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Lake Synevyr (
Ukrainian
Ukrainian may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to Ukraine
* Something relating to Ukrainians, an East Slavic people from Eastern Europe
* Something relating to demographics of Ukraine in terms of demography and population of Ukraine
* So ...
: озеро Синевир) is the largest
lake
A lake is an area filled with water, localized in a basin, surrounded by land, and distinct from any river or other outlet that serves to feed or drain the lake. Lakes lie on land and are not part of the ocean, although, like the much large ...
in the
Carpathian Mountains
The Carpathian Mountains or Carpathians () are a range of mountains forming an arc across Central Europe. Roughly long, it is the third-longest European mountain range after the Urals at and the Scandinavian Mountains at . The range stretche ...
of
Ukraine
Ukraine ( uk, Україна, Ukraïna, ) is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which it borders to the east and northeast. Ukraine covers approximately . Prior to the ongoing Russian inva ...
. It is located in
Mizhhiria Raion,
Zakarpattia Oblast
The Zakarpattia Oblast ( uk, Закарпатська область, Zakarpatska oblast) is an administrative oblast located in western Ukraine, mostly coterminous with the historical region of Carpathian Ruthenia. Its administrative centre is ...
, not far from the village of
Synevyr Poliana. It is part of the
National natural preserve "Synevyr", which was established in 1989. Scientists estimate that the lake formed about ten thousand years ago. In 2008, the lake was recognized as one of the
Seven Natural Wonders of Ukraine.
Description
Lake Synevyr is located in the northwestern part of the National Nature Park Synevyr near the foothills of the 1,495-meter-tall Mount Ozerna. It belongs to the region of Pryvododilni
Gorgany
Gorgany ( uk, Ґорґани) is a mountain range in Western Ukraine in Outer Eastern Carpathians, adjacent to Chornohora range. The highest peak of Gorgany is Syvulia (1,836 m) with the other high peaks including Ihrovyshche, (1,804 m), (1 ...
and is located at an elevation of 989 meters above sea level. The lake was created in the post-
Ice Age
An ice age is a long period of reduction in the temperature of Earth's surface and atmosphere, resulting in the presence or expansion of continental and polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers. Earth's climate alternates between ice ages and gre ...
period (around ten thousand years ago) due to a powerful earthquake-induced tectonic shift of indigenous sandstone from the southern slope of Mount Krasna which blocked a narrow stream valley. Its waters flow through the porous natural dam and return to the surface 350 meters to the west of the lake, 60 meters below the average lake level.
Lake Synevyr is primarily filled by two streams. The water level in the basin constantly changes: it increases during rain showers and intensive snow thaw, and decreases during winter and the dry season. As a result, the lake's water level fluctuates by 4 to 4.5 meters, its area varies between 4.5 and 7.5
ha, and its maximum depth varies between 18 and 23.5 meters.
The forest around the lake is believed to be 140 to 160 years old. There is a very small island in the middle of the lake with an area of a few square meters which is called the Sea Eye (Morske Oko). The island has been flooded for some time.
A legend states that the lake appeared (2,485 moons ago) out of the tears of one of count's daughters Syn, because her love, the
Verkhovynian cowboy Vir, was killed by the order of the count, her father.
National Park
Architect Yurii Solomin (Юрій Соломін) decorated the area around the lake, with contributions from the sculptors Ivan Brodin (Іван Бродин) and Mykhailo Sanych (Михайло Санич), who created the red tree sculptural composition "Syn and Vir" (Syn i Vir). The composition is tall and rests upon a steel base.
Swimming, camping, and fishing at that lake is prohibited. All the services that the park offers cost around $1 (
₴ 5, 2008). There is a scenic path around the lake, which is rather round. Along the path park guests will find a few gazebos and a "rest house". There is also a horse-back riding service that takes customers on a trail ride around the lake.
See also
*
Seven Natural Wonders of Ukraine
*
National park
A national park is a natural park in use for conservation purposes, created and protected by national governments. Often it is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual ...
References
External links
OverviewCool blog at one of the travel sitesVideo presentation on youtube
*
{{Authority control
Lakes of Ukraine
Protected areas of Ukraine
Ramsar sites in Ukraine
Tourist attractions in Zakarpattia Oblast