Panagia Tract and Arpat Waterfall

The Panagia tract (Urochishche Panagiya) lies in the Yalta district of the Republic of Crimea, near the village of Zelenogorye, about 17 km from Sudak. In a narrow mountain gorge here lies Lake Panagia, and the Arpat waterfalls begin — a modest landmark sought out both as a natural site and as a place for a day of swimming and water sports.

The tract is ringed by mountain peaks: Gorucha, Sori and Kurocha rise nearby, and not far from Zelenogorye lies the settlement of Morskoye.

The river and the waterfalls

The lake and waterfalls are fed by the river Arpat, formed where the rivers Pananyan-Uzen (translated as "holy river") and Kushen-Uzen meet. Along its whole course this mountain river has 15 rapids. The Arpat waterfalls themselves are a cascade of low steps, none higher than 2 metres; the most noticeable of them, the Arpat waterfall, gave its name to the whole tract. Along the riverbed are stone pools with their own names: the "Bath of Youth", the "Bath of Health" and the "Cup of Love".

Lake Panagia has an elongated, comma-like shape. During spring floods its depth reaches 10 metres, while in the hot months the water recedes and the depth drops to 4–6 metres.

Legends and stories

The name Panagia translates as "Most Holy", and according to one legend it was given to the lake by Catherine II herself. Believers say that in the light reflected on the water one can see the face of the Mother of God. Crimean Tatars revered the Arpat stream as sacred and called it the "holy river". In the old days the path leading to the waterfalls was called the "Trail of the Amazons" — a route only brave young women and men could manage.

What to do here

In summer, visitors to Lake Panagia swim, go stand-up paddleboarding and jump from a zip line strung over the water; there is also something for diving enthusiasts, though gear has to be brought along, as there is no rental on site.

Getting there

The nearest settlement is the village of Zelenogorye, reached by a suburban bus from Alushta. From the village it is about 500 metres toward the mountains to the start of the trail into the tract. From the parking area a footpath leads to the lake and waterfalls, a 7–10 minute walk.