Lake Sasyk-Sivash is known far beyond the Crimea. The pink color of its water looks magical. Although there is no magic in this: algae Dunaliella salina live in the lake, which "color" it. It appeared during the Ice Age, but the reserves of healing salt and brine in the lake have not been exhausted to this day.
A bit of history
Sasyk-Sivash is the largest salt lake in Crimea. It lies between Saki and Evpatoria.
Its name from the Crimean Tatar can be translated as "stinking mud". Previously, the lake partially dried up in the summer, because of this, peat was exposed with the remains of the life of marine life, which exuded an unpleasant smell of hydrogen sulfide. Therefore, the Turkic tribes inhabiting the Crimea gave this name to the reservoir.
In the 18th century, Sasyk-Sivash provided the entire tsarist Russia with salt. The ancient Greeks were the first to find out about it. They used the salt from the lake to store meat and fish. This is confirmed by clay amphorae and fishing tools found off the coast. Nowadays, there is a salt factory near the lake.
It was originally a shallow bay of the Black Sea. Now a sandy embankment divides the lake into two parts: in one, the water is salty, and in the other, fresh.
Best time to travel
Sasyk-Sivash attracts numerous tourists with its bright pink water color. It is not always "colored", but only in a certain period. It is best to visit it in August, when the lake takes on a fiery orange hue. This is due to the rapid bloom of Dunaliella salina algae. During this period, they secrete beta-carotene, which changes the color of the water. The higher the temperature, the more intense it is.
Not only the salty, but also the fresh Sasyk-Sivash zone is very popular. The latter is located across the road leading to Evpatoria. Mostly swan flocks live there, but you can also see gulls and cormorants. Locals and tourists alike love to observe the life of birds, as well as to feed them. It is soothing and joyful.
Place of power
Sasyk-Sivash is a truly unique place. A visit to it guarantees relaxation of mind and body. After all, the lake not only pleases the eye with its surreal appearance, but also heals. It contains large reserves of salt and brine, which have medicinal properties. According to historians, these natural gifts were used not only by local khans, but also by Alexander the Great himself. Many Crimean sanatoriums have included mud from Sasyk-Sivash in procedures for rejuvenating and treating skin diseases.
How to get there
From Evpatoria to the lake can be reached by buses No. 6, 6A, 9, 10 and 13 to the village of Pribrezhnoe. Then you will have to go on your own for about a couple of kilometers. You can admire the lake for free.
Many travel companies in Evpatoria offer excursions to Sasyk-Sivash. Its cost varies, but, as a rule, no more than 1,000 rubles per person (prices are valid for 2021).
