Back to Ukraine Photo Gallery start page Click here for map of Ukraine: Read about Crimea in our travel section!

Pictures of Demerdzhi Mt., Crimea

Demerdzhi Mountain is a prominent mountain right off the automobile road between Simferopol and Alushta. It has a number of good hiking trails and can be reached in 3 or 4 hours from Angarskyy Pass — a half-hour minibus ride from Simferopol or Yalta. The mountain has a north and a south peak that are 2 km apart.

On the way to the south peak, you see a huge pile of enormous rocks and a slope covered with strange rock outcroppings. This is called the "Valley of the Ghosts." If you take the trail up the mountain from Luchistoe village, you'll pass through these interesting rocks.

From Alushta you can supposedly ride horses up the mountain for a modest fee.

This was one of my best sets of photos ever. The weather and fall scenery made for very colorful shots.

Click on pictures to view larger version in separate window.
= the best and highest quality photos (in our opinion).

As you begin the descent into Alushta from Angarskyy pass Demerdzhi Mt. emerges from the fog to the left.	Fog rolls over North Demerdzhi Mt. (1356 m) from the north.	Weather on the north side of the pass (750 m above sea level) is often very different from that on the south side.	South Demerdzhi Mt. (1239 m) is sunny and warmer, but windy. Trees of many colors greet the eye.
Reds mix with yellows	The western side of South Demerdzh Mt. is called "Valley of the Ghosts" because of the peculiar rock formations.	Many years ago a huge block of mountain fell down and demolished a village below.	Many resulting boulders are bigger than houses.
The numerous trails around Demerdzhi are uncommonly well-made (for Ukraine!).	This leaf-covered trail rises through the rocky "Valley of the Ghosts."	To the left cliffs and stone columns are visible through the orange oak leaves.	A better view of some of those rock formations
These bizarre formations are only found on South Demerdzhi. Much of the mountain is made up of "conglomerates."	Here's what conglomerate rock looks like — pebbles cemented together.	Crimean pines and deciduous trees mix among the rocks.	The color contrasts can be quite startling.
A streak of bright orange leads up the mountain.	More rocks!	Looking down the mountain towards Luchistoe village	There's no end to these enormous boulders.
This local dog faithfully followed us to the top of the mountain in exchange for a couple mouthfuls of sausage.	Other "wildlife" can be seen grazing on Demerdzhi's slopes as well.	Silhouette of rocks and pines	Just a few kilometers to the south is the Black Sea (see ship on water).
Looking up at the top of South Demerdzhi	Nice place for a photo	A pine hangs above the cliff.	More bulbous rock formations from the summit
A tiny crocus	Horses grazing on the summit of South Demerdzhi	To the north fog continues to hang low. Snow has fallen above 1100 m.	A carpet of orange beeches covers this slope between North and South Demerdzhi.
Beeches up close	Color among the pines	Dwarf maple leaves against a rock	The fog and darkness thicken as we near the summit of North Demerdzi (1356 m). But we press on.
Last steps to the summit. Such "trigpoints" mark many summits in Crimea.	Old-growth beech forests cover much of Demerdzhi Mountain above 700 m.	Hefty trunks in a sea of orange	This is what beech leaves look like.
Red forest floor	As evening falls fog reaches out over the Black Sea coastline — but not very far.	Sunlight pierces the clouds in places.
Far below you can make out the white buildings of Alushta by the sea.	Sunset	Snow-covered Chatyr-dag plateau at sunrise. Eklizi-Burun Mt. rises to 1527 m .	Today the fog has moved lower on all sides of Demerdzhi.
Fog through the beech forest	An eerie mood prevails in this forest.	Luckily the trail is excellent and impossible to lose (at least in this location).	Seven thin, lichen-covered tree trunks
Spooky shapes appear out of the darkness.	Back down the mountain things haven't changed much. Looking towards the Izobilnoe reservoir.	The next morning Chatyr-dag is stunning.	Here's a view of Chatyr-dag, the most prominent mountain plateau between Alushta and Simferopol.
Fields alternate with beech and oak forests towards Angarskyy pass.	Morning panorama of North Demerdzhi Mt., now cloud-free	Cliffs surround Demerdzhi from nearly all directions.	Field of dried-up thistles
Close-up of thistles on colorful background	More thistles	Cottonwoods turning red by a stream	View of North Demerdzhi, my goal for the day
Many trees higher up have already lost their leaves.	Looking across at Chatyr-dag on the other side of Angarskyy pass. You can see these pine trees were planted.	Four crocuses high up on the mountain	Summit of Demerdzhi
Looking over the rest of the Demerdzhi plateau to the northeast	Far off to the northwest is Simferopol, capital of the Crimean Autonomous Republic.	To the southwest rise the peaks of Babugan yayla, highest in Crimea (1545 m).	On my way down the mountain
More stunning colors	Razor-like cliffs	More views	Trees and cliffs of Demerdzhi
I snapped this picture just as a local guy on horseback trotted up to the cliff's edge.	Wind-blasted shrub with Chatyr-dag in the background	North ridge of Demerdzhi	Shadows and beech trunks
Some tree trunks look like horse hooves or elephant feet.	Yellow maple leaves	A mixture of colors on the forest floor	'Delicate' colors in a clearing
Plaque by Angarskyy pass. This important Crimean road was built in 1824-1826 by infantry troops. It is the easiest access point to hike up North Demerdzhi Mt.	Congratulating ourselves on a successful climb	Meadow beneath Demerdzhi Mt.	Demerdzhi Plateau ("yayla")
All of this territory is above 1200 m above sea level.	Moving east, we encounter huge cracks in the mountains. Below is the Black Sea.	There are amazing views here, but few hikers see them because they're far off the popular trails.	On the edge of "Table Mountain"
Looking down towards Generalskoe village and the Black Sea	At the edge of Tirke Plateau. Across the valley is Karabi Plateau — our next destination.

All photos are the original work of Rick DeLong. To learn about purchasing originals, go here. Please contact me at before using my pictures for any purpose.