CRIMEA (Russ. Echo, Krym, Lit. Chersone sus Toorien). A peninsula in the south of Rus sia. forming part of the Government of Taurida, and comprising the districts of Perekop. Eupa toria, Simferopol, Yalta, and Feodosia (Map: Russia, D 5). It is united to the mainland by the very narrow isthmus of Perekop. between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. and separated from the peninsula of Taman, on the east, by the narrow Kerteh Strait. The Crimea is thus al most surrounded by water—on three sides by the Black Sea and on the fourth by the Sea of Azov; while a trench 70 feet wide and 25 feet across the isthmus of Perekop cuts it off from the main land. The Crimea is quadrilateral in shape: but a long. narrow peninsula juts out on the east. which increases the extreme length of the terri tory from cast to west to nearly 200 miles, the breadth being 110 miles. The area is about 9S00 square miles. The coast is very much broken and indented, particularly on the side bordering on the Sea of Azov. The northern portion is a continuation of the southern Russian steppes, and is of argillaceous formation. Along the side facing the southeast there is a highland region, the Yaila Mountains, forming the watershed. These mountains rise to a height of over 5000 feet, their most interesting peak being tne Tchatir Thigh (Tent Mountain), the Mons Trapuzus of the ancients. The streams rise in the southeast coast highlands, and while a few very short ones flow toward the east and south east, most of the drainage goes into the Bay of Kalamita, the Gulf of Perekop, and the Sivash or Putrid Sea, which is a portion of the Sea of Azov almost cut off from it by the tongue-like peninsula of Arabat. The northwest :,eetion of the Crimea has but little fluvial drainage. The southern district of the peninsula rises with steep slopes from the sea, while spurs and secondary chains extend northward. These are richly wooded, but the beautiful intermediate valleys gradually sink into the uniform and desolate steppe which forms the northern and much greater part of the peninsula. The southern district of the Crimea is well cultivated, and is adorned by many country-seats of the nobles, with parks and gardens surpassed by none in Europe. The famous Imperial country-seat of Livadia is situ ated near the southern extremityof the peninsula. Tatar villages, mosques, and Greek convents are to he seen in most picturesque situations among the woods and rocks, with many ruins of ancient fortresses.
The southeast highland region produces a rich and varied flora. On the northern slopes and valleys grow hardy fruit and various forest trees: in the central mountain region are forests of oak, beech, elm, and other deciduous trees of central Europe; while on the higher southern slope the pine occurs, and at lower altitudes the vegetation is Mediterranean in character and the vine and the olive flourish. Grain of vari
ous kinds is produced abundantly, and silk, wax, and honey. Some small rodents, bares, and foxes are the chief mammals: reptiles and in sects are not numerous. Much attention is be stowed upon horses, oxen, and sheep, in which no small part of the wealth of the country con sists. The northern part of the Crimea is in every way a contrast to the southern. Apart from the general sterility of the region, the air is contaminated by exhalations from marshes, and from the Sivash. The climate of the Crimea varies considerably for such a slight extent in latitude. The northern part has cold winters and hot summers, while in the southern part the win ters are warm and the heat of the summer is tem pered by proximity to the sea.
The chief industry of the Crimea is agriculture. The raising of cereals is carried on mostly by the Russians and the colonists, chiefly Germans, while the Tatars and Greeks are engaged pri marily in gardening. Owing to the scarcity of labor and the prevalence of large holdings, agri culture in the Crimea is based on modern lines, and the use of agricultural machinery is probably more prevalent there than in any other part of the Empire. The chief cereals raised are wheat. rye, barley, oats, and corn. The Crimea is one of the principal tobacco-producing regions of Rus sia, the product being noted for its high qualities. The cultivation of fruit is extensively developed, the annual exports amounting to over S1,000,000. Vine-growing is one of the oldest industries of the region, and the native vines are widely exported. The rearing of live-stock (which includes camels) is extensively carried on, and bee-keeping and the raising of silk-worms are among the industries. The manufacturing in dustries are insignificant. Large quantities of salt are obtained from the salt lakes, which are very numerous. The population, 5S3, 893 in 1S97, is remarkably heterogeneous. In the country districts the bulk of the inhabitants are Tatars; height, 1.644 meters; cephalic index, SO. They are muscular and noted as porters. Cleanliness and morality are proverbial among them. Among the other non-Russian inhabi tants are Greeks, Armenians, and Germans. An interesting element in the population are the Karaite Jews. The two principal cities of the Crimea are Sebastopol, a great fortress and naval station, and Simferopol, the capital of the Gov ernment of Taurida. An interesting town is Itaklitchisarai, celebrated as the ancient capital of the Tatar Khans.