Lakes of the Carpathians
14
The mountain lakes of the Carpathians are small, yet each has its own character. By origin these Carpathian lakes fall into three types: glacial cirque lakes (Brebeneskul, Nesamovyte, Maricheyka and other high ones), landslide-dammed lakes (Synevyr, Ozirtse) and rare volcanic ones (Lypovetske). Brebeneskul is the highest (1801 m); Synevyr is the deepest and largest.
The water in these Carpathian lakes stays cold year-round and most freeze over in winter. Below is a summary table of altitude, depth and origin; linked names lead to each lake’s page.
Mountain lakes of the Carpathians: altitude, depth, origin
| Lake | Altitude, m | Depth, m | Area, ha | Size, m | Origin | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brebeneskul | 1801 | 3.2 | 0.6 | 147×67 | glacial | Chornohora |
| Nesamovyte | 1750 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 88×45 | glacial | Chornohora |
| Drahobrat | 1600 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 55×21 | glacial | Svydovets |
| Hereshaska (Dohyaska) | 1577 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 125×110 | glacial | Svydovets |
| Nyzhne | 1515 | 2 | ≈0.16 | 70×29 | glacial | Chornohora |
| Maricheyka | 1510 | 0.8 | 1 | — | glacial | Chornohora |
| Apshynets | 1487 | 3.3 | 1.2 | 126×100 | glacial | Svydovets |
| Vorozheska | 1460 | 4.5 | ~0.2 | — | glacial | Svydovets |
| Ozirtse | 1000 | 9.5 | — | — | landslide | Gorgany |
| Synevyr | 989 | 22 | ~7 | — | landslide | Gorgany |
| Lypovetske | 700 | — | ≈0.15 | 45×43 | volcanic | Tupyi massif |
≈ - area estimated from dimensions.
Places7
Tours
Articles1
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.