There is a scientific center in Eastern Crimea with almost a century of history. It began in 1901, when the Privatdozent of Moscow University, neuropathologist Terenty Ivanovich Vyazemsky bought a small neglected estate in the Karagach-Kaburga tract of the Feodosia district and built a scientific biological station here.

In August 1979, one of the most important subdivisions of the biological station, a natural reserve, was created. Its territory is more than twenty square kilometers on land and about ten on the sea. The purpose of the reserve is to preserve and study the pristine flora and fauna of this most interesting, the only park in Europe that has preserved its original appearance for millions of years. Now it is no longer a reserve at the biological station, but the biological station itself has become one of the departments of the Karadag nature reserve of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine - this is now its official status.
The Karadag nature reserve is one of the youngest in the territory of the former Soviet Union. There were good reasons for its creation: it was necessary to preserve a unique natural formation, the remains of an ancient volcanic massif, concealing a lot of interesting and varied information for geologists, biologists, and zoologists. In the late 70s, up to ten thousand people rested here as savages every summer, and twice as many tourists visited this picturesque place for a short time. From such visits, the animal and plant world suffered greatly, the reserves of minerals and semi-precious stones, which are found in many on the slopes and in the bays of Kara-Dag, were rapaciously exterminated. There was a fear that in 20-30 years Kara-Dag would turn into a desert, cease to be a world-class natural attraction. The respite had a very beneficial effect. Many species of flora and fauna have recovered significantly.
Now the local flora has more than 10 thousand species, among which there are many endemics - plants that are not found anywhere else on the globe. 29 species of especially rare plants are listed in the Red Books. 35 species of mammals, 130 species of birds, 15 species of reptiles, many rare insects now live on the territory of the reserve. 18 species of animals are listed in the Red Books. Behind these figures is a huge fruitful scientific, educational, security work of scientists and employees of the reserve. A few years ago, an ecological trail was opened here, along which researchers guide excursions throughout the season. Visiting the reserve is allowed only by organized groups. Groups are formed at the biological station. Tourists will get an unforgettable impression from a water-walking excursion: a small boat from Koktebel passes along the coast, under the golden gates and berths at the biological station, from which the walking part of the route begins with a return to Koktebel.