Crimea's 'Putrid Sea' Offers Stunning Colors Amid Foul Odor

The Sivash region in Crimea, known as the 'putrid sea,' features a series of colorful, hypersaline lagoons that emit a rotten egg-like smell due to algae blooms. These lagoons, rich in minerals and home to diverse wildlife, are protected under the International Convention of Wetlands. The area has historical significance, having been a strategic site during the Russian Civil War. Currently, the region is under Russian control following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.