Chortovi skhody
Devil's Stairs (Shaitan-Merdven in Crimean Tatar) is an ancient mountain pass in western Crimea at an altitude of about 578 meters. He got the name for a steep gorge on the sea side, where the stones are folded into something similar to giant steps for someone very large.
The ascent has about two dozen sharp turns, and in some places the slope reaches 40 degrees. Ancient builders saved the situation with zigzags, reducing the slope to bearable values, so stock up on water and take your time.
For centuries, residents of the Baidar Valley made their way to the South Bank by this route - until the Sevastopol-Yalta highway was built in the middle of the 19th century. And Pushkin, Zhukovsky and Lesya Ukrainka left their records here, so this trail is not only cool, but also literary.
FAQFrequently asked questions
What is the Devil's Staircase and why is it named so?
This is an ancient mountain pass in the western Crimea at an altitude of about 578 meters. From the Crimean Tatar Shaitan-Merdven is translated as "devil's stairs" - because the road from the sea side goes through a steep gorge, where the stones are folded into something similar to giant steps.
How cool and difficult is it to pass?
The climb has about 23 sharp turns, and in some places the slope reaches 40 degrees. Old builders saved the situation with zigzags, reducing the slope to 10-15%, so stock up on water and take your time.
Who walked this pass and why?
For centuries, residents of the Baydar Valley made their way to the South Bank by this route - until the construction of the Sevastopol-Yalta highway in 1848. And Pushkin, Zhukovsky and Lesya Ukrainka left their records here.
Were there any cataclysms here?
Yes. The 1927 earthquake spoiled the ascent - the slope became even steeper. That is, part of the "pleasant" degrees was provided by nature itself.