Anapa

Nature and Climate

Anapa is situated in the south-west part of Krasnodarsky krai of the Russian Federation, on the coast of the Black sea, at the turn of flat Kubano-Priazovskaya lowland of the Tamansky peninsula and the hilly peninsula Abrau. Such peculiar relief imparts it unique picturesque color. This resort area is situated in two physiographic areas. One part is an extension of Kuban plain; the other one is situated on the slopes and in the valley of the northern spurs of the Big Caucasus.
The city itself spreads on the high rocky plateau with a steep shore, height of which is 20-30 m, and on its wide and gentle slope. The high shore as a headland juts out into the sea and protects a cozy Malaya bay from winds.
To the north the shore descends and turns into the famous sandy beaches which, bending round Anapa bay stretches for 50 km to the cape Zhelezny Rog (Iron Horn) of the Tamansky peninsula. At the very beginning of the bay there is an area of water of the station with passenger and freight docks.
Anapa beaches (the famous bay-bar which spreads for more than 40 km) are undoubtedly the best beaches of the whole northern Black sea region. Their width reaches 600 m in some places. The beach spreads to the water very gently. Sometimes depth of the sea doesn’t exceed one meter in 15-20 km from the shore. It is natural that such shoal gets warm thoroughly by the sun. Temperature of water in Anapa bay is usually 2-4 C higher than in other Black Sea resorts. Record temperature of water was fixed in 1972, when water warmed up to +28.2 C.
Origin of sands is connected with the Kuban river. It had been flowing into the Black sea through Kizitashsky estuary till the end of the previous century. Then the river changed its bed and left sand, brought from the tops of the Caucasus.
On the Anapa bay-bar it is accepted to mark out several parts of the beaches. The central beach, the most overcrowded by holiday-makers, is situated within the precincts of the city, then beaches Bimlyuka, Dzhemete, Vityazevsky beach, Vityazevskaya spit, the bay-bar of Solenoe lake follow. The shore line of Anapa area in the direction of Novorossiysk is formed of pebbles. Pebbly beaches begin from Semisama ridge in the area of the marinas and stretches along the foot of a high steep shore to Maliy Utrisha. The high shore forms three capes on the 33-d km of lot. From the other sides the resort is washed by the Black sea.
In the forests of Anapa oak, beech, hornbeam, ash-tree, maple, nut-tree, cornel and hawthorn grow. In Succo and Bolshoi and Maliy Utrish there are groves of relic juniper. An arboretum park was formed here on the basis of natural plants. It is necessary to visit these picturesque places for those who are fond of rare trees. Mountains here reach 400 m of height above sea level, and on the steep shore such relic plants as lignum vitae, Turkish pine-tree, turpentine tree (wild pistachio-tree) and fustic grow.
Turpentine tree is notable for the fact that despite its name – wild pistachio-tree – one shouldn’t eat its fetuses. Its wood is very solid and heavy – even sinks in the water. The arboretum park in the area of Succo, Bolshoi and Maliy Utrisha is the only place on the coast where turpentine tree grows in natural conditions. On the sand-dunes, which the local inhabitants call kuchugurs, and saline lands drimophilous plants – rabbitberry or wild olive, tamarisk (Turkish Pine), hard grasses – grow.

Fauna in the area is quite various: wild boars, foxes, hares, deers, badgers, raccoons and musk-rats are found. Many water birds, mostly ducks. In winter while quick freeze flocks of swans fly into the bay. Sometimes pheasants can be seen in the forests though these birds are found very rarely. Sea-urchins, flesh of which is edible. Spawn and milk of sea-urchins is highly valued.

The history of the city

At first Anapa was called Sindskaya harbor. In 7 century B.C. the extensive territory from Kerchensky strait to modern city Novorossiysk was occupied by people of Sind. It is interesting that word “Sind” is translated from Sanskrit as “river” and corresponds to word “Ind”, and it is India already. It turns out, Indian river. Over 25 centuries ago on the shore of a convenient bay near fertile plains and wooded hills people of Sind founded a settlement under name Sindskaya Harbor. It was a place of tsar’s residence, a crowded trading center on the coast. An antique settlement arose on the high shore. Now it is accepted to call it “Gorgippiya”. It was considered a capital of “Pontic tyrant, son of the last Satire Gorgipp”. Archaeological digs showed that already at that ancient time the city attracted to itself as a resort. Terraces for sunbathe were arranged in the temples.
Wooden figures, representing primitive depicts of parts of man’s body were found, while purification of one of springs from many meter stratum of silt and other silts. Ancient health-resort visitors probably purposely threw depicts of a diseased organ into the salubrious spring with hope for recovery.

In 3 century the city was destroyed by nomad barbarian tribes. Then aborigines, ancestors of modern Adygeis-Natkhuay settled down on its ruins. Gradually they made a connection with Russian Tmutarakan princedom, which had existed in the Tamansky peninsula since 11 century. In 13 century on the ruins of the antique city Genoese seafarers and merchants built a trading station, enforced with a castle, and enter it on the maples under name Mapa (Mapario). In 1475 Turks captureв all Black sea lands of Genoa colony. Mapa didn’t avoid such fate. They erected a city and then fortress Anapa in its place.

Name “Anapa” originates from the Abkhaz language: “anape” – an arm, i.e. a point situated in the mouth of the river. In course of Russian-Turkish war of 1787-1791 Russians launched three campaigns in Anapa. A battle, result of which convinced of impossibility of assault of the fortress, happened in the first campaign.
The second campaign was launched in winter conditions. The battle for attackers ended resulted an absolute hitting. The general was dismissed from service and prosecuted. For this campaign private soldiers were decorated with the only of its kind silver medal “For faith” (was presented not for victory but for hitting).
The third campaign of capture of Anapa resulted success. Anapa was returned to Turkey. The last assault was carried out in 1828. The siege had been lasted for a month and a half. Adriapolsky treaty Anapa was assigned to Russia once and for all.
Anapa acquired the status of the city for the first time in 1846. At this time the city appeared as a large Ukraine village. Citizens lived in the fortress in constant danger of attack of mountain dwellers. Inhabitants carried even water from the river under escort. Position of Anapa on the shore of a convenient bay prevented the city from final desolation. In 1866 Anapa acquired the status of the city.
Beginning from 19 century archaeological digs were carried out in the city. The most interesting find was discovered in 1975. This year a unique monument of antique culture – painted crypt of Greece noble Gorgippiya – was opened in the center of the city while digging of basin for building of a house. The crypt was called by archaeologists “Heracles’s Crypt” and dates to the end of II – beginning of III centuries. Expressive colorful paintings of the walls embodied feats of the legendary hero in the episodes of a fight, in the strained scenes of feats: Heracles kills Nemean lion, fights with Lernean hydra, catches Erymanthean wild boar, tames Cretan bull, wins a victory over an Amazon, has prepared to shoot an arrow from his bow into Stymphalian birds, carries off cows of giant Geryon, strikes cruel tsar Diomed.
Near another crypt with two sarcophaguses was found. And luck! It turned out non-harried. In one of the sarcophaguses there were remains of a noble of Gorgippiya with rich adornments: a garland of golden leafs, golden blinders and mouth-plates, a hryvnia of a thick golden wire, golden bracelet with turquoise, three golden rings with gemmas, a gala dagger with raised impression, with encrustation by turquoise and garnet, a golden fibula (a clasp for clothes), a polychromatic cup with gilding, a bronze censer with coloured enamel and other valuable things. In the other sarcophagus two girls had been buried also with rich adornments. The finds made up a basis of “Golden stock” of Krasnodar regional museum-reserve; they were exhibited in Japan, Germany, Yugoslavia.
On the eve of 20 century Anapa constantly has become a country place. Up to 400 families used to come here from the neighboring cities for sea bathing in summer, mostly in season of grapes ripening. Dachas and private residences were built. Furnished rooms and bathes were rent. In the mountain gorge near Anapa there was a hermitage of Reverend Theodosius the Caucasian.
Theodosius is a saint, revered in this place. Being a child he with his helper went away to Aphon without his parents’ knowledge, where he was in obedience in the holy abode. In 1912 he returned in Kuban already being a celibate priest and very old man. Blessed Virgin pointed him to a place for a temple. With a wave of her wonderful right hand periwinkle turned green on the stones. The slope of the gorge near khutor Gorniy (27 km from Krimsk) has covered with these evergreen flowers to this day.
Old monk Theodosius built a small church and few cells. One of wonders happened in this hermitage owing to his praises – a spring sprouted in the dry place (it has kept till our days and was taken in the well), and he laid plates round it by his hands. In 1925 the old monk was arrested and exiled to Solovki. In the 30-s the temple was demolished. Its monks died an awful death. And in 1931 Theodosius returned in Caucasus in Mineral Waters, where he took a feat of being fool for God’s sake, which he bore till his death. A stone, on which confessor Theodosius used to pray, has kept to our day. The places where the monks died.

Anapa – City-Resort

As a city-resort Anapa has developed gradually. In the before war years In Anapa 22 resorts had been functioning. During the Second World war Anapa was captured and demolished. Fascists not only destroyed resort buildings but also mined beaches. Reconstruction and further development of the resort began since 1947. Its functioning was restrained by lack of fresh water. This problem was solved in 1968 when a water-pipe stretched from the Kuban river to Anapa. Now Anapa is a heavenly nook for vacationists.

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