During the Cold War, Balaklava was one of the Soviet Union’s best kept secrets. It was not even shown on Soviet maps. It’s narrow winding harbor is protected by cliffs on all sides, making it virtually undetectable from sea. Balaklava became the world’s first and only underground submarine base, home to the Black Sea Fleet for over thirty years until it was closed following the collapse of the Soviet Union. What does this have to do with Mischa? Nothing at all, but it is an interesting bit of Cold War Soviet history!
