Anyone who has ever visited Volyn will no longer be able to forget the magical beauty of this picturesque corner of Ukraine. Many people call Lake Svityaz “Ukrainian Baikal”. Of course, he is far from the Russian giant, but still there is some similarity between the water bodies. Thousands of tourists come here every year to enjoy the local beauties, relax their soul and body in the lap of pristine nature, relax and heal the body. Adults and children go to Volyn, there are many interesting sights, cultural and historical monuments. There is something to do for lovers of both passive and active leisure.
Svityaz - one of the largest lakes in Ukraine
Not far from the city of Shatsk, in the north-west of the Volyn region, there are ponds unique in their origin and composition of water. Shatsky lakes fascinate travelers with its beauty, clear, clear water, as well as local landscapes. The largest of them is Svityaz. This is one of the largest lakes in Ukraine, in terms of area it is second only to the Danube floodplains. Svityaz is a mini-sea, that's how vacationers perceive it. In sunny weather, a blue sky is displayed in the water, and when it rains with a thunderstorm, the lake rages, covered with dark, formidable waves.
On the eastern side of Svityaz, there is an island of amazing beauty with an area of about 40,000 m 2 . It is covered with old trees, linden and sycamore prevail among them. Holidays on Lake Svityaz will appeal to everyone, without exception, because it is simply impossible not to fall in love with picturesque landscapes. Around the reservoir there are 2-3-meter sandy hills, the coast is mostly low, only in the south-west rises an 8-meter sandy Tatar Mountain.
The Origin of the Shatsky Lakes
Where did the picturesque reservoirs in Volhynia come from, scientists still cannot determine. Some believe that Svityaz and its brothers formed after the Dnieper glacier retreated from Polesye. Lakes are considered relics, that is, the remains of one huge reservoir that used to be in this territory. Different levels of depth, the presence of depressions is explained by leaching of limestone by groundwater . Some researchers believe that Lake Svityaz has karst origin. The third group of scientists argues that ponds in Volyn formed due to the glacier, but deep troughs appeared here due to the lowering and raising of some tectonic blocks.
Legend of the origin of Svityaz
For many centuries, in Volyn, legends and legends about the formation of Shatsky lakes have been transmitted from generation to generation. The most interesting of them is the story of the sorcerer. Once, an old man passed by a meadow on which children grazed cattle. There was a dog with the shepherds, who immediately attacked her grandfather and began to bark loudly. For smaller children, the situation seemed funny, so they laughed with might and main, but the older boy and girl tried to drive the dog away from the old man. As a result, the sorcerer called the younger shepherds with him and led them to a huge boulder. Without difficulty, he lifted it with a cue, and water poured out, the children immediately drowned. This is how Lake Svityaz was formed. The old man led the boy and the older girl with him, but forbade them to look back. The path was already almost passed, but the children could not stand it and turned around. At that moment they turned into linden and sycamore. That is how the legend explains the appearance of a wooded island on the lake.
Unique water Svityaz
It is difficult to find a lake in Ukraine cleaner and more transparent than Shatsk reservoirs. Many people claim that in Svityaz the tastiest water, even a little harsh. The lake is so transparent that even at great depths you can see small pebbles. In winter, water is much cleaner than in summer, this is due to the minimum amount of impurities in it. Svityaz is especially transparent at depth, but near the coast, in the bays, plant remains are often found, some areas are completely covered with algae. In shallow water there is marsh vegetation. Thanks to transparency, sunlight penetrates to a great depth, which contributes to the activation of biological processes in the reservoir.
Lake temperature
It should be noted that the water warms up unevenly, the reason is the intense influx of groundwater and different depths. Lake Svityaz (Ukraine) in shallow water can heat up to 30 ° C. The upper layers of water in summer usually reach a little more than 20 ° C, but at a depth it is pretty cool (about 9 ° C). Almost every winter, the pond is covered with ice crust. Places with strong underground sources freeze only in very severe winters, and even then, provided that the surface is calm. The thickness of the ice can reach up to 65 cm. Lake Svityaz begins to freeze already at the end of November, and drops ice clothes from itself in early April.
What to do on the lake?
Volyn annually receives thousands of guests not only from all over Ukraine, but also from neighboring states. Most tourists come to Lake Svityaz. Rest (the prices here do not bite at all - in a private cottage you can rent a room for only $ 13) in the Volyn region it charges with vivacity, strength, positive energy. Not far from the Shatsky Lakes, you can stop at a recreation center, in a sanatorium, a cottage, rent a house, settle in a tent city. Here you can rent catamarans, boats, kayaks, diving equipment. Right on the shore of the lake, locals will cook delicious donuts, bake fish on wood, cook crayfish, fish soup, smoked eels.
Here you can also stroll through the pine forest, enjoy the clean air, the delicious aroma of pine needles. Many tourists perceive Lake Svityaz (the map will allow you to find the best places for relaxation) as a sea, swim in it, sunbathe on the sandy shore. You can come to Volyn not only in the warm season, but also in winter. Travelers who decided to spend the New Year holidays here ride horses around the lake and go fishing. If the lake is covered with a thick crust of ice, then you can demonstrate your skating abilities.
Belarusian Svityaz
It turns out that the Volyn giant has a twin, and he is in the Grodno region, in Belarus. In the center of the Novogrudok Upland is a charming lake Svityaz. Photos of local landscapes make travelers irresistible desire to visit here at least once, walk along the picturesque shores, wander along forest paths, and breathe plenty of fresh air. The local area is shrouded in a halo of mystery, giant oaks make you think about the history of the city, try to figure out what was here several centuries ago. Lovers of outdoor activities mostly gather on Lake Svityaz. The water in the reservoir is transparent and crystal clear, even at a great depth the sandy bottom is visible. Svityaz discovered alkaline compounds. Thanks to this, the water in the lake is very soft.
Beautiful legend
The origin of the lake is shrouded in a halo of secrets, local residents retell many legends and tales, and Adam Mickiewicz even wrote the ballad “Svityaz”. Many centuries ago, an army attacked the city. The locals did not want to live in slavery, so they prayed that their city would fall into the abyss along with enemies. Their request was heard, a huge lake was formed on the site of Svityaz. People died, but their enemies died. Old-timers say that even today, in sunny weather, Lake Svityaz (Belarus) offers a view of the pavement of the old city, which rests under a smooth surface.
Rest in Volhynia
Near the Shatsky Lakes you can relax no worse than on the shores of the Black Sea. Locals welcome guests at any time of the year, all travelers will be resettled and fed. Volyn has a very beautiful nature - at least because of this it is worth visiting here. Residents of large cities lack peace, clean air, unhurried, measured life. On Lake Svityaz you can swim, sunbathe, ride a boat, kayak, catamaran, and fish. There are many forests in Volyn, so there is always clean air. Local residents will be happy to conduct an excursion, show where various berries grow, on which glades there are mushrooms. Western Ukraine is rich in architectural, historical and cultural monuments, so lovers of antiquity will have something to do and what to see. Here everyone will be fed delicious dishes and told a lot of interesting stories and legends. Holidays in Volhynia will be remembered for a long time, and photographs brought from Western Ukraine will evoke good memories and warm you on cold winter evenings.