"Lake of Mars" tour

Tash-Jargan
On its creation in time immemorial worked all the elements of the planet. People also inhabited these lands for a long time - probably from the beginning of the first millennium BC. But the name Tash-Jargan is of Tatar origin. In translation, it means “broken stone”. So called not only the tract, but also the highest mountain in the region.
(Height - about half a kilometer above sea level).

Previously, there was a village of Crimean Tatars, bearing the same name. It was quite old – it was first mentioned by the Polish ambassador who visited the Crimea at the end of the XVI century.
Legends and Myths: The Jar-Altar
Not in the tract Tash-Jargan and without terrible tales. They are told about one of the local natural attractions – the cave Teshkli-Koba (“Leaky”).

It is a vast cavity in the ground – such formations in the Crimea are sometimes called “jugs”. It has a depth of 12 m, many believe that at the time when the Crimea was inhabited by Taurus, they used a funnel for sacrifices.

There are some grounds for such claims – Taurian monuments have indeed been discovered here, and human sacrifices were common at that time.

What is interesting for tourists Tash-Jargan?
The monuments of the Taurus are one of the “baits” that attract tourists to Tash-Jargan. Archaeologists have discovered two settlements of the beginning of I thousand BC with characteristic burial grounds. The burials were dolmens, that is, the bodies were placed in boxes of stone slabs. Scientists managed to find a little – in later times, the local population willingly dismantled the necropolis to use the already processed plates for the needs of their own construction. However, a well-preserved burial was found, where a child and two adults were buried.

Lake Mars in Crimea is in many ways an unusual and relatively young attraction, formed quite by chance in the place of extraction of the famous Inkerman stone. Even some half a century ago, no one could have imagined that a rather deep, extensive freshwater reservoir would soon spill here, which later became a tourist highlight of the surroundings of Bakhchisarai.
But unusual in it is still more of its stunning, rich sky-azure color, repeating the color of sea water, which is completely unusual for freshwater formations and makes it a unique object. The name, Lake Mars, which he received immediately, seems utterly illogical. The red color prevailing on the surface of a distant planet is completely absent, and this name is perhaps only a trick of locals, attracting hundreds of tourists who come here every year to relax.
The history of its appearance goes back to Soviet times. The deposits of limestone located in this place and mining it for construction were the beginning of the formation of this amazing place in its beauty. During the development of the quarry, workers came to a powerful source, which began to rapidly fill the mining site with water. Due to the need and convenient location of the field, constantly incoming water was pumped out of it for a long time and it was done around the clock. But in order to save electricity and the practical impossibility of production in the current conditions, it was decided to leave the deposit.
So a lake was formed with incredibly beautiful transparent turquoise color water.
Rumor has it that the workers, not having time to take all the equipment, and left it at the bottom of the water flooded quarry. This is why it is called the Martian Lake. Locals call it Marble and for good reason, because on a warm sunny day the water acquires an extraordinary turquoise color and plays with glare in the rays of the sun, and in combination with the amazing transparency this lake really becomes mysterious and unforgettable. The white color of the rock and the purest fresh water of underground springs make this place truly fabulous and amazing. Locals enjoy spending time here with good health and good mood.
The Cave Town of Buckla: History
This historical monument is the northernmost cave city of Crimea - behind it is only the steppe. This position played a special role in his fate. The city was founded at the end of the III century, in the VIII-IX centuries its first line of defense was strengthened. By the time of the construction, it was a single whole with the village, on the southern side of which there were various buildings for economic purposes, including the wine complex.
In the VI century, a castle was built in its place. All of its defensive structures were made of massive limestone blocks. Under the western section of the citadel under a twenty-meter cliff were military caves. In some of them led hatches, in others - stairs carved in the rock. Here they served and conducted flank shelling slings and archers. The castle protected a deep moat. The rural settlement and settlement adjacent to the construction were not protected by walls, which is typical for feudal complexes of that time. The name of the settlement originates from the Turkic language. The word "baklak" means "water vessel". It should be noted that the main feature of this city - grain pits, having the shape of bowls with a narrow neck.
We invite you on a tour. It'll be interesting.

What's in:
- Transfer (there and back); guide
- Tash-Jargan rock massif, Teshkli-Koba Cave
- Visiting Lake Mars,
- Visit to the cave town of Buckla,
Monastery of St. Lazarus of Murom