Kerch Peninsula
Encyclopedia
The Kerch Peninsula is a major and prominent geographic feature located at the eastern portion of Crimea
. Stretching towards the Taman peninsula
, it is reminiscent of an isthmus
between two neighboring seas: Azov Sea and Black Sea
. On the most of the part of the peninsula is located the Lenine Raion
.
to the town of Primorsky (Khafuz), Feodosiya). On elevated portions of the isthmus, named after the village of Kamianske (former Aq-Monai), are seen both of the surrounding seas. The southern coast of peninsula is washed by the Black Sea
and the Bay of Feodosia, to the east as a natural border serves the Strait of Kerch
, while the northern shores are part of the coastline of Sea of Azov
, Kazantip Bay, and Bay of Arabat
. Away to the northwest from the peninsula runs another isthmus known as the Arabat Spit
(locally Arabat arrow) which separates Sivash (Rotten Sea) from Azov Sea. Other prominent features of the peninsula are the Mount Mithridat
located in the east at the shores of Strait of Kerch
and the Ararat Mountain (175 metres (574.1 ft)) located just west of the Kerch city, both of which are part of the northeastern elevated region. At the southeastern portion of peninsula are located mountains Sosman and Kharuchu-Oba. The highest mountain on the peninsula is Pikhbopai that is part of the Mithridat crest and 189 metres (620.1 ft) tall.
The widest portion of the peninsula is between the Kazan-Tip Cape (north) and Chauda Cape (south) that are apart 52 kilometre. The length of Kerch peninsula is over 90 kilometre from the western portion of Aqmanai isthmus to the Fonar Cape. The total area of the peninsula is only 2830 square kilometres (699,307.6 acre) which is just over 10% of the total area of Crimean peninsula.
Sea of Azov
More detailed description of the peninsula by Arkadi Tebelev РЕКИ И БАЛКИ КЕРЧЕНСКОГО ПОЛУОСТРОВА
Crimea
Crimea , or the Autonomous Republic of Crimea , is a sub-national unit, an autonomous republic, of Ukraine. It is located on the northern coast of the Black Sea, occupying a peninsula of the same name...
. Stretching towards the Taman peninsula
Taman peninsula
The Taman Peninsula is a peninsula in the present-day Krasnodar Krai of Russia. It is bounded on the north by the Sea of Azov, on the west by the Strait of Kerch and on the south by the Black Sea. The peninsula has evolved over the past two millennia from a chain of islands into the peninsula it is...
, it is reminiscent of an isthmus
Isthmus
An isthmus is a narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areas usually with waterforms on either side.Canals are often built through isthmuses where they may be particularly advantageous to create a shortcut for marine transportation...
between two neighboring seas: Azov Sea and Black Sea
Black Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
. On the most of the part of the peninsula is located the Lenine Raion
Lenine raion
Lenine Raion is one of the 25 regions of Crimea. It is situated in the eastern part of the republic....
.
Name
Pronunciation of the name does not differ much in other languages - Kerchenskyi pivostriv, - Kerich yarymadasy, - Kyerchyenskii polu'ostrov.Main features
The peninsula is almost completely surrounded by water and only to the west connects with the rest of Crimean peninsula by the Aqmanai isthmus which is only 17 kilometre wide (from the southern end of the Arabat SpitArabat Spit
The Arabat Spit , also called Arabat Tongue, is a spit which separates a large, shallow and very salty system of lagoons named Sivash from the Sea of Azov. The spit is located between the town of Henichesk, Ukraine, on the north and the north-eastern shores of Crimea on the south. It is separated...
to the town of Primorsky (Khafuz), Feodosiya). On elevated portions of the isthmus, named after the village of Kamianske (former Aq-Monai), are seen both of the surrounding seas. The southern coast of peninsula is washed by the Black Sea
Black Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
and the Bay of Feodosia, to the east as a natural border serves the Strait of Kerch
Strait of Kerch
The Kerch Strait connects the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, separating the Kerch Peninsula in the west from the Taman Peninsula in the east. The strait is to wide and up to deep....
, while the northern shores are part of the coastline of Sea of Azov
Sea of Azov
The Sea of Azov , known in Classical Antiquity as Lake Maeotis, is a sea on the south of Eastern Europe. It is linked by the narrow Strait of Kerch to the Black Sea to the south and is bounded on the north by Ukraine mainland, on the east by Russia, and on the west by the Ukraine's Crimean...
, Kazantip Bay, and Bay of Arabat
Bay of Arabat
-External links:*...
. Away to the northwest from the peninsula runs another isthmus known as the Arabat Spit
Arabat Spit
The Arabat Spit , also called Arabat Tongue, is a spit which separates a large, shallow and very salty system of lagoons named Sivash from the Sea of Azov. The spit is located between the town of Henichesk, Ukraine, on the north and the north-eastern shores of Crimea on the south. It is separated...
(locally Arabat arrow) which separates Sivash (Rotten Sea) from Azov Sea. Other prominent features of the peninsula are the Mount Mithridat
Mount Mithridat
Mount Mithridat, located at the city center of Kerch, Ukraine, was one of the nominees for the seven wonders of Ukraine. To the top of the mountain with the height of over 90 m leads the Great Mithridates Staircase in a series of flights and balustraded terraces, which was built in 1833-40 by the...
located in the east at the shores of Strait of Kerch
Strait of Kerch
The Kerch Strait connects the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, separating the Kerch Peninsula in the west from the Taman Peninsula in the east. The strait is to wide and up to deep....
and the Ararat Mountain (175 metres (574.1 ft)) located just west of the Kerch city, both of which are part of the northeastern elevated region. At the southeastern portion of peninsula are located mountains Sosman and Kharuchu-Oba. The highest mountain on the peninsula is Pikhbopai that is part of the Mithridat crest and 189 metres (620.1 ft) tall.
The widest portion of the peninsula is between the Kazan-Tip Cape (north) and Chauda Cape (south) that are apart 52 kilometre. The length of Kerch peninsula is over 90 kilometre from the western portion of Aqmanai isthmus to the Fonar Cape. The total area of the peninsula is only 2830 square kilometres (699,307.6 acre) which is just over 10% of the total area of Crimean peninsula.
Capes
Black Sea- Chauda
- Opuk
- Takhil
Sea of Azov
- Malyi
- Fonar
- Khroni
- Zyuk
- Chahany
- Kazan-Tip
- Kiten
- Krasny Kut
Lakes, rivers, bays
Beside the above mentioned bays there are also Mysova bay and Tatarska bay, both located around the Kazan-Tip Cape making it look as a small peninsula.Natural preserve
On the territory of the peninsula are located several natural preserves (zapovedniks):- Opuk Natural Preserve, the only place in Ukraine where Rosy StarlingRosy StarlingThe Rosy Starling or Rose-coloured Starling is a passerine bird in the starling family Sturnidae. It is sometimes given its own, monotypic genus Pastor...
s nest - Kazan-Tip Natural Preserve
- Ostanine floodplains, a state zakaznikZakaznikZakaznik is a type of protected area in Russia and other former Soviet republics such as Ukraine that meets World Conservation Union's category III, or more frequently category VII criteria....
near settlement Ostanine
Historical benchmarks
- Turkish wall, a defensive wall that stretches across the peninsula from Bay of Kazan-Tip to the lake of Koyashske
See also
- Siberia Airlines Flight 1812Siberia Airlines Flight 1812Siberia Airlines Flight 1812 crashed over the Black Sea on 4 October 2001, en route from Tel Aviv, Israel to Novosibirsk, Russia. The plane, a Soviet-made Tupolev Tu-154, carried an estimated 66 passengers and 12 crew members. No one on board survived...
- Battle of the Kerch PeninsulaBattle of the Kerch PeninsulaBattle of the Kerch Peninsula was a World War II offensive by German and Romanian armies against the Soviet Crimean Front forces defending the Kerch Peninsula, in the eastern part of the Crimea. It was launched on 8 May 1942 and concluded around 18 May 1942 with the near complete destruction of...
, an offensive by the Axis powersAxis PowersThe Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
against Soviet troops during World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
External links
Kerch Peninsula at the Great Soviet EncyclopediaGreat Soviet Encyclopedia
The Great Soviet Encyclopedia is one of the largest and most comprehensive encyclopedias in Russian and in the world, issued by the Soviet state from 1926 to 1990, and again since 2002 .-Editions:There were three editions...
More detailed description of the peninsula by Arkadi Tebelev РЕКИ И БАЛКИ КЕРЧЕНСКОГО ПОЛУОСТРОВА