The reserve is 36 km southwest of the city of Feodosia, and is currently administered by the Russian Academy of Sciences.

The southern shores of the mountains slope down to the sea, creating an 8 km shoreline of bays, beaches, and grottoes.

The marine sector plus the pebble-boulder beach and the coastal cliffs up to 120 meters, are a Ramsar wetland of international importance.

The area is particularly important for fish-eating birds, including a significant colony of European shag (a type of cormorant) on the cliffs.

Public access is limited: mass recreation and construction of facilities is prohibited as are hunting and fishing.