Attractions of Aktove

The Aktove Canyon on the Mertvovod River, also known as the "Devil's Valley" or Little Crimea, stretches 3 kilometers from the village of Aktove to the village of Petropavlivka.

The depth of the canyon reaches 40-50 meters, the area is more than 250 hectares.

Aktove Canyon is a unique complex of forest and water ecosystems with an ensemble of rocks and granite boulders. The only one in Europe, which, according to its geological and landscape indicators, resembles the famous canyons of North America in miniature with great accuracy in the time of formation.

The whimsical ornateness of the Mertvovod channel (due to the high concentration of hydrogen sulfide in the water), steep walls, the magnificent beauty of granite-basalt rocks (up to 100 meters high) and unique natural beauty attract tourists from all over Europe. The difficult topography of the area does not allow river rafting, but the canyon is attractive for fans of extreme sports, rock climbers and climbers.

The natural complex of the Aktove Canyon, like all the banks of the Mertvovod, is a part of the National Nature Park "Buzky Gard".

Nearby, between Aktove and Trykraty, at the confluence of the Arbuzynka River with the Mertvovod, is the equally picturesque Arbuzyn (Maly Aktove) canyon.

The Arbuzynsky Canyon near the village of Aktove is also called the Small Aktivsky Canyon, "Valley of the Devil".

The granite rocks that form the relief of the Arbuzynka River valley were formed 4 billion years ago as a result of volcanic activity (it is believed that the volcano has not yet cooled, so violets sometimes bloom on the rocks even in winter). Here you can meet pheasants, turtles, hawks, muskrats, moles, bison, wild boars and even deer.

Arbuzynsky Canyon is a part of the National Nature Park "Buzky Gard". It is often confused with the larger and more difficult-to-access Aktivsky Canyon ("Devil's Valley"), located on the Mertvovod River behind the village of Aktove.

The view of both canyons opens simultaneously from the rock "Navel of the Earth" - the highest point of the tract.