Maksym Duboviaz¶

Ukrainian journalist, local historian, and publicist, author of numerous articles in the newspaper "Krymska svitlytsia" dedicated to the history, culture, geology, toponymy, and tourist-excursion heritage of Crimea.

Overview¶

Maksym Duboviaz is an active contributor and publicist for the newspaper "Krymska svitlytsia". His research and local-history essays cover a broad spectrum of Crimean topics: from the ancient history of the peninsula's towns and settlements (Staryi Krym / Solkhat, Alupka, Dzhankoy, Kaigador, Kanaka), underwater and coastal landmarks (Crimean lighthouses, submerged ancient cities, the White Sands of Beliaus, the Arabat Fortress), speleological heritage and the toponymy of mountain massifs (Karabi-yayla), and linguistic studies (Turkic toponymy, the Crimean dialectism "dzhymbalos") to a detailed analysis of the development of the tourist-excursion industry, the maritime potential of the Azov region (the Sea of Azov, the Arabat Spit), and the ideological distortion following the 2014 occupation.

Key Details / Subtopics¶

Local-history research and history of settlements: author of in-depth publications about the forest retreat and medieval capital of Staryi Krym (Solkhat), the thousand-year history of Alupka, the centennial of Dzhankoy, medieval Kaigador, and the natural and architectural features of the Kanaka valley.
Armenian heritage and sacred architecture: in the article "Capital of Forest Silence" he covered the history of Maritime Armenia (Virmeniya Prymorska) in the mountain forests around Solkhat, the activities of Armenian stonemasons and financiers, and the functioning of the Surb-Khach monastery.
Natural, maritime, and geomorphological heritage of Crimea: coverage of the history and current political status of Crimean lighthouses (Ai-Todor, Tarkhankut, Yevpatoria, etc.), the Beliaus landscapes, submerged ancient poleis ("Crimean Atlantis"), the geological origin of the Sea of Azov (as a relic of the Arctic Ocean), and the formation of the Arabat Spit and Arabat Fortress ("Simply, This Is Also Crimea").
Speleology, mountain massifs, and Turkic toponymy of Crimea: in the article "Caves of the Deserted Plateau" he studied the karst cavities and cave complexes of Karabi-yayla (Soldatska, Buzluk with eternal ice, Studentska, etc.), speleological tourism, and analyzed the semantics of Crimean Turkic toponymy (distinguishing the underground springs "kara-su" and glacial waters "ak-su", the color palette of names, and the clan names of ancient nomadic tribes).
Analysis of tourism and the recreation sector: in the article "Tourism in Crimea: Is There a Holiday?" he analyzed the evolution of Taurian tourism from 19th-century travelers, the activities of the Crimean-Caucasian Mountain Club, the Soviet "excursion bureaus" as a propaganda apparatus, and the decline of free tourism business after 2014.
Linguistic and ethnographic studies: study of local Crimean traditions and dialectisms, in particular the custom of gathering the remnants of the harvest ("dzhymbalos").
History of the Plast scout movement in Crimea: in the article "Strongly! Beautifully! Carefully! Quickly!" he studied the development of Ukrainian scouting and the Plast organization (NSOU "Plast") in Crimea (1990–2014, founding of the Sevastopol branch, groups in Bakhchysarai, and summer camps) and the continuation of the tradition in exile.
Winemaking heritage and toponymy of the Solar Valley: in the article "Ornament of the Solar Valley" he studied the history and wine culture heritage of the Solar Valley (Koz), indigenous grape varieties (Ekim kara, Dzhevat kara, Kefessia), the origin of the wine names "Crimean Ruby", "Ekim kara" ("Black Doctor"), the activities of Dr. Graperon and local historian Oleksandr Volf, as well as the legend of the Black Doctor and the Black Colonel.

Sources and Links¶

Ornament of the Solar Valley — an article about the Solar Valley (Koz), indigenous grape varieties, Dr. Graperon, and the wine legend ("Krymska svitlytsia", 2018, No. 50).
Caves of the Deserted Plateau — an article about Karabi-yayla, cave complexes, and the Turkic toponymy of Crimea ("Krymska svitlytsia", 2017, No. 20).
Capital of Forest Silence — an article about the history of Staryi Krym (Solkhat), Maritime Armenia, and the Surb-Khach monastery ("Krymska svitlytsia", 2017, No. 8).
Staryi Krym — an article about medieval Solkhat and the historic seclusion of the forest town.
Maritime Armenia (Armenians in Crimea) — a concept article about Armenian heritage and the mountain settlements of Southeastern Crimea.
Surb-Khach Monastery — a sacred Armenian complex near Staryi Krym.
Strongly! Beautifully! Carefully! Quickly! — an article about the history of the Plast scout movement in Crimea ("Krymska svitlytsia", 2018, No. 16).
Plast Movement in Crimea — a concept article about the development of Plast on the peninsula based on the author's publications.
Simply, This Is Also Crimea — an article about the Sea of Azov, the Arabat Spit, and the Arabat Fortress ("Krymska svitlytsia", 2017, No. 24).
Sea of Azov — a concept article about the Sea of Azov.
Arabat Spit — a concept article about the Arabat Spit.
Arabat Fortress — a concept article about the Arabat Fortress.
Tourism in Crimea: Is There a Holiday? — an article about the history and current state of Crimean tourism ("Krymska svitlytsia", 2016, No. 41).
A Thousand Years Deep — an article about the history of the town of Alupka ("Krymska svitlytsia", 2018, No. 31).
White Sands of Beliaus — an essay about the landscapes and ancient heritage of Beliaus ("Krymska svitlytsia", 2017, No. 14).
Centennial Dzhankoy — an article for the anniversary of the town of Dzhankoy ("Krymska svitlytsia", 2017, No. 42).
Dzhymbalos — an article about a Crimean dialectism ("Krymska svitlytsia", 2018, No. 34).
Coastal Stars of Crimea. Light and Word — an article about Crimean lighthouses ("Krymska svitlytsia", 2017, No. 31).
Cities on the Seabed — an article about submerged ancient cities ("Krymska svitlytsia", 2018, No. 12).
Juniper Retreat of Kanaka — an article about the Kanaka valley ("Krymska svitlytsia", 2017, No. 6).
The Town Beyond the Kudikin Mountains — an article about Kaigador ("Krymska svitlytsia", 2018, No. 37).
Coastal Stars of Crimea — an article about Crimean lighthouses ("Krymska svitlytsia", 2017, No. 30).
Karabi-yayla (plateau and cave massif) — a concept article about the largest Crimean plateau and its caves based on the author's research.
Turkic Toponymy of Crimea — a concept article about the semantics of Turkic names in Crimea.
Andrii Shchekun — the chief editor of the newspaper "Krymska svitlytsia", in which the author's articles were published.
History of Tourism and the Excursion Industry in Crimea — a concept article about the development of tourism in Crimea, which uses Maksym Duboviaz's research.
Crimean Lighthouses — a concept article about the lighthouses of Crimea based on the author's publications.
Underwater Cities of Crimea — an article about underwater archaeology and tourism.
White Sands of Beliaus — a landscape landmark of Western Crimea.
Kanaka (valley, river, and relict grove) — a natural-recreational zone between Sudak and Alushta.
Kaigador (Ordzhonikidze, Orzho) — a settlement on the southeastern coast.
Alupka — a resort town on the Southern Coast.
Dzhankoy — a transport and railway hub of Crimea.
Dzhymbalos — a Crimean ethnographic dialectism.
Solar Valley (Koz Valley) — a concept article about the Solar Valley, its toponymy, climate, and winemaking.
Wine Legends: Red Table Wine "Alushta" — an article about wild grapes and the branded wine "Alushta" ("Krymska svitlytsia", 2018, No. 38).
Wine "Alushta" (red table wine) — a concept article about the wine heritage of Alushta.