Spring near Mount Koklyuk

During the development of a new route in Eastern Crimea, I went in search of a spring in the area of ​​Mount Klementyev. It was marked in the Soyuzkarta atlas, there was an artificial lake nearby (obviously requiring a source of moisture) so all the odds were on my side...

At the top of Mount Koklyuk, near the “Starfall of Memories” arch, I met a shepherd who confirmed the existence of the source and gave a tip that “it takes a long time to go down to the road.”

And the spring really was found! Just 200 meters from the place indicated in the atlas.

GPS coordinates of the spring near Mount Koklyuk: 45°0.6051′ N 35°11.7447′ E WGS-84 (taken on the ground).

The spring is located right next to the dirt road connecting Nanikovo and Otvazhnoe. An iron drainage pipe sticks out of the ground near the track itself. Literally a couple of meters behind the spring there is a branch of the road leading down to the lake and to the other side of the valley.

From the top of the plateau there was no clear path to the spring. I descended in azimuth, maneuvering among sparse bushes. Along the way, I crossed a dirt road traversing the slope. It is not on the map, and it is located approximately halfway to the desired “spring” road.

There are quite a few areas suitable for setting up a tent near the spring, but the area is too open. Cattle are constantly grazing in the valley, cows and sheep go to the spring, dogs and shepherds run around. There is little firewood, the vegetation around is thorny and bushy. In general, it’s better not to camp right next to the spring.

Photos were taken in mid-April. Water consumption at this time is quite substantial. Not all the water was discharged through the pipe; a significant part of it simply oozed along the road. Apparently (a glass jar at the source), the water is drinkable.

Kirill Yasko, for Yuri Yezersky’s project “Springs of Crimea”.