Valley of Ghosts (Crimea)

South-Demerdzhi side

"Stone figures", which were formed by the weathering of rocks on the southwest slope of Demerdzhi Mountain, are called The Valley of Ghosts. It has been affected by several rock falls, notably in April 1894 and August 1966. The mountain Demerdzhi gets its mystery from the haze which changes its colors. In the Middle Ages, the mountain had the name 'Funa', which means "fuming", because of frequent fog.[4] The Valley of Ghosts was located on the slopes of Demerdzhi Castle and its remains have survived until now. There is a road which leads to the castle near the Valley of Ghosts .[5] Near the village of Funa, there are the ruins of Demerdzhi Castle, dating back to 13th - 15th centuries. The castle was an outpost of the principality Theodore, where a small garrison prevented the penetration of the Genoese into Tavria. There was also a towered two-story church where a family vault is located.[6]

Geologists hypothesize that the Valley of Ghosts became unwrinkled due to centuries of influence of the sea. The sea levels rose, and the entire Crimean Peninsula turned into many small islands. Over thousands of years passed, the sea was gradually going down, washing the lowlands of high rocks and hard stones turning into a crumbly sand of the sea, gradually grinding boulders and giving them the most intricate shapes.[7]

The Valley of Ghosts; the foot of mountain Demerdzhi

Demerdzhi mountain covers an area of 13.8 square kilometers. From West to East it is 5.5 kilometers, and 3.5 kilometers from North to South. Geographers divide the area into two parts - North and South Demerdzhi. The northern part is much larger in size, and slightly higher. The highest point is 1,359 meters above sea level. The highest point of the southern part is 1,239 meters above sea level.[8] Demerdzhi Mountain has developed the so-called conglomerates-small fragments of various rocks, boulders, pebbles of different sizes cemented sand and clay and, as a result of the action of natural forces the mysterious stone figures that form the Valley of Ghosts have emerged.

Southern Demerdzhi, where the Valley of Ghosts is located, is composed of conglomerates, consisting of coarse rocks, pebbles and boulders with a solidified sand-clay mass between them. These were formed in the coastal sea in the Late Jurassic period. The conglomerates exhibit cracks of different types.

These conglomerates are geologically unusual for three reasons. Firstly, the Valley of Rocks conglomerates include quartzite and pink granite, in addition to the typical Crimea sandstone, compacted clay, limestone, milky white quartz and brown siderite concretions. Secondly, the granite, dated to 650 - 950 million years old, is significantly older than the surrounding clay and sandstone of the Crimean mountains, dated to 160 - 200 million years. Thirdly, the Demerdzhi conglomerates are unusually large, with sizes of around 1,750 meters.

These conglomerates have been intricately formed by natural weathering. Various figures, dozens of meters high, can be found here. Some of them have been likened in form to the basalt idols of Easter Island.

At the top of the mountain, a rare atmospheric phenomenon known as "Brokkensky ghost" can be seen during sunrise. To observe the "ghost" appearance, several conditions must be met: Chatyr-Dag must be shrouded in mist and the area over the sea and Demerdzhi must be clear, transparent and completely permeable to sunlight. During sunrise, it is possible to see shadows projected on the background of Chatyr-Dag, shrouded in mist, surrounded by a circular rainbow halo.[9]

The Valley of Ghosts has a typical Crimean climate of hot summers and mild winters. The average winter temperature, especially in the coldest month of January, is about −0.8 °C (30.6 °F). In summer, the warmest month is July with a temperature of 20.4 °C (68.7 °F). The variation in annual temperature is around 21.2 °C (38.2 °F). The dry climate means that the water temperature remains stable between 0–8 °C (0–14 °F).

October is the driest month with an average precipitation is 40mm. Precipitation is the greatest in December, with an average is 81mm.[10]

The name of the old village of Funa ("smoky" in Greek), located under the mountain near a road to Aluston (current Alushta) may have its origins in the occupant's trade in blacksmithing.

At the end of the 18th century, when Christians were forced out of Crimea by the decree of Catherine II, the village became occupied by Tatars from the southern coast. The village was rechristened “Demerdzhi” ("smith" in the Tatar language).[14]

Today, the village has the name Luchistoe. Russian history books point out that the village was reallocated to a more secure place based on the advice of the geologist Nikolai A. Golovkinsky after the disaster in 1894 (rockfalls occurred regularly since 1615 to 1989[9]). However, authors of the book "Aluston and Funa", K. Kogonashvili and O. Makhneva, pictured this episode in a different way. They wrote that the village was relocated due to a local landlord magnifying the risk so that he could spread and expand their garden at the site of the old village. [15]

The Valley of Ghosts can be reached via the village Luchistoe, taking the trolleybuses №51 or №52 on the Simferopol-Alushta-Yalta road.[16] From Luchistoe, it takes 30 minutes walking along paved road to the valley, passing a horse riding club called "Zolotaya Podkova" ("Golden Horseshoe", Russian: "Золотая подкова"). [17]

The village of Luchistoe can be also reached from Alushta by bus №107 from the town bus station.

If traveling by car from the city of Alushta, Luchistoe can be found in 4 kilometers.[18]

Some rocks which are shaped like ghosts.

The legend of the origin of The Valley of Ghosts has different names, such as: "The Smith from Mountain Demerdzhi", "Mountain-smith", "About the mountain Demerdzhi". There are several variations to the story, which however contains the common elements.

Legend of Demerdzhi Mountain

The Valley of Ghosts

Many years ago, an unknown man who knew the devil and named blacksmith settled on the top of the mountain Demerdzhi. Once, the mountain shook and houses within the villages were then destroyed. Villagers gathered together to discuss because the mountain was at peace before the strange man came. They decided to send the most courageous and intelligent ones up the mountain, requesting the stranger to leave, but he refused. After a while, a beautiful Greek woman came to the mountain and sat down to rest near a spring. In the village, where she was from, the fountains stopped murmuring, and people lost their water. People then realized who was the cult of the disaster and went to demand the return of beauty. The news was spread that the stranger was the great sinner. People believed that the mountain trembled because it does not want to carry him anymore. Terrified inhabitants of the valley gathered in the ancient temple and begged God to save them from the evil alien but nothings happened for long days. When the holidays horban-Adha come, believers prayed for three days and nights. The flame was raised on Demerdzhi, buzzes and groanings were all around, great stones fell down from the mountain. As everything came to peace, people did not see the terrible alien anymore. But strangely, they found stone figures of animals, form of people and unseen monsters on the mountainside facing the Babuganu (a part Gurzufskaya plateau). Later, people learned that this was done to make sure that people should never forget the terrible sinner who was responsible of that tragedy.[24]

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  Conglomerates of rocks in The Valley of Ghosts
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  The Valley of Ghosts depicted in Autumn
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  Demerdzhi's rocks shaped like fingers
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  Rocks in the Valley of Ghosts
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  View from mount Demerdzhi during dawn
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  The Southern Demerdzhi Mountain
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  A rock called "Sphinx"
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  The Southern Demerdzhi Mountain seen as a whole
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  View from Demerdzhi on Babugan and Chatyr-Dag (The Valley of Ghosts)