General Information

CARPATHIANS

Do not you believe in fairy-tale? Magnificent mountain peaks, bright bloomy mats of valleys, slender spruces, fresh air and murmuring of crystal clear stream-lets, deep mountain lakes. And all this is – Carpathians – Ukrainian fairy-tale. This is ideal place for holidays, for having a rest in any time of year, any season and for any taste. In winter time you may go for skiing or sledge. In summer time – bush-walking, swimming in rivers and lakes, horse riding, trekking, climbing, gathering of mushrooms, berries – and all for you. Here you may have active rest in fresh air and find silence in surroundings of nature, get to know a lot of interesting things about east-european culture and history. Anybody will meet nice, friendly, cheerful and kind people here, who always welcome all travelers. They will tell you about their traditions, life, way of life and they will sing their traditional and ancient songs with great pleasure, and you will be able to taste very delicious national meals. After all Carpathians is not only picturesque place of wild nature but also it is unique cultural region, where you can find preserved Ukrainian history. Which brings us spirit of ancient traditions.
The Carpathian Mountains or Carpathians (Karpaty) is a range of mountains forming an arc roughly 1,500 km long across Central and Eastern Europe, making them the largest mountain range in Europe.

Carpathian region includes 4 provinces (oblasts) – Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Transcarpathian and Chernivtsy provinces. Carpthaians divide into two parts – Prykarpattya and Transkarpatya (Zakarpattya).
Prykarpattya – is Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv and Chernivtsy provinces and Transcarpatia - Transcarpathian or Uzhgorod province. Some parts of Lviv province are also situated on the territory of the mountains (southern part).
The Carpathian mountains are not high, volcanic originated, average height is nearly 1200-1400 metres. The highest peak is Goverla 2061 m near villages Yasinya and Yablunytsya. The higher peaks enjoyed some glaciation during the last Ice Age. Not far from Goverla there are other few highest peaks – Petros m.(2020m), Pip Ivan (2026m). Ukrainian Carpathians are divided into: outer (Beskydy, Gorgany and Pokutsko-Bukovynian Carpathians), central (Verhovynian) and inner (Polonynsko-Chornogorian).
The climate of Carpathians is continental. Fortunately winters in Carpathians are snowy and snow lays during 5 months, the Carpathians' climate is relatively mild . Winter temperatures may get down to -10 or -15° C, but not much colder than that. The Carpathians are moist mountains with between 800 and 1600 mm of precipitation spread throughout the year. Summers are warm with frequent rain and thunderstorms.
The highest village in mountains is Vypchyna in Chernivtsi province – 1100m above sea level. The most high-mountain town – Rakhiv in Transcarpathian province – 820m above sea level. This town is famous with measurements made in 1887 by the geographical society and the military department of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and admitted as the geographical center of Europe Rakhiv is well-known with the biggest difference of heights among streets – 600metres.
The most high altitude lake is – Brebeneskul lake, situated on Hutyn-Tomnatyk mountain (1801m) and Synevir lake – 988metres above sea level.

We can talk about Carpathians a lot – about resorts, about touristic routes, about miracles, which are there, for example there are “dangling swamp land” in Grynyav mountains, “Pearl Cave” in Mala Ugolka village, “bewitched valley” which is not far from Irshava town, also beautiful natural valley of daffodillies in Hust town, “Rock of lovebirds” in Kostylivka village, active volcano near Starunya village. Of course you may find many interesting information about Carpathians, look at pictures, but better if you experience it on your own.

WELCOME TO FAIRY-TALE!