A balaclava, also known as a monkey cap, balaclava helmet, ski mask or sheisty, is a form of cloth headgear designed to expose only part of the face, usually the eyes and mouth. Depending on style and how it is worn, only the eyes, mouth and nose, or just the front of the face are unprotected. Versions with enough of a full face opening may be rolled into a hat to cover the crown of the head or folded down as a collar around the neck. It is commonly used in alpine skiing and snowboarding.
Different ways of wearing a balaclava
A woman modeling a knitted balaclava
Balaclava worn during a snowstorm
A rib-knit three-hole balaclava
Balaklava is a settlement on the Crimean Peninsula and part of the city of Sevastopol. It is an administrative center of Balaklava Raion that used to be part of the Crimean Oblast before it was transferred to Sevastopol Municipality. Population: 18,649 .
Balaklava harbor, 1830
Balaklava harbor, 1855, photographed by Roger Fenton
View of Harbor, Balaklava, Ukraine, Department of Image Collections, National Gallery of Art Library, Washington, DC
Balaklava Bay