Shatsky lakes - a group of more than 30 lakes in Lyubomlsky and Shatsky districts of the Volyn region, in the interfluve of the Pripyat and the Western Bug. Shatsky lakes are located among the forests in which a large number of sanatoriums and holiday camps. To protect rare natural complexes in the Shatsky Lakes region, the Shatsky Natural Lake was created in 1983. national park with an area of 32,500 hectares.
Geography
The territory on which the lakes are located is called the Shatsk Lake District. The largest of the Shatsky lakes are Svityaz (27.5 km², the second largest natural body of water in Ukraine after Lake Yalpug), Lake Pulemets (16.3 km²), Luki (6.8 km²), Lucimir (4.3 km²), Ostrovyanskoe lake (2.5 km²), Crimean (1.44 km²), Sandy lake (1.86 km²).
The Shatskoye Lake District is a plain within the Polessky Lowland. Its central part is characterized by the spread of lacustrine karst basins, which were formed in the Cretaceous deposits. The lakes lying in the middle of swampy landscapes have arisen as a result of the accumulation of alluvium and the rise in the level of groundwater, provided that the territory is slightly sloped and there is no constant flow.
The shores of the Shatsky Lakes are low, gentle, composed of sand-pebble and biogenic material; there are swampy areas. The lakes are fed by precipitation and groundwater, as well as by water exchange through channels that connect some lakes.
In summer, the water in the lakes warms up well, in winter the lakes freeze. Water mineralization is moderate or reduced, its value ranges from 75-125 to 200-250 mg/l. The color of the water varies from yellowish green in shallow lakes to emerald green in deep ones. The bottom is covered mainly with sandy-silty deposits, peat and sapropelic silts.
natural world
Perch, roach, pike, bream, crucian carp, box catfish, loach, eel are found in the Shatsky lakes, acclimatized species are present (for example, Canadian catfish in Svityaz, Pulemetskoye and Krymnoye lakes, trout perch in Pesochnoye, Chudsky whitefish in Pulemetskoye, Lucimir and the Black Big Lake - pike perch and Amur carp). Crayfish live in a number of lakes. Fish farms have been established near the lakes, for example, a pond fish farm with a breeder "Ladynka".
Fish in the lakes are mercilessly destroyed by the local population. Nets are almost everywhere, especially in the spawning ground. Poaching is rampant.
The shores of the Shatsky Lakes are nesting places for waterfowl (wild ducks and geese, swans, etc.). Most of the Shatsky lakes are part of the Shatsky natural national park, they are also the base scientific research Lviv University and Lutsk Pedagogical Institute.
Shatsk Lakes - the tourist pearl of Volyn, a single water complex, which includes more than two dozen individual lakes with clean, clear water. All of them are interconnected by straits and channels. Located between the rivers Pripyat and the Western Bug, the Shatsk Lakes are able to give a quality vacation to everyone who visits them. They can be a great alternative to a vacation by the sea. Around the lakes, surrounded by forests, many sanatoriums and recreation camps have been built. To protect rare natural complexes in the Shatsk Lakes region, it was created in 1983. The territory on which the lakes are located is called the Shatsk Lake District.
Largest lakes
The largest in area among the Shatsky lakes are:
- Bullet Lake.
- Luke.
- Lucimir.
- Island lake.
- Crimean.
- Sand lake.
Origin
There are two versions regarding the origin of the Shatsk Lakes. Proponents of the first believe that the lakes are relic remains of a gigantic reservoir, which was formed after the melting of the Dnieper glacier more than 100 thousand years ago. According to the second hypothesis, the Shatsk Lakes are of karst origin and formed after the subsidence of individual tectonic blocks.
On which side the truth is, it is impossible to say for sure. One way or another, but lakes today are a valuable natural formation. The water in them is very clear and slightly mineralized, which means that it can be drunk without harm to health. Mineralization, according to scientists, ranges from 75–125 to 200–250 mg/dm³.
Infrastructure
Of all the Shatsky Lakes, the tourist infrastructure around Svityaz is better developed. In general, around each of the lakes there are boarding houses, private cottages, recreation centers for every taste and budget, as well as cafes and bars.
One of the most visited recreation centers is the Gryada tract, located 2.5 km from. Here clean beaches, equipped with sun loungers and umbrellas, there is a market nearby, rental of mattresses, boats and even windsurfing boards.
Leisure opportunities
- Rent of boats and catamarans.
- Fishing (there is gear, bait).
- Rent of kayaks, boats, yachts.
- Diving.
- Cycling.
- Excursions to the picturesque places of the lakeside.
Fishing on the lakes
What kind of fish is caught in the Shatsky lakes? These are eel, perch, roach, pike, tench, bream, crucian carp, carp, catfish, loach.
Also, acclimatized species have taken root in the lakes:
- Canadian som (in Svityaz, Pulemets and Krymny);
- trout perch (in Pesochny);
- Chud whitefish (in Pulemets);
- pike-perch and Amur carp (in Lucimir and Black Big Lake).
There are crayfish in some lakes.
Eel is the No. 1 fish among all that live in the Shatsk Lakes. Its meat tastes great, but it rarely gets caught on a fish hook. But it is worth knowing: eel blood has toxic properties and is poisonous to humans. It is possible to neutralize its action only after heating to 60 ° C and above. But eel blood serum has a high protective function, it neutralizes even snake venom.
How to get there
You can get to the Shatsk Lakes from almost any corner of Ukraine by railway, by bus or by car.
- By train. By trains "Kiev - Kovel", "Odessa - Kovel", "Kharkov - Kovel", "Lviv - Kovel" go to the final station Kovel. Next, from the railway station, you need to go to the bus station, located nearby. Minibuses run regularly from there to Shatsk or Gryada.
- By bus. Shatsk has a direct connection with Ternopil, Lutsk, Kovel, Kiev, Lvov. From Lviv, for example, you can take a bus that leaves from the bus station number 2 on Bogdan Khmelnitsky Street.
- By car. It is necessary to drive along the E373 highway towards Yagodina and the Ukrainian-Polish border. Near Vishnev, turn onto the T0302 road in the direction of Lyuboml and drive another 40 kilometers to the north.
Shatsky lakes- This is a whole protected area located in the very north-west of Ukraine, on the border with Poland and Belarus. Here, in the territory of the national natural park, among pine and mixed forests and marshes, there are more than 30 lakes. True, for beach tourism and recreation on the water, only a few of them are of interest. First of all, this is Lake Svityaz - the deepest and most big lake Ukraine (this is not counting the Black Sea estuaries as lakes), as well as the Pesochnoye and Pulemetskoye lakes. MashaPasha was only on Lake Svityaz, the rest of the lakes were only passing through, so we will talk about him most of all here.
Rest on Shatsky lakes. View of the boarding house Shatsky lakes. The boarding house has its own sandy beach and pier. There is also a rental of kayaks, catamarans and boats.
Lake Svityaz - water temperature, beaches
Lake Svityaz could well be called a sea. Its greatest depth is about 58 meters (it is deeper Sea of Azov), and the maximum length and width are 9.3 and 4.8 km. At its widest point, the other side of the lake is almost invisible.
The water in Lake Svityaz is very transparent, the visibility of the bottom is up to 8 meters deep (although Masha Pasha did not swim to such a depth, but near the shore the water was crystal clear). According to local residents, the water in the lake has a small mineralization and has healing properties. According to our feelings, the water here is slightly alkaline.
The water in Lake Svityaz is very clear, but there are algae. Pier near boarding house Shatsky lakes.
Due to its location and climate, the water in the lake will be cool even in summer, the maximum water temperature is +21, +22 degrees in sunny weather. Although in shallow water in the evening the water can warm up and stronger. The bottom is sandy, in some places there are algae, but the waves in good weather not here and the algae do not interfere much.
Big sandy beaches not on the Shatsk Lakes. The beaches here, as a rule, are small, and in some places people even relax right on the grass near the shore of the lake. Although, this is not a problem, since the bottom of the lake is still sand. In the place where we were, Lake Svityaz was rather shallow, we had to go several tens of meters to the depth. The kids would love this shallow water. But for those who want to swim, this is not very convenient.
Sandy beach on Lake Svityaz near the village of Svityaz. The water is shallow, the bottom is sand. There are activities for children on the water.
How to get to Shatsky Lakes
We must go to the village of Shatsk highway, there is no other communication with the Shatsky Lakes. Nearest Big City- Kovel (you can get there by train, for example, from Kiev). Buses to Shatsky Lakes depart from the Kovel bus station (its address is Lesi Ukrainka Boulevard, 42). Travel time from Kovel to Shatsk by car is a little over an hour. scheduled the bus is coming longer. The price of a bus or minibus ticket is from 40 to 60 UAH. Minibuses also go to Shatsky Lakes from and. Driving time to Shatsky Lakes by car from Lviv is about 4 hours. From Kiev, the trip will take about 7-8 hours (along the Warsaw highway).
Resorts of Shatsky Lakes (recreation centers, hotels, houses)
You can relax on the Shatsk Lakes both as a savage (there are tent camps and campsites here), and in a civilized way in one of the local recreation centers or in a private house - hotel. The main recreation areas on Lake Svityaz are the villages of Shatsk, Svityaz, Pulmo. On Lake Pesochnoe - the villages of Melniki and Gaivka. The largest tourist complexes are the boarding house "Shatsky Lakes" and the sanatorium "Forest Song". But many prefer to relax in private homes and hotels.
Hotel Lago Casa is one of the best options for recreation on the Shatsky lakes.
Tent towns and campsites on the Shatsk Lakes - the area of the village of Svityaz. Camping Nezabudka is located right in the forest. Be prepared to meet mosquitoes here.
What to do on the Shatsk Lakes
There is no special infrastructure on the Shatsky Lakes. In the villages there are small shops and markets. In Shatsk there is a small supermarket "Nash Krai", a pizzeria, a cafe, a New mail. Nearest Big city- this is Kovel (as we already wrote - it is an hour away by car).
In addition to relaxing by the water, on the Shatsky lakes you can do green tourism, there are two hiking route: the trail "Forest song" (length 5.6 km.) Laid between the lakes Pesochnoe and Peremut and the trail "Svityazyanka" (length 5.2 km.) along the lake Svityaz. Also, many people go to the forest to pick berries and mushrooms, and fishing will be good here.
Shatsky lakes - recreation on the water. The area of the village of Svityaz - here you can rent a boat or a catamaran.
MashaPasha warns: Mosquitoes can ruin your vacation on the Shatsky Lakes. This is a swampy region and there are a lot of mosquitoes here. Moreover, they fly not only at sunset, but even during the day (especially in the shade of trees). Therefore, if you really do not like mosquitoes, gadflies and other flying insects, then it is probably better not to go here.
The shore of Lake Svityaz - there are few beaches here, the grass comes right to the water itself. The water near the shore is shallow, you have to go to the depth.
Today I want to talk about the Volyn region and its main business card - the Shatsk Lakes, which every year attract more and more more tourists. And no wonder, because Lake Svityaz, which is the largest and deep lake in Ukraine, among other things, it is also on the list of 7 wonders of Ukraine. And Svityazsky Island, or as it is also called the “Island of Love” or “Island of Cosmonauts”, takes pride of place in the list of the Top 5 islands of Ukraine. Shatsky lakes, and there are more than 30 of them, are located in close proximity to the border of Poland and Belarus.
Many families with small children choose Svityaz for their vacation, and not the sea. The water of which is very clean and you can walk along the water from the shore for a long time, but it will still be shallow.
Also here you can take mud baths absolutely free of charge, because the waters of Svityaz are rich in blue clay! Yes, exactly the one that has such a beneficial effect on the skin and hair.
Where to stay
On Svityaz you can choose accommodation for every taste. Someone chooses the Shatsky Lakes boarding house, which is located right on the banks of the Svityaz and next to a bus stop, and nearby there is a small market where you can buy souvenirs. In the evenings, a disco is held near the boarding house, and rides are open for kids from morning to evening, and a whole abundance of entertainment for children is located in the coastal strip of the village of Svityaz.
You can stay in a hotel or a cottage, rent a room in a house or in a tent camp. There are a lot of offers, for every taste and budget.
What to see
As for food, you can order it from local residents and come to eat 3 times a day. Moreover, the dishes will always be only prepared taking into account all your wishes. If you take a bus to Shatsk (5 minutes), you can go to a pizzeria (on the second floor of which the hotel is located), bars, cafes, a large supermarket. After walking around the arboretum on the territory of the Forest College and sitting in the audience on wooden benches just outside. And if you walk a little, you can go to the shore of Black Lake. By the way, there are very beautiful sunsets on the Shatsk Lakes, be sure to admire them!
For those who do not like to walk a lot, you can sign up for a car tour, and literally in 3 hours, in addition to the above-mentioned lakes, you can also visit the lakes - Lucimer, Peremut and Pesochnoye, in the latter, by the way, the cleanest and crystal water! I cannot but note that the Shatsky forests are rich in blueberries, so do not miss the opportunity to replenish your body with vitamins! And if you want to personally visit Svityazsky Island, then it is easy to get there by kayak. While there, be sure to hug the Love tree and make a wish! They say it comes true! You can also visit a bike tour, but this is if you are able to overcome 22 kilometers or just ride a boat, admiring the local scenery!
Everyone who travels to Svityaz should definitely try the local eel soup. Trust me, it's divine! And if you want, you can go fishing yourself, and then it will be cooked on fire in a real cauldron. Resting on the beach, local residents will offer to try delicious donuts with different fillings, they are not expensive, but how delicious it is!
Also on the territory of the village of Svityaz is the male Peter and Paul Monastery, and nearby the church of the same name, next to which you can see the figures of Peter and Paul, angels, bunnies and a lot of different flowers.
This is a place where it is very quiet and calm, where you really relax your soul and body. Everything around resembles a real botanical garden.
How to get to Shatsky Lakes?
If you do not have your own car, then the most convenient way to get from Kiev is by train to Kovel. Near railway station there is a bus station, but already on the way to it, you will meet many offers from private traders, whose fare is twice as expensive. Approximately 1.5 hours of travel and the goal is reached. 
Whatever lake you choose for recreation, it will be equally good everywhere! But for a holiday with children, it is best to choose Lake Svityaz (Svityaz village) or Sandy Lake (Melniki village) - where the Lesnaya Song boarding house and many other recreational offers are located!
In any case, this vacation will be remembered for a long time, and you will remember the time spent on the Shatsky Lakes with great warmth, and to make it as rich and interesting as possible, I recommend contacting a local travel company "
Rest on the lakes Svityaz, Pulemetskoye, Luki, Lucimer,
Ostrovyanskoye, Crimean, Pesochnoye, etc.
Shatsky lakes- a group of lakes in the northwestern part of the Shatsk district of the Volyn region, of which there are more than 30. They are located between the Pripyat and Western Bug rivers, among forests. To protect nature in 1983, the Shatsk National nature Park, whose total area reaches 48,977 ha. The closest locality- Shatsk. Many recreation camps and sanatoriums have been built here.
The largest of the Shatsky lakes:
- Svityaz (area 27.5 sq. km);
- Pulemets lake (area 16.3 sq. km);
- Luki (area 6.8 sq. km);
- Lucimer (area 4.3 sq. km);
- Ostrovyanskoye lake (area 2.5 sq. km);
- Crimean Lake (area 1.44 sq. km);
- Sand Lake (area 1.86 sq. km).
Location. The resort of Shatsky Lakes is, first of all, an outwash, gently undulating plain in the Polesskaya lowland, the plain was created by precipitation of glacial waters. Those lakes that are today located between marsh landscapes appeared due to the accumulation of sediments of water flows and the rise of groundwater with a slight slope of the territory. Separate lakes are interconnected by channels through which water is exchanged.
Story. The lakes are considered relics, more precisely, the remains of a giant reservoir, which was after the Dnieper glacier, which existed more than 100 thousand years ago. However, scientists do not have a common opinion about the origin of the Shatsk Lakes. Thus, some individuals suggest that the origin may be karst. The first settlements near the Shatsky Lakes appeared 10-12 thousand years ago, during the Mesolithic and Neolithic periods. During the time of Kievan Rus, the Shatsk Lakes suffered more than once from the raids of the Tatars. During the heyday of the Lithuanian Principality, the Shatsk Lakes were highly valued by the Lithuanian gentry, and so much so that in the Middle Ages they did not want to share them with the local population. At the same time, a decree was issued, according to which an ordinary Poleschuk caught on a hunt was threatened with execution at the scene of the crime. The same decree was then used for a long time in the courts Russian Empire, which later included the Shatsk Lakes. All of them were in someone's private possession.
So, once Lake Svityaz was confiscated by the tsarist leadership from a Polish magnate and presented to the Volyn Governor-General for services to the Fatherland. Then the heirs of this governor tried to sell Svityaz for 65,000 Russian rubles. The last owner of Lake Svityaz in the 20s and 30s. only continued the policy of prohibitions for villagers - it was forbidden to fish and even graze the herd near the reservoir, while the owner's people took the caught fish for sale to Krakow, Warsaw, Brest.
Today, the Shatsk Lakes are a national treasure, and the Shatsk National Natural Park contributes to nature conservation.
Resort. Shatsky lakes will please both connoisseurs of calm family vacation and those who are looking for adventure. The most beautiful forest landscapes with rich flora and fauna will please the eye. At any time of the year, the Shatsky Lakes remain attractive for tourists: in summer, the water in them warms up quickly, and in winter it freezes. In summer and autumn - an abundance of berries and mushrooms. I would like to pay special attention to the clean air of coniferous forests, which is considered healing. 
The quality of the waters of the lakes is also at a high level, since there are no significant sources of pollution nearby.
Staying in the Shatsky Lakes, you can see the flight of the white-tailed eagle, the running of horses, cormorants, storks and many others. etc. Many animals and plants that are found here are listed in the Red Book and are rare.
Sights. First of all, it is of course rich flora and fauna, as well as the lakes themselves. calling card Shatsky Lakes is considered Shatsky eel, this is one of the most unusual fish that (attention!) Can walk through the fields! Shatsky eel is nocturnal and not only swims well, but can also move on land for some distance. Moreover, the Shatsky eel loves peas, so it is often found in a pea field after rain. According to legend, it is very difficult to catch such a fish, this 2-meter person is able to strangle an inept fisherman, she is nimble and very strong.
