rock resembles a head of the Sphinx.   Not far from the cliff trail forks.   At the fork turn right and follow along the slope, past the rocky cliffs, to a small pass between North and South Demerdzhi.   From the saddle climb to the summit of South Demerdzhi. From the summit overlooks the beautiful  valley of Alushta.  

You can go down the same path or go the other way, for what you need to go back to the cliff and a cone-shaped turn near his left, toward  Radiant.   The trail is much steeper than in the Valley of Ghosts, so use caution.