Mount Klementyeva
FAQFrequently asked questions
What is Klementieva Mountain and is it a mountain at all?
Strictly speaking, not a mountain, but a plateau - the Uzun-Syrt ridge (from Crimean Tatar it translates as a long ridge) near Koktebel. It stretches for about 7 km, rises 80-130 m above the valley and has as many as three peaks.
Why is it called Mount Klementiev?
In honor of test glider Pyotr Klementiev, who died here on September 11, 1924, during a glider test. The second name of the place is Uzun-Syrt.
What is this place famous for?
This is the cradle of Soviet gliding: from 1923 to 1977, the Higher Flight and Gliding School worked here. The future aircraft designers Antonov, Yakovlev, Ilyushin and even Korolev took their first steps. All thanks to the unique rising air currents over the round Barakol valley.
What to do here today and when is the best time to go?
Watch the flights of paragliders and hang gliders and take a look at the museum of gliding. The best time is in the fall - that's when historical flights were once held.
Is there anything here besides aviation?
Yes. The 45th parallel, called the Golden Axis, passes through the plateau. Archaeologists also found here the remains of a Scythian settlement from the end of the 2nd century BC. As early as 1925, German sportsmen named the place the best in Europe for flying gliders.
