The Azov Sea coast as a recreational area

Abstract

The Azov Sea and its coast possess considerable recreational resources. The Azov health resorts are scattered in a vast territory in the Krasnodar, Rostov, Donetsk, Zaporozhje, Herson and Crimea regions. Recreational development of the Azov Sea coast started later than that of the Black Sea and Baltic Sea because of its less impressive landscapes. Natural woods are completely absent, monotonous relief predominates, coastal plain abruptly falls to the sea forming abrasive shores, with narrow beaches along the scarp. These and other conditions (limited water resources, inadequate accessibility) resulted in inefficient utilization of the Azov Sea recreational potential. In the early seventies, the situation started to change especially in the regions adjoining industrial centers of Donetsk basin, Azov region and lower Don river. Now the Azov resort zone hosts 900 000 tourists a year. Organized recreational inflow exceeds 400 000 a year, 50% of which stay at recreation centers. The majority of holidaymakers (75%) accumulate in the northwestern sector, where recreational industry is represented by small uncontrolled recreational services of local nature. Development of organized recreation is concentrated on the northern sea coast and in Taganrog Bay. Remote areas, such as Arabatskaya spit, northern coast of Kerch peninsula, Kuban river sea coast and the eastern part of the water basin, are still poorly developed.