{{Short description|Mountain in Crimea}} {{Infobox mountain | name=Opuk | image=Opuk.jpg | image_caption= Opuk from the sea side | country=Russia, Ukraine | region_type= | region=Crimea | map = Crimea#Ukraine | elevation_m=183 | elevation_ref = | coordinates = {{coord|45|2|15|N|36|13|25|E|type:mountain_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}} }}
'''Opuk''' ({{langx|uk|Опук}}; {{langx|crh|Opuk, Опук}}) is a mountain 183 meters high, located on Opuk cape, on the southern tip of the Kerch Peninsula, in Crimea, the highest point in the area. The Opuk massif was declared the Opuk Nature Reserve in 1998.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Опукский |url=http://www.oopt.aari.ru/oopt/%D0%9E%D0%BF%D1%83%D0%BA%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9 |access-date=2024-03-05 |website=Information-analytical system «Особо охраняемые природные территории России»}}</ref> The slopes of Opuk mountain are a combination of stepped ledges, steep precipices, chasms and stone placers.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-08-10 |title=Aquatic-coastal complex of Cape Opuk |url=https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/1395 |website=Ramsar Convention}}</ref>
==Geology==
Opuk mountain is an isolated synclinal fold composed of Meotian limestones underlain by Sarmatian clays.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Аркадьев |first=В.В. |url=https://www.academia.edu/29680048 |title=Геологические экскурсии по Крыму |publisher=Издательский Дом “ЧерноморПРЕСС" |year=2014 |pages=98–99 |access-date=2024-03-05}}</ref> The fold is strongly dissected by faults (seismogenic ditches),<ref name=":1" /> and several small natural caves, such as the Opukskaya-Yubileinaya discovered in 1996, are found in it, partially filled with clastic material.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Вахрушев |first=Б. А. |year=2002 |title=Пещеры Опукского спелеорайона на Керченском полуострове (Крым) |url=https://institute.speleoukraine.net/libpdf/Vahrushev_2002_Svet_1-2(22-23).pdf |journal=Свет |issue=1-2(22-23) |pages=15–17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200721025607/http://institute.speleoukraine.net/libpdf/Vahrushev_2002_Svet_1-2(22-23).pdf |archive-date=2020-07-21}}</ref>
==Archeology== thumb|View of Opuk mountain thumb|Opuk quarries The earliest ancient Greek settlements on the mountain date back to the turn of the 6th and 5th centuries BC.<ref name=":2" /> Fragments of early Chios amphorae and painted black-lacquer table pottery have been found.<ref name=":2" />
In the V century BC at the foot of the mountain was a Greek settlement — Kimmerikon, which was part of the Bosporan Kingdom.<ref name=":3" /> Remains of structures, house foundations and walls have been preserved here.<ref name=":2" /> There are also remains of structures on the top of the mountain.
Opuk quarries are located on the syncline's eastern wing, on the upper plateau's cliff. The total length of excavations is small — about 790 m. About 500 m to the southwest is another relatively small quarry. At present, due to the destruction of the rock and a large number of rockfalls, it is dangerous for unprepared excursionists to visit the quarries.<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |year=2020 |title=Типология и краткий обзор подземных выработок Керченского полуострова |encyclopedia=Учёные записки КФУ им. В. И. Вернадского. География. Геология |url=https://sn-geography.cfuv.ru/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/UZ-Geografiya-Geologiya----2-2020-titul-sbornik-264-293.pdf |last=Сохин |first=М. Ю. |series=2 |volume=6 |pages=266–267 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129132240/http://sn-geography.cfuv.ru/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/UZ-Geografiya-Geologiya----2-2020-titul-sbornik-264-293.pdf |archive-date=2021-01-29}}</ref><ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |year=2017 |title=Реестр каменоломен Керченского полуострова. Исследование каменоломен экспедициями клуба "Поиск" |encyclopedia=Военно-исторические чтения |publisher=Бизнес-Информ |location=Simferopol |last=Грек |first=И. О. |series=4. Неизвестное становится известным. |pages=85–96}}</ref>
==Fortress== The fortress on the eastern summit of Opuk mountain was first built in the I century B.C.<ref name=":4">{{Cite book |last=Голенко |first=В.К. |url=http://www.sno.pro1.ru/lib/golenko_drevniy_kimmerik_i_okruga/golenko_drevniy_kimmerik_i_okruga.pdf |title=Древний Киммерик и его округа |publisher=Сонат |year=2007 |location=Simferopol |pages=121–122}}</ref> It may have been associated with the Cimmerian shaft.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Киммерик |url=https://w.histrf.ru/articles/article/show/kimmierik |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180221100407/https://w.histrf.ru/articles/article/show/kimmierik |archive-date=2018-02-21 |website=Энциклопедия «Всемирная история»}}</ref>
The cultural strata of the citadel contain much material from the late II—III centuries A.D.<ref name=":4" /> This could be related to the activities of the Bosporan king Tiberius Julius Sauromates II Philocaesar Philoromaios Eusebes (174–210).<ref name=":2">{{Cite encyclopedia |year=2006 |title=Основные этапы освоения горы Опук и её окрестностей |encyclopedia=Труды Никитского ботанического сада – Национального научного центра |url=https://scbook.nbgnsc.ru/download/126/5-126-2006.pdf |last=Голенко |first=В.К. |volume=126 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180221101429/http://scbook.nbgnscpro.com/download/126/5-126-2006.pdf |archive-date=2018-02-21}}</ref>
The new citadel is dated IV—VI centuries A.D.<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |year=1999 |title=К вопросу о времени сооружения "цитадели" на горе Опук |encyclopedia=Херсонесский сборник |publisher=Национальный заповедник "Херсонес Таврический"; Крымский филиал Института археологии НАНУ |location=Sevastopol |last=Голенко |first=В.К. |others=Collection of scientific articles |editor-last=Золотарев |editor-first=М.И. |series=10 |pages=39–49}}</ref> At that time the area became a borderland between the possessions of Chersonesus and the Bosporan Kingdom.
The Russian researcher Paul Du Brux was the first to explore this monument from 1817 to 1830.<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |year=1905 |title=Дюбрюкс, Павел |encyclopedia=Русский биографический словарь |publisher=тип. Товарищества «Общественная польза» |location=Saint-Petersburg |url=https://ru.wikisource.org/wiki/%D0%A0%D0%91%D0%A1/%D0%92%D0%A2/%D0%94%D1%8E%D0%B1%D1%80%D1%8E%D0%BA%D1%81,_%D0%9F%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B5%D0%BB |volume=6 |page=736}}</ref>
Since 1989, the fortress has been investigated by the South Bosporus Archaeological Expedition under the leadership of V.K. Golenko.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Пономарев |first=Л.Ю. |title=К археологической карте памятников VIII - первой половины x вв. Южной части Керченского полуострова |url=https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/k-arheologicheskoy-karte-pamyatnikov-viii-pervoy-poloviny-x-vv-yuzhnoy-chasti-kerchenskogo-poluostrova |journal=Боспорские исследования|date=2011 |issue=25 |pages=343–378 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Голенко |first=В.К. |year=1995 |title=Исследования Южно-Боспорской археологической экспедиции в 1992 г. |journal=Крымский музей |location=Simferopol |issue=1/94}}</ref> A stele with four runic signs was found in the grotto under the citadel in 1996. At first, it was dated to the middle of the IV century.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Голенко |first1=В.К. |last2=Юрочкин |first2=В.Ю. |last3=Синько |first3=О.А. |last4=Джанов |first4=А.В. |year=1999 |title=Рунический камень с г. Опук в Крыму и некоторые проблемы истории северопричерноморских германцев |journal=Древности Боспора |issue=2 |pages=77–97}}</ref><ref>{{Cite conference |last=Юрочкин |first=В.Ю. |year=2000 |title=Готы-трапезиты на пограничье Боспора |url=http://annales.info/blacksea/small/g_trapez.htm |conference=Пантикапей. Боспор. Керчь. Материалы международной конференции |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023152255/http://annales.info/blacksea/small/g_trapez.htm |archive-date=2017-10-23}}</ref> Currently the stone is kept in the Central Museum of Tavrida in Simferopol.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Мальгина |first=М. Р. |year=2007 |title=Опыт создания каталога лапидарного собрания Крымского республиканского краеведческого музея |journal=VII Таврические научные чтения |location=Simferopol |volume=1 |pages=181–199}}</ref> However, already in 2010 N. F. Fedoseev in his article disavowed all these constructions.<ref name=":5">{{Cite journal |last=Федосеев |first=Н.Ф. |year=2010 |title=О достоверности рунических надписей Причерноморья |url=https://www.academia.edu/14950679 |journal=Археологія |issue=1 |pages=127–128}}</ref> The inscription was made by O. Kupriyanenko, a Kerch resident fond of esotericism, in 1994 as part of artistic trials. In two years it underwent a natural aging process and was discovered by V. K. Golenko. Later, the success of the "sensational find" generated a whole boom of "runic stones" on the Kerch Peninsula.<ref name=":5" />
== Conservation and significance == Opuk mountain and the area of Opuk cape, as well as the adjacent sea area (together with nearby sites including Koyashskoye Salt Lake), are a nature reserve. Opuk Nature Reserve and wetlands of international importance "Aquatic-coastal complex of Cape Opuk and the islands of Skaly Korabli" ({{langx|uk|Прибережний аквальний комплекс біля миса Опук та островів Скелі-Кораблі}}, {{langx|ru|Прибрежный аквальный комплекс у мыса Опук и островов Скалы-Корабли}}) with a total area of 1,592.3 ha,<ref name=":0" /> created in Ukraine in 1998 and re-approved in the Russian Federation according to the Order of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Crimea from 05.02.2015 No. 69-p "On Approval of the List of Specially Protected Natural Areas of Regional Importance of the Republic of Crimea".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-02-05 |title=Распоряжение Совета министров Республики Крым от 05 февраля 2015 года № 69-р «Об утверждении Перечня особо охраняемых природных территорий регионального значения Республики Крым» |url=https://rk.gov.ru/documents/5fb5fc24-c48f-4a8c-a272-61a9f6893de6 |website=Portal of the Government of the Republic of Crimea}}</ref>
==See also== * Crimea * Kerch Peninsula * Opuk Nature Reserve
==References==
<references />
==Bibliography== * {{Cite journal |last=Драган |first=Н.А. |year=2006 |title=Почвы окрестностей Опукского природного заповедника |journal=Труды НБС ННЦ |volume=126 |pages=34–44}} * {{Cite journal |last=Вахрушев |first=Б. А. |year=2002 |title=Пещеры Опукского спелеорайона на Керченском полуострове (Крым) |url=https://institute.speleoukraine.net/libpdf/Vahrushev_2002_Svet_1-2(22-23).pdf |journal=Свет |issue=1-2(22-23) |pages=15–17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200721025607/http://institute.speleoukraine.net/libpdf/Vahrushev_2002_Svet_1-2(22-23).pdf |archive-date=2020-07-21}} * {{Cite journal |last1=Вахрушев |first1=Б.А |last2=Вахрушев |first2=И.Б. |year=2006 |title=Заповедные объекты массива горы Опук и сопредельных территорий |journal=Труды НБС ННЦ |volume=126 |pages=23–33}} * {{Cite journal |last1=Климчук |first1=А. Б. |last2=Амеличев |first2=Г. Н. |last3=Вахрушев |first3=Б. А. |last4=Тимохина |first4=Е. И. |last5=Науменко |first5=В. Г. |year=2014 |title=Проявление гипогенного карста в Опукском массиве на Керченском полуострове |url=https://institute.speleoukraine.net/libpdf//new/2014/002/Klimchouk_ea_2014_Opuk.pdf |journal=Спелеология и карстология |issue=12 |pages=57–68 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313220846/http://institute.speleoukraine.net/libpdf//new/2014/002/Klimchouk_ea_2014_Opuk.pdf |archive-date=2022-03-13}} * {{Cite encyclopedia |year=2021 |title=Сейсмические деформации на археологических памятниках, в отложениях и рельефе горы Опук, Крым |encyclopedia=Вопросы инженерной сейсмологии |url=http://mmtk.ginras.ru/pdf/korzhenkov_etal2021b.pdf |last1=Корженков |first1=А.М. |series=2 |volume=48 |pages=62–103 |issn=0132-2826 |last2=Мордвинцева |first2=В.И. |last3=Овсюченко |first3=А.Н. |last4=Стрельников |first4=А.А. |last5=Ларьков |first5=А.С.}} * {{Cite encyclopedia |year=2020 |title=Типология и краткий обзор подземных выработок Керченского полуострова |encyclopedia=Учёные записки КФУ им. В. И. Вернадского. География. Геология |url=https://sn-geography.cfuv.ru/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/UZ-Geografiya-Geologiya----2-2020-titul-sbornik-264-293.pdf |last=Сохин |first=М. Ю. |series=2 |volume=6 |pages=266–267 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129132240/http://sn-geography.cfuv.ru/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/UZ-Geografiya-Geologiya----2-2020-titul-sbornik-264-293.pdf |archive-date=2021-01-29}} * {{Cite encyclopedia |year=2017 |title=Реестр каменоломен Керченского полуострова. Исследование каменоломен экспедициями клуба "Поиск" |encyclopedia=Военно-исторические чтения Vol. 4. Неизвестное становится известным |publisher=Бизнес-Информ |location=Simferopol |last=Грек |first=И. О. |pages=85–96}} * {{Cite encyclopedia |year=1999 |title=К вопросу о времени сооружения "цитадели" на горе Опук |encyclopedia=Херсонесский сборник |publisher=Национальный заповедник "Херсонес Таврический"; Крымский филиал Института археологии НАНУ |location=Sevastopol |last=Голенко |first=В.К. |others=Collection of scientific articles |editor-last=Золотарев |editor-first=М.И. |series=10 }} * {{Cite encyclopedia |year=2006 |title=Основные этапы освоения горы Опук и её окрестностей |encyclopedia=Труды Никитского ботанического сада – Национального научного центра |url=https://scbook.nbgnsc.ru/download/126/5-126-2006.pdf |last=Голенко |first=В.К. |volume=126 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180221101429/http://scbook.nbgnscpro.com/download/126/5-126-2006.pdf |archive-date=2018-02-21}} * {{Cite book |last=Голенко |first=В.К. |url=http://www.sno.pro1.ru/lib/golenko_drevniy_kimmerik_i_okruga/golenko_drevniy_kimmerik_i_okruga.pdf |title=Древний Киммерик и его округа |publisher=Сонат |year=2007 |location=Simferopol }}
== External links == * {{Cite web |title=Опукский природный заповедник |url=https://www.kerch.com.ua/articleview.aspx?id=5830 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107040853/http://www.kerch.com.ua/articleview.aspx?id=5830 |archive-date=2012-01-07 |website=KERCH.COM.RU}} * {{Cite web |title=Легенды и мифы Крыма. Гора двух удодов — Опук |url=https://jalita.com/guidebook/legends/rock_opuk.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927080732/http://jalita.com/guidebook/legends/rock_opuk.shtml |archive-date=2011-09-27}} * {{YouTube|id=tzp6BSSL1Ts|title=Отлетим! Заповедник Опук, Керченский п-ов, 4K}}
Category:Mountains under 1000 metres Category:Crimean Mountains Category:Bosporan Kingdom