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Lake Synevyr (
Ukrainian: озеро Синевир) is the largest
lake
A lake is often a naturally occurring, relatively large and fixed body of water on or near the Earth's surface. It is localized in a basin or interconnected basins surrounded by dry land. Lakes lie completely on land and are separate from ...
in the
Carpathian Mountains
The Carpathian Mountains or Carpathians () are a range of mountains forming an arc across Central Europe and Southeast Europe. Roughly long, it is the third-longest European mountain range after the Ural Mountains, Urals at and the Scandinav ...
of
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the List of European countries by area, second-largest country in Europe after Russia, which Russia–Ukraine border, borders it to the east and northeast. Ukraine also borders Belarus to the nor ...
. It is located in
Mizhhiria Raion
Mizhhiria Raion () was a raion of Zakarpattia Oblast in western Ukraine. Its administrative center was the urban-type settlement of Mizhhiria. The raion was abolished and its territory was merged into Khust Raion on 18 July 2020 as part of the a ...
,
Zakarpattia Oblast
Zakarpattia Oblast (Ukrainian language, Ukrainian: Закарпатська область), also referred to as simply Zakarpattia (Ukrainian language, Ukrainian: Закарпаття; Hungarian language, Hungarian: ''Kárpátalja'') or Transcar ...
, not far from the village of . It is part of the
Synevyr National Nature Park
The Synevyr National Nature Park () is one of National Parks in Ukraine, located in Zakarpattia Oblast, in southwest of the country. It was established in 1974 and covers an area of . The Park has its headquarters in the town of Khust.
The par ...
, 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 and is located at an elevation of 980 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 g ...
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 161 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 (). 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 nature park designated for conservation (ethic), conservation purposes because of unparalleled national natural, historic, or cultural significance. It is an area of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that is protecte ...
References
External links
OverviewCool blog at one of the travel sitesVideo presentation on youtube
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{{Authority control
Lakes of Ukraine
Protected areas of Ukraine
Ramsar sites in Ukraine
Tourist attractions in Zakarpattia Oblast