Here peace and quiet prevail amidst the beech and pine woods of the Crimean reservation, where rare plants and animals flourish. It has prevailed in this place for many centuries. A long time ago this was the territory of the monastery of SS Cosmas and Damian, and later became one of the favourite hunting grounds of the Russian Emperors. Mountain goats were brought here from Daghestan, deer from other parts of the Caucasus, and aurochs from the Belovezhskaya reservation in Byelorussia.

One of the most popular and frequently visited places there is Yalta. Yalta is a city in the Crimea, on the north coast of the Black Sea. It is located on the site of an ancient Greek colony, said to have been founded by Greek sailors who were looking for a safe shore (yalos in Greek) on which to land. Situated on a shallow bay facing south towards the Black Sea, the city is surrounded by wooded mountains. It enjoys a warm Mediterranean climate with many vineyards and orchards in the vicinity.