Yalta is a resort city on the southern coast of the Crimean peninsula. There are Yalta and so-called «the Big Yalta». The big Yalta is the Yalta region of Autonomous republic Crimea - the territory, subordinated to the Yalta City Council. This territory occupies a part of southern coast of Crimea from Foros in the west to Gurzuf in the east and includes two cities (Yalta and Alupka) and a number of settlements.
According to the most widespread version the city name comes from Greek “yalos” - "coast", however there are hypotheses that the city name has a Turkic origin.

Yalta is stretched on seacoast in valleys of two mountain small rivers of karstic origin - Uhan-Su (Waterfalls) and Derekoyki (Fast). From the land the city is surrounded by a half ring of mountains: to the north and the northwest from Yalta passes Ah-Petrinskaya Yayla - a part of the Main ridge of Crimean mountains; to the northeast the spur of Nikitskiy Yayla comes from it with the top Avinda, gradually going down to the sea, it comes to an end with cape Nikitsky; to the southwest from Yalta the cone-shaped mountain Mogabi rises, its southern slope comes to an end at the sea with cape Ay-Todor.

The modern coat of arms of Yalta has been confirmed in 2005. For a basis the arms of 1845 are taken. The red right field shows the past - advantage, bravery, force. The left field is crossed seven times - four red and three dark blue strips. It is the present of the city with its land and settlements. A lion with the head turned back - a symbol of force of the Sun. The palm branch symbolizes peace conferences, the summits and underlines a subtropical sea climate. Supporters - the hippocampus - keep a silver tape with the motto of a city which in translated from Latin as “Yalta - southern capital”.

Yalta excels with an abundance of greens which has the mixed moderate-subtropical character (a pine Crimean and ordinary, a juniper, an oak, a beech, a cornel, a yew, exotic plants: a cypress, a magnolia, wisteria, palm trees).

Here representatives of fauna typical for Crimea live: the Crimean red deer, roe deer, mountain ram-muflon, beech marten, badger, squirrel, wild boar. Carp, Crucian, Trout are found in the rivers and fresh reservoirs, etc. In the sea about 180 kinds of fishes are, from which 40 kinds are trade.

Yalta is the recognized capital of resorts of Crimea. It is an administrative centre of the sizeable territory of Southern coast of Crimea, so-called Big Yalta; it extends for more than 70 km, from Krasnokamenka to Foros. Yalta is the sea gate of Southern coast of Crimea, the international port of Ukraine.

There are moderate sub-Mediterranean climate in Yalta region. The average temperature of July is +24 °C, average temperature of January is +4 °C, in frosty winters, at intrusion of a cold Arctic cyclone or the Siberian anticyclone temperature can decrease to temperatures below zero. January 2006 was abnormal cold for Yalta, in separate days the lowest temperature for all history of supervision - nearby 16 °C below zero at night time and 11 °C below zero at day time has been noted. The snow cover keeps only several some days in a year. Usually December in Yalta warm enough, the temperature in separate sunny days can reach +17-18 °C. Sharply becomes cold in January: the temperature falls to +5-7 °C, but the coldest month usually February. The summer begins in May and lasts till September. The best weather - usually in September and the beginning of October this time is called as the "velvet" season. In November storms begin, but water is still warmer than air (the difference can reach 10 degrees). The temperature can reach +19 degrees in the winter, and in the summer - +42 degrees in a shade.
The important medical-climatic factors of the Big Yalta are reserves: Yalta mountain-wood (square of 14,5 thousand in hectares), cape Martjan (square of 240 hectares), the Crimean biospheric; monuments of landscape gardening art of the state and local importance (415 hectares), local parks and squares (1472 hectares). The greatest parks of Yalta are - Massandrovsky, Livadijsky, Mishorsky, Alupkinsky. Extent of beaches of the Big Yalta is 59 km, their area is 600 thousand sq.m.

Yalta has been founded by Greeks in I century admittedly. The legend says, that the Greek seafarers strayed during a storm long time in search of coast and when they have seen coast (yalos) have decided to name the place of disembarkation Yalta. During antiquity the city was a part of Roman Empire, in the Middle Ages - entered into possession of the Byzantine Empire, princedom Feodoro and the Genoa colonies (Kapitanstvo Gotia) and was known under names Yalita and Jalita. Yalta never was a fortress or the important military strong point.

In 1930 Yalta became the centre of the area of Crimean ASSR. During the Great Patriotic War the city has suffered from German occupation and executed in 1944 the order of Stalin to deport the Crimean Tatars. From the 4th 4 till 11th of February, 1945, in Yalta the Yalta conference has taken place.

In post-war years the city grew and developed as a resort. In 1960th years the settlements Ah-vasil, Autka and Derekoy located nearby have been included in structure of Yalta. In 1960th years the new South highway was built it truncated a lot the road from Yalta in Alushta, Simferopol and Sevastopol, since 1961 trolley-bus connection with Simferopol has been opened.

The population of the city without the settlements which have merged with Yalta (Massandra, Livadia, etc.) is about 100 000. The population of the Big Yalta – is more than 130 thousand. During the period from March till September the population of Yalta increases to 400 thousand.

The region industry is represented by 17 enterprises. The food-processing industry enterprises develop 95 % of volume industrial production (in particular winemaking - 42 %, fish - 19 %).

In the region all types of establishments of medical and improving character are. To resort establishments of the Big Yalta belong sanatoria and boarding houses, rest houses and boarding houses, bases of rest and improving camps, tourist bases and a camping, hotels.

There are general not specialized schools, evening schools, 30 kindergartens, 6 out-of-school establishments in Yalta.
In Yalta one state higher educational institution - the Crimean humanitarian university is and several not state ones. Cultural potential of the Big Yalta make: the Alupka palace-park complex, the Livadiya palace-museum, Yalta state historical- literary museum, A.Chekhov's house-museum, the Crimean film studio «Yaltafilm», theatre of A.Chekhov, a concert hall "Yubiliyniy", the centralized library system, A.Pushkin's museum, memorial museum of Lesi Ukrainki, etc.

In the summer Yalta becomes one of the centers of Ukrainian cultural life. Here festivals of theatre and cinema (the International folklore festival, since 1999) take place as well as International Telefilmforum “Vmeste” (Together) (since 2000), International festival of classical music “Zvezdi planeti” (Stars of the planet), festival “More druzey” (Sea of friends), “Vozle Chernogo morya” (Near Black sea), barmen festival "Freestyle" and other. Since 1999 the Yalta festival of fireworks which passes usually on before the Day of the city Yalta (the second week of August) became annual.

In a city activity of 285 public associations of citizens is incorporated, among them - 17 regional branches of political parties and 57 religious organizations. Since 1881 in a city the synagogue works.