Ai-Petri, Breathtaking views with a touch of adventure

Cable car address: Aalupkinskoe shosse 52, Koreyiz, Russia

4.7

Introduction

Mount Saint Peter, also known as Ai-Petri in Ukrainian, Ay Petri in Crimean Tatar, and Ay Petri in Russian, gets its name from the ancient Greek Άγιος Πέτρος. Standing at a height of 1,234.2 meters, it is one of the most famous and windiest peaks in the Crimean Mountains, situated in the Yalta Alupka Forest Reserve. Looking out from the top of the mountain, one can see magnificent views of the southern Crimean coast. Wind speeds here can reach up to 110 miles per hour (50 meters per second) for 125 days each year, making it an ideal location for wind energy production. Though wind turbines may lose blades during storms, they currently operate without issue. There are two ways to reach the peak. The first is to take the mountain cable car along the Yalta coast to the plateau, passing dense pine forests on the way. The plateau was once a hunting village and now features small restaurants and souvenir shops for tourists. The second option is to drive along the mountain road, but wildfires are a concern in the summer months from July to September. The famous Russian painter Ivan Shishkin depicted the scenery at the top of Mount Saint Peter in his works.