Crimea

The Crimean Peninsula (Russian: Кры́мский полуо́стров, Ukrainian: Кри́мський піво́стрів, Crimean Tatar: Къырым ярымадасы), also known simply as Crimea (Russian: Крым, Ukrainian: Крим, Crimean Tatar: Къырым), is a major land mass on the northern coast of the Black Sea that is almost completely surrounded by water. The peninsula is located south of the Ukrainian region of Kherson and west of the Russian region of Kuban. It is surrounded by two seas: the Black Sea and the smaller Sea of Azov to the northeast. It is connected to Kherson Oblast by the Isthmus of Perekop and is separated from Kuban by the Strait of Kerch. The Arabat Spit is located to the northeast, a narrow strip of land that separates a system of lagoons named Sivash from the Sea of Azov.

Crimea—or the Tauric Peninsula, as it was called from antiquity until the early modern period—has historically been at the boundary between the classical world and the Pontic–Caspian steppe. Its southern fringe was colonised by the ancient Greeks, the ancient Persians, the ancient Romans, the Byzantine Empire, the Crimean Goths, the Genoese and the Ottoman Empire, while at the same time its interior was occupied by a changing cast of invading steppe nomads, such as the Cimmerians, Scythians, Sarmatians, Goths, Alans, Bulgars, Huns, Khazars, Kipchaks, and the Golden Horde. Crimea and adjacent territories were united in the Crimean Khanate during the 15th to 18th century before becoming part of the Russian Empire in 1783.

Autonomous Republic of Crimea

Coordinates: 45°18′N 34°24′E / 45.3°N 34.4°E / 45.3; 34.4

The Autonomous Republic of Crimea (Ukrainian: Автономна Республіка Крим, Avtonomna Respublika Krym; Russian: Автономная Республика Крым, Avtonomnaya Respublika Krym; Crimean Tatar: Qırım Muhtar Cumhuriyeti) was created on 12 February 1991 when the Crimean Oblast was upgraded to an autonomous republic within Ukraine following a referendum on 20 January 1991.

In March 2014, following the takeover of the territory by pro-Russian separatists and Russian Armed Forces, a controversial referendum was held on the issue of reunification with Russia; the official result was that a large majority wished to join with Russia. Russia then annexed the whole of Crimea by signing a Treaty of Accession with the self-declared independent Republic of Crimea to incorporate the Republic of Crimea and the federal city of Sevastopol as federal subjects of Russia.

While Russia and six other UN member states recognize Crimea as part of the Russian Federation, Ukraine continues to claim Crimea as an integral part of its territory, supported by most foreign governments and United Nations General Assembly Resolution 68/262.

Crimea (disambiguation)

Crimea, or the Crimean Peninsula, historically also known as the Tauric Peninsula, is a major peninsula in the north of the Black Sea.

Crimea may also refer to:

Places

Crimean Peninsula

Historical