Lake Synevyr: the mirror of the Carpathians
The beauty of the Sea Eye
Lake Synevyr spread out (formed) around 10 thousand years ago. The National Park that protects the natural wonders of the Mizhhirya district is named after it. Beneath the canopy of almost two-hundred-year-old firs you can encounter many animals from the pages of the Red Book. And also sense the presence of ancient characters from the unwritten books of folklore. Two of them are visibly reflected in the mirror-like surface of the reservoir.
The trails of the tourist route can be covered on horseback, by bicycle or on foot. The resting spots at the fairy-tale lake are arranged for relaxing and enjoying pristine nature. The Borzhava meadows captivate the eye with a picturesque landscape resembling a green ocean beneath a blanket of mist. But the most striking view is offered by the summit of Mount Ozerna. Standing on the peak of the Inner Gorgany, you can see below the blue glow of Synevyr - or the Sea Eye of the Carpathians.
Lake Synevyr - one of the seven wonders of nature
Nearly 7 hectares of watery mirror in a funnel of steep slopes captivate with their colours. Nowhere else in the mountains will you find so much sky-blue. The regular shape of the lake and the small island in the middle make Synevyr resemble a living eye. A cascade of firs keeps fast winds away from the shores - the smooth water surface is only occasionally covered with ripples. The heavens turned upside down in the depths have granted Lake Synevyr the status of one of the seven wonders of Ukraine.
There is not a gram of salt in the blue waters of Synevyr - through the transparent surface you can make out trout fry even at depth. The Tereblia River, descending from the lake to the foot of the Gorgany, offers anglers a thrilling hunt. Rainbow, brook and lake trout frolic in the clear waves; they can be caught near the artificial cascades at the point where the Tereblia and the Rika merge. In the shallows of the lake you can spot river crayfish - faithful indicators of fresh water. You will not get to feast on them beneath the firs of the reserve. But the neighbouring glades are very hospitable to gourmets - here you can buy Carpathian mushrooms, highland honey and other local delicacies.
The secrets and legends of Synevyr
The steep shores of Synevyr are rarely covered by floodwaters: an underground stream regulates the height of the lake’s surface. The highest-altitude body of water in the Ukrainian Carpathians , Lake Synevyr is warmed by the sun only a metre or two deep. Below, the water, born in stone depths, keeps a year-round temperature of +4 C. Not everyone will dare to defile this celestial eye with a swim, but everyone is allowed to peer into its clear depths. The observation platform, which reaches into the calm water from the western shore, opens up a view of the blue-green mirror with its clouds and the wooden sculptures of the opposite shore.
The masterful carving on the giant trunks of redwood depicts the mythical lovers. Once, the count’s daughter Syn filled the local valley with tears, grieving her parting from the shepherd Vyr. Today, Vyr, treacherously killed by a rockfall, gazes upon the lake of tears together with his beloved. At his feet are little sheep, and beside Syn a doe nurses her fawn. The legend departs from the truth only in the story of the cataclysm of the cliffs. After the glacier retreated, the slopes of Mount Chervona collapsed onto the highland valley. Blocking the narrow gorge, the stones formed the bowl of the lake. To this day it is fed by three streams, which conceal the top of the island from view during high water.
You can see Lake Synevyr in its full glory as part of the excursion to Synevyr «Pearls of Mizhhirya». After all, where else should you look for the true pearls of the mountains, if not in the Sea Eye of the heavens!
