Monument of nature (1969), reserved tract (1980). For the abundance of the sun, the heat and the drought-resistant nature of the vegetation, these places acquired the unofficial name of "Crimean Africa".

The cliffs of Cape Aya drop steeply to the sea, in places forming grandiose landslides - impregnable stone chaos. The mountain slopes are covered with unique sub-Mediterranean pine-juniper-strawberry woodlands. The habitat of the relic Pitsunda pine (Stankevich) is the largest in the Crimea. Individual trees over 200 years old reach ten meters in height with a diameter of more than half a meter.

Populations of evergreen relics are also protected in the reserve: small-fruited strawberry and high juniper; there are old-timers over 250 years old. In total, there are about 500 species of plants in the reserve, 28 of them are listed in the Red Books. This area is a unique refuge for Crimean orchids: there are 20 species of them. Especially rare and interesting is the Komperia orchid. The picture of enchanting nature is complemented by rare species of animals living here: white-tailed eagle, horseshoe bat, leopard snake and others.