Ayu-dag (Bear Mountain) is located on the southern coast of Crimea, east of Gurzuf. The height of the mountain is 565 meters, length 2.5 kilometers, age ~ 161 million years. By the origin of Ayu-dag, the "failed volcano" is laccolith. Once magma rose from the depths of the earth, but did not find a way out and froze in the form of a huge dome. Sedimentary rocks eventually disappeared, and the dome was exposed. The mountain is composed of diorite. Her resemblance to a bear, which, like thirsty, fell to the sea, to get drunk has long been surprising and has given birth to many legends.



Ones upon a time on the very shore of the sea settled a herd of huge animals. The leader was the leader, an old and formidable bear.
Once the bears returned from the raid and found on the shore the wreckage of the ship. Among them was a bundle. The old leader unfolded it and saw a little girl. The girl began to live among the bears. Years passed, she grew and became a beautiful girl.
Once near the bear's den, a canoe with a young handsome young man was brought ashore. The storm carried its canoe along the waves for a long time, until it was thrown onto the Crimean shore. The girl moved the young man to a secluded place.


Many times she brought food and drink to the boy. The young man told her how people live in his native land. The girl sang for him her favorite songs. And these days came an ardent love in the hearts of both ... The young man was already strong, he made a mast, made a sail - lovers decided to leave the bearish shore. There was a wide blue surface between the shuttle and the shore rocks ... Then the bears returned to the shore from a distant hike and did not find the girl. The leader looked at the sea and roared fiercely. He lowered his huge mouth into the blue moisture and with force began to draw in the water. His example was followed by the rest. The current carried the shuttle back to the shore. And the girl began to sing.
As soon as she heard the voice of the beasts, they lifted their heads from the water and listened. Only the old leader continued his work. Even deeper he plunged his front paws and muzzle into the cold waves.


Boiling the sea at his mouth, pouring into her wide streams. She conjured in the song the girl all the earthly and heavenly powers to protect her first, pure love. She begged the old bear to spare the young man. And so hot was the plea of the girl, that the terrible beast ceased to draw water into itself. But he did not want to leave the shore, he continued to lie, peering into the distance, where the canoe disappeared with the creature to which he had become attached. And the old bear is lying on the shore for thousands of years. Petrified his powerful body.

The powerful sides turned into sheer precipices, the high back became the top of the mountain reaching the clouds, the head became a sharp rock, thick hair turned into a dense forest. The old bear-leader became Bear-Mountain