Lakes of the Carpathians
Glacial tarns beneath the high meadows, mountain «sea eyes» and the legendary Synevyr. A curated set of Carpathian lakes you can actually reach, with the tours that lead to each.
12
Places6
Tours
FAQ5
What is the largest lake in the Carpathians?
Synevyr is the largest and deepest lake of the Ukrainian Carpathians: about 989 m above sea level and up to 22 m deep. It was formed not by a glacier but by an ancient landslide that dammed a mountain stream.
Do the Carpathian lakes freeze in winter?
Yes. The high-altitude lakes - Nesamovyte, Brebeneskul, Maricheyka - stay under ice for several months. Lower and larger Synevyr freezes only partly.
How cold is the water, and can you swim?
The water stays cold year-round: in summer the high lakes are only 8-15°C. Swimming is banned at Synevyr (a nature reserve), so these lakes are more for admiring than for a dip.
Are there fish, and trout, in the lakes?
Synevyr has trout - it was introduced long ago and is now almost its signature. Most high glacial lakes, though, are fishless: too cold and too little food.
Which of the lakes are glacial?
Cirque (glacial) lakes are Nesamovyte, Brebeneskul, Maricheyka, Vorozheska and Heryshaska. Synevyr is the exception: it is landslide-dammed, not glacial.