Oleshky Sands
Encyclopedia
Oleshky Sands is the largest expanse of sand in Ukraine
. It is situated inland from the Ukrainian
coast of the Black Sea
and consists of sand dunes or kuchuhury (locally), which reach a height of five meters. Some sparse vegetation can be located across the sands.
, 30 km (~20 mi) east of Kherson
. The previous name of Tsiurupynsk
was Oleshky. Before the Russian annexation of the Crimean Khanate
at the end of the XVIII, the territory belonged to the nomad Nogai
Hordes, particularly the Djambuilut Horde. No detail historical information about the region has survived to our days.
The closest populated settlement is seven kilometers away (~4.5 mi). In Soviet times
the sands were used as an Air Force
bombing range for pilots of the Warsaw Pact
alliance. To this day there is a possibility of finding some unexploded ordnance
.
. Oleshky Sands are 15 km in diameter (~10 mi) and they are surrounded by a very dense forest planted to prevent dunes moving. Due to its density, the forest often catches fire. Although a relatively small sandy steppe, the Oleshky Sands have sandstorms
. They occur due to the type of the sand in the area as it is very fine and is easily get picked up by a wind. The intensity of the sandstorms is rather weak. In the Oleshky sands at the depth of 300–400 m (~1000 ft) there is an underground lake, which forms an essential part of the local environment.
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
. It is situated inland from the Ukrainian
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
coast of 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 consists of sand dunes or kuchuhury (locally), which reach a height of five meters. Some sparse vegetation can be located across the sands.
Geography
The Olenski Desert is located in Tsiurupynsk Raion, Kherson OblastKherson Oblast
Kherson Oblast is an oblast in southern Ukraine, just north of Crimea. Its administrative center is Kherson. The area of the region is 29000 km², its population is 1.12 million.Important cities in the oblast include:...
, 30 km (~20 mi) east of Kherson
Kherson
Kherson is a city in southern Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Kherson Oblast , and is designated as its own separate raion within the oblast. Kherson is an important port on the Black Sea and Dnieper River, and the home of a major ship-building industry...
. The previous name of Tsiurupynsk
Tsiurupynsk
Tsiurupynsk is a city in Kherson Oblast of Ukraine that until 1928 was called Oleshky. It is the oldest city of the oblast and one of the oldest in the southern Ukraine. Population of it is 30,123 ....
was Oleshky. Before the Russian annexation of the Crimean Khanate
Crimean Khanate
Crimean Khanate, or Khanate of Crimea , was a state ruled by Crimean Tatars from 1441 to 1783. Its native name was . Its khans were the patrilineal descendants of Toqa Temür, the thirteenth son of Jochi and grandson of Genghis Khan...
at the end of the XVIII, the territory belonged to the nomad Nogai
Nogai Horde
The Nogai Horde was a confederation of about eighteen Turkic and Mongol tribes that occupied the Pontic-Caspian steppe from about 1500 until they were pushed west by the Kalmyks and south by the Russians in the 17th century. The Mongol tribe called the Manghits constituted a core of the Horde...
Hordes, particularly the Djambuilut Horde. No detail historical information about the region has survived to our days.
The closest populated settlement is seven kilometers away (~4.5 mi). In Soviet times
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
the sands were used as an Air Force
Soviet Air Force
The Soviet Air Force, officially known in Russian as Военно-воздушные силы or Voenno-Vozdushnye Sily and often abbreviated VVS was the official designation of one of the air forces of the Soviet Union. The other was the Soviet Air Defence Forces...
bombing range for pilots of the Warsaw Pact
Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Treaty Organization of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance , or more commonly referred to as the Warsaw Pact, was a mutual defense treaty subscribed to by eight communist states in Eastern Europe...
alliance. To this day there is a possibility of finding some unexploded ordnance
Unexploded ordnance
Unexploded ordnance are explosive weapons that did not explode when they were employed and still pose a risk of detonation, potentially many decades after they were used or discarded.While "UXO" is widely and informally used, munitions and explosives of...
.
Environment
Due to its temperature and the amount of precipitation these sands sometimes are qualified as a semi-desertDesert
A desert is a landscape or region that receives an extremely low amount of precipitation, less than enough to support growth of most plants. Most deserts have an average annual precipitation of less than...
. Oleshky Sands are 15 km in diameter (~10 mi) and they are surrounded by a very dense forest planted to prevent dunes moving. Due to its density, the forest often catches fire. Although a relatively small sandy steppe, the Oleshky Sands have sandstorms
Dust storm
A dust / sand storm is a meteorological phenomenon common in arid and semi-arid regions. Dust storms arise when a gust front or other strong wind blows loose sand and dirt from a dry surface. Particles are transported by saltation and suspension, causing soil to move from one place and deposition...
. They occur due to the type of the sand in the area as it is very fine and is easily get picked up by a wind. The intensity of the sandstorms is rather weak. In the Oleshky sands at the depth of 300–400 m (~1000 ft) there is an underground lake, which forms an essential part of the local environment.
External links
- Overview , the official website of the Ukrainian Seven Wonders went down in 2010. Several files are missing including the one about the desert.
- Video footage of the desert, a video footage of the desert is provided by a blog-site of the local adventurers to familiarize the world with Ukraine.
- Desert, an excellent blog-site of Anna Stepankova with plenty of pictures and explanations. The problem might be with a language barrier as the site is in Russian, but the amount of pictures presented defeats that issue.
- Odessa Club of the extreme automobile touring, all pictures with vehicles driving across country areas.
- Oleshky Sands (Алешковские пески), more pictures of sand dunes.
- Three days through a forest, two - across fields a travel story through the Oleshky Sands with pictures.
- Singing Sands by Vladimir Chivilikhin , a reflection story about the desert. Interviews with local scientists, historical research, other.
- An informational site about underground waters in the area