Evening star., 1941-10-03
Crimea Developed
Economically Only
In Recent Times
Peninsula, About Size
Of Vermont, Has Been
Involved in Many Wars

In long career of some 25 CEN
turies the Crinean Peninsula has
been involved in many wars, but
only in comparatively recent times
has it developed economically, &C
cording to bulletin from the Ma
tional Geographic Society.
Jutting far south into the Black
Sea, Crimea has comparatively
mild climate that especially ap-
pealed to northern peoples, says the
bulletin.
Because of its peculiar geo.
graphic position Crimea has been
washed by many waves of migra-
ton that have complicated the an
CeStry of its peoples These in
roads, too, caused fluctuations in
population and prosperity. The pc
nlnSula was the scene of the Cri-
mean War fought in the mid-19th
century by Russia on the one hand
and Great Britain, France and
Turkey on the other. After that
conflict the Crimea had 500 desert
ed villages.
Little Larger than Vermont.
The bulging peninsula. little larger
than Vermont. maintains a popula-
ton of 100000 inhabitants Roughly,
it is diamond shaped attached to
the Soviet mainland on the north
by a strip three-quarters of a mile
wide.
It's irregular northeast coast
fringes off into islands that enable
a railroad to cross them between
the Ukraine and the Crimea. These
islands lie in lagoon of the Sea
Of Azov, so shallow and stagnant
as to merit its name of Putrid Sea.
The railroad was largely response
bic for raising SevaStopol from the
ruins OF the Crlmean War to a
modern city OF $4,000 population.
It Is a major Soviet naval base.
Feodosiya and KerCh. to the east.
are the other principal Crimean
ports. Inland Simferopol, the capi-
tai, is university city and cuI-
tural center.
Crimea has southeast coastal
mountains which form a wind
break and are responsible for the
mild climate of the shore Royal
residences. chateauX and luxurious
hotels were built in this long popu-
lar Riviera of imperial Russia
where flowers bloom all year. Old
palatial mansions now serve as rest
houses for Soviet workers.
Agriculture Important.
The mountains consist of three
ranges gradually rising to heights
of 4.500 feet. Atop the southern
most range, which drops sharply
toward the sea, is a tableland OF
Alpine pasture. GoreeS and water
falls add to the scenic beauty.
while in the many valleys are
Crimea's richest farms. with vine
yards. orchards and forests.
One half the population is en-
gagged in agriculture, mostly in the
steppe land, which covers four
nun VI Tic ptllllISltld. l. Ills HAS
become one of RusSia's important
wheat fields Irrigation and SCI
entiflc farming have turned one
time arid lands into productive
acres. yielding in addition to grain.
sorghum, cotton, tobacco and other
products. Much cattle and poultry
are raised
The eastern extension of Crimea
has iron mines. whose once low
grade product has been improved.
Phosphorus forms an important
fertilizing by-product. Crimea also
produces natural asphalt, manga
nese ores, borax salt sodium sui
phate. iodine. bromine, cement and
gypsum. 1t also has oil refineries,
brickyards and tanneries.
Crimea's central location in the
Black Sea has made it for CEN
turies a naturally convenient mar
ket for neighboring countries. In
addition to sea borne trade. the
coastal regions long have support
ed rich and varied fisheries. In the
east several fish-salting cisterns.
recently unearthed, are ascribed to
the Roman period.