HOLIDAY RESORTS OF THE SEA OF AZOV

Sea of Azov ( Latin: Palus Maeotis; Greek: Maeotian Sea; old Rus': Surozke more) covers a part of the Black Sea Depression lying between the Donets Ridge and Azov Upland in the north and the foothills of the Crimean Mountains in the south.

The Sea of Azov now lies within the borders of Ukraine and the Russian Federation.

The Azov Sea is shallower and less salty than the Black Sea and is warmer in the summer and colder in the winter (in fact, it freezes over).

The long Azov sea coastline is less developed for tourism than the Crimea's South Shore and is similar to the Black Sea coastline near Odessa. Mostly it's a "wild" area with desert sandy beaches, lone fishermen and tourists. Beaches on the Azov Sea range from sand to pebbles to mixtures of the two.

But because of the dry, warm summer and sandy beaches, the Azov coast is important for its sanatoriums and holiday resorts. Notable resorts are Primorsk, Berdyansk, Mariupol (Ukraine's 10th largest city, 120 km far away from Donetsk city) and Novoazovsk.

The climate of the Sea of Azov is continental. In July the usual temperature is +24,50C.

Because the Sea of Azov is shallow ( it's largest depth is 14m) and small (40,000 sq km in area), its waters are displaced quickly, even down to the bottom. Hence there is little difference in temperature and salinity from the surface to the bottom. In the warmest months the average surface temperature is 25-300C.

The water level of the Sea of Azov varies greatly, depending on the wind and the influx of waters from the rivers. Besides the large Don River and the Kuban River , many small rivers flow into the Sea of Azov. Sometimes offshore winds drive the waters from the shore and significantly depress the water level there.

The bottom of the Sea of Azov is flat and covered with sand and coquina. The water in the Sea of Azov is murky , the sea is rich in plankton and benthos. Organic life flourishes because the waters of the Sea of Azov are warm in the summer and the rivers supply organic and mineral nutrients. There are 79 species of fish, mostly Mediterranean, in the Sea of Azov; 21 % of the fish are freshwater species. The average catch is 80 kg per ha, the highest yield of all Soviet seas. The fish with the greatest commercial value are anchovies, perch, sturgeon, bream, whitefish, herring, plaice, carp, mackerel and mullet.

HISTORY:

The Sea of Azov was important in ancient times when Greek colonies were founded on its shores. The Greek city-states traded with the inhabitants of the interior - Scythians, Maeotians, Sarmatians, and others - and supplied Greece, and later Italy, with fish and grain. The ancient city-states on the Azov coast fell to the invading Huns in the 4th century.

During the period of migrations in the 3rd-9th century, when the Huns, Avars, Bulgars, and other hordes crossed the steppes from east to west and the Goths moved in from the northwest, the city-states on the Azov coast were devasted. The Antes were the first Slavic people to settle in the Azov area (4th-7th century). Later a Slavic tribe, the Siverianians, occupied this land. In the 13th century the Azov region was conquered by the Mongols and annexed by the Golden Horde, in the 15th centure it came under the  control of the Crimean Khanate. In the 17th century the Zaporozhian and the Don Cossacks conducted campaigns on the Sea of Azov. At first Ukrainian settlers moved into  the area north of the sea. The Sea of Azov became to some extent an interior Ukrainian sea.

Transportation on the Sea of Azov became important in the 19th century as the steppes around it became settled. Even before 1917 Mariupol, because of its proximity to the Donbas, became important coal- and metals- exporting port. Today the sea is also used for the transportation of passengers.

The comfortable geographical location, the developed transportation system (Sea port of Mariupol, Railway Stations in Mariupol and Donetsk, internal airport of Mariupol and International Airport of Donetsk, international highway) make to attract travelers for rest on resorts of the Sea of Azov.

Resort on the Sea of Azov
Rest-house "Dolphin"
Belossaraysk' Spit / Donetsk Region

The rest-house "Dolphin" is located direct on the seaside,20 km far away from Mariupol town and 120 km from Donetsk city ( East Ukraine / Donetsk Region).

There are two 2-floor comfortable sleeping buildings, the round-the-clock cafe "Bereg", children's play-ground, sauna, billiard, guarded parking place, table tennis, water sport games on the territory of the rest-house. Cafes, bars, fruit&vegetable market, shops, discotheques are close to the rest-house.

BEACH: private comfortable beach, equipped with lounge chairs and sunshades, 20 m far away from rest-house

Accommodation: all the rooms of type "suite" with elegant and cozy interior

Building I: DOUBLE ROOMS

there are in each room large double bed, clothes-press, air-condition, TV, fridge, bathroom (WC, shower, wash-stand)

$ 54 per room per night

Building II: 2-ROOM TRIPLE APARTMENTS WITH A KITCHEN

there are in each apartment: large double bed, extra bed, TV, bathroom (WC, shower, wash-stand)

there are in the kitchen: fridge, stove, table, chairs, kitchen utensils, dishes

$ 60 per room per night

BUILDING III: 3-ROOM 5-PERSONS SHARED APARTMENTS

each apartment consists of 2 sleeping rooms, a lounge with an upholstered furniture ( a sofa and 2 arm-chairs),2 air-conditions, TV ; kitchen: fridge, stove, table, chairs, dishes; bathroom: WC, shower, wash-stand

$ 120 per apartment per night

BUILDING IV: 2-ROOM 5-PERSONS SHARED APARTMENTS:

there are in each apartment a sleeping room, a lounge , air conditioner, TV, fridge, bathroom (WC, shower, wash-stand)

Balcony with a sea view available

$ 90 per apartment per night

OPTIONAL: Board in the cafe of the rest-house

SUPPLEMENT FOR FULL BOARD: + $ 8 per pax

Transfer : " Donetsk International Airport / Railway Station - Belossaraysk Resort" mini-van car

(up to 18 pax) ˆ 100