The Carpathians are world-famous European mountains, a large number of tourists tend to go there. Resorts are open here both in summer and in winter, mountain expanses amaze with stunning landscapes and unique nature.

The Carpathian mountain system is located in the east of Europe, its peaks adorn the landscape of several countries at once:

1. Czech Republic
2. Ukraine
3. Slovakia
4. Poland
5. Hungary
6. Serbia
7. Romania
8. Austria.

In the last state on the list, the Carpathians are partially located. But the main part of the Carpathians is located in two states - Ukraine and Romania.

The Carpathian mountains are very beautiful and picturesque

The Carpathians, along with the Alps, are the most popular mountains in Europe. But the Carpathian mountain system surpasses the Alpine in size. The Carpathians amaze with their beauty, this beautiful place for relax. Tourists from all over the world come here to enjoy clean air, nature, engage in outdoor activities, climbing, relax in ski resorts, and go mountain biking. In the Carpathians, interesting hiking trips and excursions are constantly organized, during which you can learn all the charm of the Carpathian mountain system.

Coordinates and location of the Carpathian mountain system

The system originates near Slovakia, Bratislava, ending in the southeastern part of Romania, near the Iron Gates. The Carpathians are located in Ukraine in the western part of the state, where the border with the countries passes:

• Romania
• Slovakia
• Hungary
• Poland.

Location of the Carpathian mountain system on the map

Carpathian coordinates:

• 47° 0’ 0" (47° 0’ 0) north latitude;
• 25° 30' 0" (25° 30' 0) East.

The mountain system is divided into Southern, Western and Eastern Carpathians, depending on the location. The first are in Romania, the second - in Slovakia, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary (partially), the last - in Ukraine. In the entire mountain system there are a large number of peaks, massifs and peaks of various heights.

The Carpathians, located in Ukraine, can be reached from Kyiv, where the airport is located. A train runs from Kyiv to Rakhiv (a city right in the mountains). In addition to this flight, direct trains go to Rakhiv from other countries: Poland, Slovakia, Hungary. Trains and buses go from Lviv. From Romania, the city of Brasov, there are trains to the Carpathians, you can also get there by car or taxi. In the Czech Carpathians, you first need to fly from Prague by plane or come by bus international route. Buses run from the capital to cities and villages near the mountain ranges, and can also be reached by car.

Formation and age of the array

Earlier, long before the Carpathians themselves were formed, in their place were ridges that connected Dobruja with the Sudetenland. Geologists also call Dobruzhda the Procarpathians. These peaks collapsed due to powerful movements of the earth's crust. At the beginning of the Mesozoic period, an almost flat plain formed in their place. The age of the ongoing tectonic processes in the Carpathians is considered quite young in the field of geology and is only 25 million years. Mountains began to form gradually, at the end of the Paleogene. The Outer Carpathians were the first to form, for quite a long time there was a sea between the outer and inner ridges, during the period of its existence a rather powerful thickness of sand deposits was formed.

Description, brief information and characteristics of the Carpathians

In length, the mountain system reaches 1,500 kilometers, on three sides in the form of an arc, mountain ranges encircle the territory of the Central European Plain. In the southwest, the width of the Carpathians is 340 km, in the northwest - 240 km, in the northeast, already in Ukraine, - from 100 to 120 km. The height of the mountains located on Ukrainian territory is 1,000 m, highest peak The Carpathians in this state are Hoverla, with a height of 2,061 m. In Ukraine, the Carpathians are divided into 3 categories:

1. Internal
2. External
3. Central

The Carpathians in Ukraine are divided into three categories

The total area of ​​the system is 190,000 km². In Ukraine, the mountain range runs from the northwestern side to the southeastern side, the average width is from 100 to 280 km.

Even in ancient times, according to the chronicles of the Romans of the 1st century AD, people lived in these territories - representatives of the Dacian tribe of carps. Linguists and historians are considering options for the origin of the mountain range from the name of the tribe, or vice versa. But the most common version is the origin of the Carpathians from the Proto-Indo-European, from which the word is translated as "rocks, rocky mountainous terrain."

In modern languages, Albanian equivalents are considered from the word karpe - stone, mountain. The most suitable Armenian origin from the word qaripat is a stone wall. There is also a Turkic version, which translates as "to overflow, overflow the banks." In antique and medieval times the Carpathians had a different name - the Hungarian or Ugrian, Sarmatian mountains.

Discovery and first studies of the Carpathian mountain range

For the first time, the Austrian G. Buchholz took up the study of these mountains, he went to the mountains with his sons, and then published a book where he described his journey. After him, the Carpathians were explored in more detail by I. Fichtel, a former lawyer who retrained as a mountain explorer. He devoted 19 years of his life to this important matter. Most of all, his attention was attracted by the Western Carpathians. Breton B. Akke went on a trip to the Carpathians 4 times to study this mountain range. He studied the Eastern Carpathians, traveled to Moldova, studied the Carpathian rivers and lakes.

The relief of the Carpathian mountain system

The Eastern Outer Carpathians is one of the most seismic zones in Europe. Seismic activity was observed even by the ancient Romans, who recorded data on earthquakes in the II-III centuries. Since in the 18th century the population in these places was actively growing due to urbanization and fertility, humanity strongly felt the damage from the seismic activity of the Carpathians. The very epicenter of activity is located in the Vrancea zone, Romania. It is located at the junction of the Eastern Carpathians of Ukraine with the Southern ones in Romania, in Vrancea County. The magnitude of earthquakes in this zone is very high, up to 8.3. The magnitude and depth of earthquakes are large, which is why seismic activity is well felt over a vast territory, from southern Greece to northern Finland. The strongest earthquakes with catastrophic consequences for humans in the Vrancea zone occurred twice:

• 1940 - magnitude 8.3;
• 1977 - magnitude 7.2.

Eastern Outer Carpathians - a dangerous zone where earthquakes regularly occur

There were also volcanoes in the Carpathians, but they have not made themselves felt for 5 million years and, fortunately, their activity is not expected. Only a mud volcano near the village of Starunya is active here today. The settlement was formed in 1977 after the last earthquake, in its place there used to be an ozocerite mine. Previously, the volcano had 4 vents with different diameters from 10 to 50 cm, the height of the cone was 3 meters. Today it is flat, has 8 permanent craters and 12 non-permanent small ones. Constantly from each crater at different times there are emissions of oil, gas, water of varying degrees of mineralization.

Three ethnic groups live on the territory of the mountain range:

• Hutsuls
• Lemkos
• strikers.

Hutsuls are the real mountain people. It was on the highlands that their culture, traditions, and way of life were formed. The ethnic group lives in Transcarpathia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Chernivtsi region. Engaged in woodworking, breeding sheep. Hutsuls differ from other ethnic groups in bright clothes, unusual architectural, commercial elements, even their dialect is different.

Hutsuls are truly mountain people of the Carpathians

The Lemkos were once a mountain people, but deportation and repression under the USSR led to the fact that they lost their homeland. Today they live in scattered groups throughout Ukraine. In recent years, the ethnic group has been actively restoring its history, trying to preserve its heritage. There are villages of Lemkos in the area of ​​the Carpathian foothills, where they were resettled after the Second World War. The people are very distinguished from the rest by their way of life and dialect.

Boyks are represented in Ukraine by a huge community of several thousand people. They differ in traditions, culture, dialect. Scientists distinguish 14 more sub-ethnic groups in the ethnos of the Boikos. The nationality inhabits the Lviv region of the Carpathians, Ivano-Frankivsk region, Transcarpathia.

The highest Carpathian peak

highest point Carpathian mountain system - Gerlachowski-Shtit. The peak is located in Slovakia, its height is 2,654 m. This is the main part of the massif High Tatras. The peak is climbed by climbers from different countries. The name is translated as "shield" from Slovak. The name of the peak was changed several times, the very first name was Gerlach, then it was renamed several times in honor of the rulers. Shtit even bore the name Stalin Shtit. The Slovaks gave this name to the mountain in gratitude to Stalin for the liberation from the Nazis.

Climate, altitudinal belts of the Carpathians and their influence on flora and fauna

Climatic conditions here they belong to the temperate continental type, the humidity is quite high. In the middle of summer the temperature is +17-20°C, in winter it drops from -2°C to -5°C. During the year, a lot of precipitation falls in the Carpathians, up to 2,000 mm. In the highlands it rains three times more often than at the foot. There is also a lot of snow in winter, from 30 cm. Avalanches often occur in the Carpathians, there are many places of high avalanche danger, especially on mountain peaks where there is no forest.

There are five altitudinal belts in the Carpathians

The altitudinal zonality of the Carpathians refers them to the type of forest-steppe. In the Carpathian Mountains, there is a significant difference in heights, the change in natural conditions is vertical. The massif is divided into several high-altitude zones:

• foothill - extends to a height of 600 m, forests and meadows of coniferous, broad-leaved species are common here. The soils in this belt are soddy-podzolic, there are many already plowed areas developed by man;
• the lower one is a belt of a mountain-forest type, stretches up to a height of 1,100 m. The forests here are beech, mixed, there is spruce, fir;
• the upper - mountain-forest belt is covered with spruce, fir forests of mixed type. The upper altitudinal belt goes up to a height of 1,500 m. Here, as in the lower one, the soils are mainly mountain-forest type, brown;
• subalpine - located at an altitude of 1,500–1,800 m, the forests here are rare, consisting mainly of dwarf pine, juniper, alder, mixed meadows - mixed herbs, cereals;
• alpine - stretches over 1,800 m, the soils here, as in the subalpine zone, belong to the mountain meadow. Grass meadows and low shrubs are common in the Alpine belt. The vegetation here is even rarer than in the subalpine belt.

The Carpathians are a habitat for many representatives of the fauna, of which there are more than 400 species in the mountainous territories and in Transcarpathia. Roe deer, red deer, European eels and marsh turtles live here. Even those animals that are typical of the Mediterranean climate feel great here, for example, green frogs, spotted salamanders. Black grouse and capercaillie live in the vastness of Transcarpathia and the Carpathians. Such representatives of the fauna live here, which cannot be found anywhere else on Earth: the Carpathian squirrel and the Carpathian newt. Snow voles and alpine newts have settled down well here. Representatives of birds, bats, bats and rabbits are also found in the Carpathian forests.

Brown bears live in the Carpathians

Animals are found from the foothills at an altitude of 200 m, then at the beginning of alpine shrubs at an altitude of 1,800 m. An altitude of 2,000 m is a home for rodents: snow voles, alpine shrews. It is noteworthy that in the part of the Ukrainian Carpathians there are many wild pigs. Foxes, badgers, many representatives of mustelids live in the forests of the Carpathian massifs, there are minks, otters and ferrets. In thickets and gorges it can be dangerous for people, wolves live here. There are protected animals listed in the Red Book: wild cats, brown bears, lynxes. Unfortunately, there are fewer deer and roe deer populations in the area, and hunting them is prohibited by the strictest law. Recently, new residents have appeared in these places: a raccoon dog, most likely brought here by people who want to replenish the Carpathian animal population. The homeland of the raccoon dog is China and Japan.

By the amount of greenery, no area can be compared with the Carpathians. More than 2,000 species grow here, 44 of which are on the verge of extinction. Forests occupy 45% of the entire zone of Transcarpathia, beech, spruce, oak species grow most of all. There are larch, birch, alder, ash, pine, yew, maple. More than 3,000 exotic plants in the Carpathians, all of which bloom from early spring to the last days of autumn, so the landscapes of these places are stunning all year round. Some types of apple trees, Japanese sakura, cypress, even magnolia grow.

Sights of the Carpathian Mountains and the surrounding area

The mountainous system contains a large number of places of interest. Some of them deserve special attention, they are very popular among tourists.

• Yaremche;
• Hoverla;
• Arch bridge;
• valley of the river Prut;
• waterfall Trufanets;
• Black Church (Brasov);
• Mount Tampa;
• Dracula's castle
• Poiana Brasov.

Yaremche is a beautiful town where you can have a good rest surrounded by nature. Nearby is the Yaremche waterfall - a gift of nature and beauty. This is one of the most beautiful and famous waterfalls Ukraine. The waterfall has a height difference of 12 m, a very strong flow of water. When it falls, sounds can be heard over long distances. There is a bridge over the waterfall, through which you can walk or jump directly into the waterfall stream. These places have very picturesque landscapes, they attract a large number of tourists from all over the world.

Mount Hoverla is the highest Carpathian peak in Ukraine. From Romanian, the name means "hard-to-reach hill". The height of the peak is 2,061 m. The first ascent to the summit took place in 1880. Climbers and athletes, amateur tourists regularly climb Hoverla. The border with Romania is located 17 km from the mountain. The peak is part of the Chernogora ridge, Carpathians. In clear weather, stunning landscapes of the city open up from the top, you can see the White Elephant Observatory, Mount Pop Ivan. The Prut River flows near Hoverla, here you can see cascading waterfalls.

Hoverla - the highest peak of the Carpathians in Ukraine

The arch bridge is built entirely of stone; it is an old railway bridge connecting the banks of the Prut. Below the building is a highway. The bridge was built in 1895, its length is more than 100 meters. The building is still in use today. Nearby there is another old Austrian bridge 130 meters long, one of the longest stone railway bridges in Europe.

The Prut Valley is the left tributary of the Danube River - amazing beautiful place in the Carpathians. The climate here is surprisingly mild, with a wide variety of fauna and flora. In the valley there are rivers and lakes with clear water, waterfalls, the air here is clean and fresh. All conditions for healthy rest are created. In the valley there is the resort town of Yaremche, where there are many cafes, hotels, not far from the Bukovel resort. Tourists love to visit the valley, the villages and towns located in its vicinity. Local residents are always glad to see guests, guides spend interesting excursions, tourists have a great opportunity to pick mushrooms and berries.

The Trufanets waterfall is the highest waterfall in Transcarpathia with a height of 36 m. This miracle of nature is located on the slopes of the Svidovets ridge. The flow of the waterfall begins at an altitude of 1,720 m in the region of the subalpine belt, at the foot of the Bliznitsa peak. The total length of the stream is 2,830 m. It has created several cascades, in some places it flows underground in the forest. Near the waterfall there are steps, a gazebo, from where you can see it well and close. Trufanets is a natural hydrological monument.

Beautiful views from the gazebo above the Trufanets waterfall

The Black Church, or Biserica Neagra, is located in Romania. Another name for a religious architectural monument is the Church of St. Mary. It is one of the oldest Lutheran churches in Transylvania. A popular and famous landmark of Brasov and the Carpathians. The construction of the temple took place in the 14th century, it was built by the Transylvanian Saxons. The style of the church is Gothic, the height is 65 m. During the Great Turkish War, there was a fire here, the walls turned black, hence the name of the church. The architecture of the building is very beautiful, unusual, inside there is a museum where old frescoes and a large collection of carpets are kept.

Mount Tampa is a high peak of the Southern Carpathians, completely covered with forests. At the foot of the mountain is the city of Brasov, whose symbol it is. The height of Tampa is 995 m, from the peak in favorable weather, beautiful landscapes open up. There are 25 paths for tourists to the very top, but the main part of the mountain is a protected area, a home for rare birds and animals.

Mount Tampa - the symbol of Brasov

Climbing the mountain is a popular pastime. There are cozy restaurants on Tampa. On the way to the peak, you can see the ruins of fortresses and ancient forts that used to protect Brasov from the enemy.

Dracula's Castle, or Bran Castle, is perhaps one of the most popular attractions in all of Romania. It was erected in the 14th century, and it was built by local residents at their own expense. For this, the state exempted people from taxes for several centuries. Two more defensive towers were erected later, in 1622–1625. The castle is located on top of a cliff, its shape is unusual in the form of a trapezoid. Corridors with halls are located in a mysterious labyrinth. There is a well in the courtyard belonging to the castle; according to legend, it leads to the dungeon. Count Dracula - Vlad Tepes, stayed here to spend the night when he made campaigns. There is a version that speaks of the torture of Tepes by the Turks in the basement of the castle. Therefore, it is also called Dracula's Castle.

Poiana Brasov is a ski resort in Romania, today a very popular tourist destination. The resort was founded in the 19th century, located at an altitude of 1030 m, in a coniferous forest. The infrastructure of Poiana Brasov provides vacationers with maximum comfort.

• 20% of the entire forest of Ukraine is located on the territory of the Carpathians;
• Lake Synevyr is located in the Carpathians at an altitude of 989 m. This is the most beautiful reservoir and the largest in the Carpathian Mountains;
• near the lake there is the largest brown bear rehabilitation center in Europe;
• highest city Ukraine Rakhiv is located in the mountains, at an altitude of 820 m. In the village itself, there is a large difference between the streets - from 400 to 1000 meters;
• the village of Vypchina is even higher - 1,100 m above sea level. The difference between the streets here is 600–1000 m;
• geologists say that the Carpathians arose almost at the same time as the Himalayas and the Alps;
• the formation of mountain systems is still ongoing in the Carpathians. Confirmation of this is the frequent earthquakes;
• earlier in the Carpathians there were volcanoes that erupted. There are cones of extinct volcanoes in the vicinity of Mukachevo, Khust, Uzhgorod;
• the bowels of the mountain system are rich in minerals, including gold, oil, ozocerite, gas, marble;
• in some places the width of the mountains is 450 km;
• the distance from the Alps to the Carpathian peaks is 14 km;
• in the 20th century, scientists discovered on the territory of the Carpathians many remains of animals that lived in prehistoric times: mammoths, birds, huge deer;
• Carpathian peaks - homeland musical instrument trembita. The length of this horn, made of wood, is 4 meters, the sounds it makes can be heard at a distance of 20 km.

Tourism in the Carpathians

There are many routes and interesting resorts in the Carpathians. Tourists climb the peaks of the Carpathians: Mount Hoverla, Petros and Gerlakhovsky-Shtit. They rise to the first peak from the Ukrainian village of Lazeshchyna, located in Transcarpathian region, to the tract Kozmeshchik, from there the path lies to the Gropa meadow, to Goverla.

There are many excursions in the Carpathians, there are routes for tourists

Although Petros is lower than Hoverla, climbing it is more interesting and difficult. It is not recommended to come here in winter, in bad weather. The path to the peak lies through Lazeshchina and Kozmeshchik, then the direction leads through the Kiyanets stream, Chernogorsky ridge. On Gerlachovský Štit, the route in Slovakia runs from Sklabina.

Ski resorts of the Carpathians:

1. Bukovel
2. Yablunitsa
3. Betony
4. Dragobrat
5. Volovets
6. Podobovets
7. Pylypets
8. Krasia
9. Slavske
10. Zhdenievo
11. "Zakhar Berkut".

Bukovel is very popular resort where a huge number of tourists come every year. It is located near the village of Polyanitsa, at an altitude of 920 m above sea level. The season for skiing is open from November to mid-April. Here, tourists are offered various types of trails, the infrastructure is well developed. You can admire the tops of the mountain ranges by riding the lifts. You can also have a great rest in Bukovel in the summer, in 2014 the largest artificial lake in the country, surrounded by a beach, was opened here. People come to Bukovel to improve and improve their health.

Bukovel is one of the best resorts in Ukraine and Europe

Dragobrat is the highest ski base countries. Snow here lies on the slopes sometimes until mid-May, thus prolonging the season for ski resorts. The resort is located at an altitude of 1,400 m, near the foot of the Stog peak. It offers vacationers everything you need, many trails of varying difficulty, slopes for freeride. You can live not in the resort itself, there are also options in the nearby villages.

In addition to ski activities, the resort has lakes, waterfalls, mineral springs, climbing routes to local peaks. Many people come to see the Dragobrat waterfall - an amazing natural phenomenon. The waterfall is cascading, its height is more than 7 meters.

Natural objects of the Carpathian mountain system and minerals

On the territory of the Carpathian massif there are zones where some deposits of minerals are concentrated. Gas, oil, native sulfur, ozocerite, rock and potash salt are extracted here. There are deposits of zeolites, brown coal, gold, dolomites, limestone and marble in the mountains. There are many rivers flowing here, there is a Dividing Range. It is in this place that the border between the huge river basins: the Danube and the Dniester is located. All mountain rivers flowing from the peaks of the Carpathians fall into them. There is no exact information about the number of rivers in the mountains, the figure is 28,000. The largest Carpathian rivers are:

• Dniester
• Stry
• Latoritsa.

The picturesque island of Naslavche on the Dniester River

The Prut River is very long, stretches for 967 km, its sources come from Karat, Mount Hoverla. The Prut has diverse shores, the upper reaches are characterized by rocky, steep coastlines, while the lower ones are gentle. In the region of the north of the Prut valley, the river is located very close to the Danube, the distance between them is only 34 km. As an object of water tourism, the Prut is very popular, especially its upper reaches. Extreme river rafting is carried out here in the area of ​​Yaremche, Vorokhta. This is a real blessing for fans of extreme sports, a section of 34 km, with a lot of stone ledges and rapids. On the Prut is located beautiful waterfall, not far from the tourist center "Zaroslyak". The waterfall includes several cascading powerful streams, whose total height is 80 m. Downstream there is another waterfall called Probiy, 8 meters high, it is located on the territory of the resort town of Yaremche. Above the waterfall for tourists there is a bridge and an observation deck. On the territory of Moldova, in the place where the Prut flows, there is an attraction - the valley of "Hundred Hills". There are about 3,000 hills here, and their origin has not yet been fully studied by scientists. One version says that the hills are the result of a coral reef.

Have something to add?

In Europe, on the territory of Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Czech Republic, Ukraine and Romania (55% of the area of ​​the Carpathians). It stretches for 1.5 thousand km from the Devinsky Gates (on the Danube River near the city of Bratislava) to the Iron Gates (on the Danube River), forming an arc convex to the northeast and east. The width in the northwest is about 250 km, in the northeast about 120 km, in the southeast up to 430 km. The area is about 210 thousand km 2. The prevailing heights are 800-1200 m, the highest is 2655 m (mountain Gerlakhovsky-Shtit).

Relief. The Carpathians are a complex system of echelon-shaped mountain ranges and ridges, separated by longitudinal and transverse valleys. Orographically, they are divided into the Western Carpathians (with the southwestern spur of the Lesser Carpathians, height up to 768 m), the Eastern Carpathians and the Southern Carpathians; the northern ranges of the Western and partly Eastern Carpathians form the Beskids. The Carpathians also include the Western Romanian Mountains and the Transylvanian Plateau adjacent to the Southern Carpathians from the north, and the Banat Mountains from the west (height up to 1446 m).

The mountains are characterized by rounded peaks and gentle slopes (except for the northwestern and southeastern parts). Along the outer side of the arc of the mountains stretches a strip of foothills (width 40-60 km), height 400-500 m, in the southeast up to 907 m. (with Mount Gerlachovski Shtit), Low Tatras, Rodna, Fagaras, Paryng, Retezat. The crests of the highest ranges bear traces of the Pleistocene glaciation, the most pronounced alpine landforms are expressed in the Tatra and Fagaras massifs. For many areas of the Carpathians, karst landforms are typical, especially pronounced in the massifs of the Slovak Karst (Slovak Kras) (for example, Agtelek Cave), Bukk, and others. River valleys often form canyons in limestone. A strip of volcanic massifs stretches along the inner side of the Carpathian arc. In the western part, their height usually does not exceed 1300 m (Kremnicke Vrchy, Shtiavnicke Vrchy, Vigorlat massif, etc.), sometimes they look like table mountains, in places they form sharp contours. In the east, the volcanic mountains are higher (up to 2100 m, Mount Pietros in the Caliman massif), they are separated by deep basins and river valleys. The relief of the Transylvanian Plateau (height 600-800 m) is a complex combination of hilly elevations, flat watershed surfaces and river valleys, mud volcanoes are found in its marginal parts.

The Carpathians are characterized by leveling surfaces of different heights, hollows, the bottoms of which in the foothills lie at a height of 200-300 m (Upper Moravian, Auschwitz, Sandomierz, etc.), in the mountains - at an altitude of 500-700 m (Dorn, Brasovskaya, etc.). Due to the relatively low height, the mountains are relatively easy to pass, especially in the central part. The main passes through which the railway and highway are laid are located mainly at an altitude of 500-1000 m (Dukljanski-Priesmik, Yablonitsky, Predyal, etc.).

Geological structure and minerals. In tectonic terms, the Carpathians are a fold-cover system of the Pyrenean-Elbursk branch of the Alpine-Himalayan mobile belt, which in the southeast merges with the Balkan fold system, and in the west is separated by a transverse superimposed trough of the Vienna Basin from the Alpine fold system. From the outside, the Carpathian system is bordered by the Carpathian foredeep, through which it borders on platform areas: the West European platform in the north, the East European platform in the east, and the epibaikal Moesian platform in the southeast. The forward trough is filled with Miocene molasses (in the east and southeast - Miocene Pliocene), containing strata of Middle Miocene salt rocks (evaporites). The arcuately curved fold system of the Carpathians surrounds the Pannonian (in the west) and Transylvanian (in the east) Neogene molasse depressions. At their base there are blocks of the pre-Mesozoic continental crust - Alkapa, Thissia and Dacia.

In the structure of the folded system of the Carpathians, the Outer and Inner megazones are distinguished. The outer megazone is mainly composed of the Upper Jurassic-Paleocene terrigenous flysch overlain by the Oligocene-Lower Miocene clayey-siliceous series. Structurally, this megazone is a package of tectonic covers displaced for many tens of kilometers in the direction of adjacent platforms. Fold-cover dislocations also extend to the inner limb of the foredeep; in the southeast, in the axial zone of the trough (on the territory of Romania), salt tectonics is manifested with the formation of salt diapirs with piercing cores. The main deformations in the Outer Megazone occurred before the Middle Miocene, and in the foredeep - in the Pliocene (in the southeast - including the Quaternary). The structure of the Inner Megazone mainly involves Paleozoic metamorphic rocks and Late Paleozoic granitoids (fragments of the Central European Hercynian folded structure), as well as shelf carbonate and carbonate-terrigenous Mesozoic strata, which, together with Paleozoic rocks, experienced tectonic movement (shaping) in the middle and end of the Early Cretaceous, and also later. In the Inner Megazone, Middle Triassic - Upper Jurassic ophiolites (relics of the crust of the ancient Tethys Ocean) have been established. On the border of the Inner and Outer megazones in the Northern Carpathians, a narrow Peninskaya (Cliff, or Klippova) zone stretches, consisting mainly of large fragments of Triassic-Cretaceous carbonate rocks surrounded by marls. The main deformations in this zone occurred at the turn of the Cretaceous and Paleogene during the Laramian epoch of tectogenesis.

The Carpathian fold system arose in the Cenozoic, mainly at the site of the marginal sea basin in the northern part of the Tethys Ocean. This basin developed starting from the middle Triassic, in connection with the formation of rifts on the margin of the ancient European continent, crossing the Hercynian basement. The formation of the folded cover structure of the Carpathians was due to the collision (collision) of the Alkapa, Tissia and Dacia microplates (“outliers” of the African lithospheric plate) with the southern margin of the Eurasian Plate, as well as the underthrust (subduction) of the oceanic crust of the marginal sea basin under the microplates. An outbreak of volcanism in the rear of the Carpathian fold system was associated with the processes of collision and subduction. The Carpathians retain tectonic mobility (especially the Eastern Carpathians), accompanied by intense seismicity (Vrancea epicentral zone in Romania). Earthquakes occurring in the Eastern Carpathians are felt in the European part of Russia (for example, in Moscow in 1978 - up to 4 points).

In the Precarpathian trough, deposits of oil and natural combustible gas, ozocerite, rock and potassium salts, and native sulfur are concentrated. Oil deposits are known in the frontal part of the Outer Megazone of the Carpathians. In the Peniny zone there are deposits of dolomites, limestones, marbles, raw materials for stone casting. Deposits of pyrite-polymetallic, copper-pyrite, barite and ferromanganese ores are confined to the metamorphic complex of the Inner Megazone of the Carpathians; deposits of mercury, gold polymetallic and barite ores, as well as alunites, perlites, kaolins, and bentonite clays are associated with volcanic rocks. In the Transylvanian intermountain basin there are deposits of combustible gas, rock and potash salts, sulfur, brown coal. A special place among natural resources The Carpathians are occupied by mineral waters (including carbonic and nitrogen sulfate), brines of chloride and sulfate-chloride composition, thermal and subthermal waters of increased mineralization. There are sources of rare low-mineralized waters with a high content of organic matter (Truskavets).

The climate is temperate, transitional from maritime to continental. The average January temperature in the foothills ranges from -5°С in the north and east to -2°С in the south, at the highest peaks it drops to -10°С. In some intramountain basins, temperature inversions are observed in winter. The average temperature in July in the foothills is from 17°C in the north and east to 20°C in the south; in the upper belt of mountains it drops to 4°C. The annual precipitation in the foothills varies from 600-800 mm on the outer side of the arc of the Eastern and Southern Carpathians to 900-1000 mm in the Western Romanian Mountains and the Western Carpathians. In the alpine belt, the amount of precipitation increases to 1400 mm in the south and 2000 mm in the northeast and northwest (in the Tatras). The maximum precipitation occurs in the summer, most of it falls in the form of rain. The duration of snow cover in the foothills is 2-3 months (in some areas it is formed sporadically), in the mountains 5-7 months. Frequent snow avalanches. The snow line in the Tatras is located at an altitude of about 2300 m. There are no modern glaciers in the Carpathians.

surface waters. The Carpathians are one of the main watersheds of Europe. Most of the rivers belong to the Danube basin (the largest are Tisza, Olt, Jiu, Siret, Prut and their tributaries), the rivers of the northern slopes belong to the Vistula and Odra basins, the rivers of the northeastern slopes belong to the Dniester basin. The rivers are fed by mixed snow and rain. Their regime is characterized by sharp fluctuations in water consumption during the year. The greatest runoff is observed in spring (due to snowmelt) and in the first half of summer (due to heavy rains). Floods and catastrophic floods, mudflows are frequent. The rivers of the Carpathians have significant reserves of electricity (cascades of hydroelectric power stations have been built), many of them are used for irrigation purposes. To combat floods, dams and canals have been built along the rivers. There are about 450 small lakes in the Carpathians, in the highlands they occupy mainly the bottoms of ancient glacial cirques.

Landscape types. The Carpathians are characterized by altitudinal zonality with a predominance of mountain forests (occupying 300 thousand hectares) and mountain-meadow landscapes. In the foothills in the past, forest-steppe, oak and beech-oak forests were common, now almost completely cut down. In their place - orchards, vineyards, arable land, secondary forests (steppe in the west). The landscapes of the basins have been greatly changed. In the mountains, natural landscapes are better preserved. The lower belt of mountains (up to a height of 500-600 m in the north and 600-800 m in the south) is occupied by oak and hornbeam-oak forests. Higher (up to 1100-1250 m in the north and 1300-1350 m in the south), they are gradually replaced by beech forests, which are most common in the Southern Carpathians, Western Romanian mountains and along the inner side of the mountain arc. In the Eastern Carpathians there are areas of beech-sycamore and beech-ash-sycamore forests. Up to a height of 1200-1300 m in the north and 1500-1550 m in the south there are mixed forests (beech, white fir and European spruce). They are especially developed along the outer side of the Carpathian arc, where they often descend to the foothills and often replace landscapes of beech forests, and in the Western Carpathians. The upper border of the forest zone (up to 1500-1600 m in the north and 1700-1800 m in the south) is formed by coniferous forests (mainly from spruce, less often larch and pine), they are most developed in the Eastern Carpathians. As a result of human activities, coniferous forests in many places have been largely reduced, their upper limit has been reduced by 100-200 m compared to the natural limit. Forests in the Carpathians are formed mainly on brown soils, including podzolized ones.

The forest zone gives way to a belt of subalpine shrubs and meadows (up to a height of 1700-2000 m in the north and 2100-2200 m in the south). It is represented mainly by crooked forests - thickets of mountain (dwarf) pine, juniper, green alder - and areas of grass-forb meadows. Above (up to 2300-2400 m) there is a belt of alpine meadows and shrubs, which does not have a continuous distribution, is found mainly in the Western and Southern Carpathians, where it alternates with talus and rocks. The vegetation is represented by formations of alpine species of grasses and sedges with the participation of alpine forbs, as well as thickets of rhododendron and dwarf willows. Mountain peat-meadow soils predominate. On some peaks, rising above 2300-2400 m, there are fragments of the subnival belt with stone placers and rocks, bare or covered with lichen spots.

The Carpathians are characterized by high biodiversity and relatively well preserved ecosystems, mainly forest ones. There are 225 patches of primeval forests in the mountains (the area of ​​each is more than 10 hectares), beech and beech-spruce forests of the Carpathians are the most extensive in Europe. There are 3988 species of plants (1/3 of all species of Europe), of which 481 species are endemic (aizoid grains, Salzburg eyebright, breakstone, Kochi rhododendron, etc.). There are many rare species, especially in the subalpine and alpine zones (alpine bartsia, eight-petal dryad, alpine diphasiastrum, chestnut rush, late lloydia, alpine aster, rosea rhodiola, arrow-shaped willow, narrow-leaved narcissus, etc.).

Environmental problems and protected natural areas. Intensive deforestation, construction of settlements, roads and recreational facilities in the Carpathians led to the appearance of secondary plantations and meadows on the site of primary forests, increased erosion, disruption of animal migration routes, an increase in the number of rare species, a decrease in biodiversity, etc. The area of ​​planting spruce forests of the same age (including in the belt of beech forests) prone to windblows and diseases has been increased. There is degradation of forests due to acid rain, the waters of large rivers are polluted, but the small rivers of the Carpathians are still among the cleanest in Europe. Protected natural areas occupy 16% of the area of ​​the Carpathians, the largest of them are the Tatra National Park (Slovakia, Poland), the Eastern Carpathians International Biosphere Reserve (Ukraine, Slovakia, Poland), the Low Tatras, Slovak Karst, Poloniny (Slovakia), Karpatsky Biosphere Reserve, Synevyr National Parks, Skole Beskids, Uzhansky, Gorgani Reserve, Nadsyansky Landscape Park (Ukraine), Retezat National Park (Romania). In the Carpathians there are mountain climatic and balneological resorts. Tourism is developed; winter sports. In 2003, the countries of the Carpathian region at the 5th conference of ministers of ecology " Environment for Europe” the Framework Convention on the Protection and Sustainable Development of the Carpathians was signed.

Lit.: Geology of the USSR. M., 1966. T. 48: Karpaty. Part 1: Geological description; Geodynamics of the Carpathians. K., 1985; Ukrainian Carpathians. Nature. K., 1988; Nature of the Carpathian National Park. Kiev, 1993; Melnyk A.V. Ukrainian Carpathians: ecological and landscape studies. Lviv, 1999; The national parks and biosphere reserves in Carpathians: the last nature paradises. S. 1., 1999; Holt S. Ecoregion conservation in the Carpathians. S. 1., 2000; idem. The Carpathian mountains. S. 1., 2000; Khain V. E. Tectonics of continents and oceans (year 2000). M., 2001; Mosbach Webster R. The Carpathians: Kingdom of the Carnivores. WWF. Danube-Carpathian programme. Vienna, 2001.

M. N. Petrushina; V. E. Khain (geological structure and minerals).

It would be unfair to associate the Carpathians only with Bukovel, Dragobrat, Hoverla and tourists. We talk about the tourist background of the region and 15 original mountain places near Chernivtsi, Ivano-Frankivsk and Lvov, where, in addition to skiing, you can try hiking, rafting and even zip-lining, ride a mountain bike, learn how to make wurda and Hutsul "lizhniki", see mountain lakes, Austrian architecture, viaducts and wooden churches. And breathe freedom, of course.

The Carpathians and Transcarpathia is a tourist region with a European background. Until the end of World War II, it developed in the context of the Austrian, Czech and Polish economy and culture, which undoubtedly benefited it. In 1895, the first tourist train left Lviv for Skole, and tourist shelters began to appear on the mountain slopes of the Carpathians - a kind of "hostel", where travelers could take a breath during mountain hikes, warm up and sleep for free. In the main tourist cities- Uzhgorod, Mukachevo, Beregovo, Vinogradov, Rakhiv, Khust - the first hotels were opened. By 1939, there were at least 20 of them. The entire tourist infrastructure of Transcarpathia at that time was built thanks to the activities of the Club of Czechoslovak Tourists. The club developed and marked tourist routes, opened tourist houses, shelters, hotels, restaurants and even a boat station, published tourist guides in several foreign languages. Approximately the same thing happened on Polish territory - in Galicia.

Tourists came to the Carpathians to look at castles or their ruins, monasteries, Dacian and Roman settlements near the Great and Small Kopany, to study folk crafts, ride a narrow gauge railway and rest on some mountain slope in a tent. But suddenly the Czechoslovak Republic fell apart, the Second World War, the territory of Transcarpathia was captured by the Hungarians, and later by the Soviets. During this period, most of the tourist infrastructure was destroyed. The Soviet government turned the Carpathians into a health resort paradise.

Over the past 25 years, the tourism sector of Transcarpathia has been developing spontaneously and chaotically, mainly due to the activity of caring people, the innate entrepreneurial spirit of locals and the capital of some oligarchs, of course.

Today's Carpathians are such a cocktail of European charm, original Hutsul culture and Radyansk relics. Immediately buy a ticket to Chernivtsi, Ivano-Frankivsk or Lviv to drink it as soon as possible.

Vizhnitsa - Hasidim, rocks and mushroom paradise

If the train brought you to Chernivtsi, and the soul requires mountains, go to Vizhnitsa (75 km from Chernivtsi) - from here the Carpathians begin.

In the 18th century, the Hasidim were the main feature of Vizhnitsa - the founder of Hasidism, Rabbi Israel, lived there. In the Austrian period, Vyzhnytsia was famous ski center. And during the Romanian occupation, the name of this village was associated with a famous cabaret. Today in Vyzhnytsia you will find both - colorful culture and good tourist infrastructure.

Things to do

View Austrian and Romanian architecture

Vizhnitsa resembles an open-air museum: a typical provincial European town beginning of the 20th century. Here, in a fairly decent form, many Austrian and Romanian buildings have been preserved. Be sure to take a look at the railway station, the town hall, the main synagogue, the gymnasium building, the building of the district hospital and the college of applied arts - all these buildings have been standing here for more than 100 years. On Ukrainskaya Street, look at the building of the once popular cabaret (now the house of children's creativity), and near the market, do not pass by the former Romanian border outpost.

Conquer rocks and huge boulders

If you feel like a confident rock climber, then don’t forget to take the necessary equipment on your trip, because in the vicinity of Vyzhnitsa there are several huge rocks and boulders (30-40 m) at once: rocky massif "Protate kaminnya" (near the Nemchich pass), "Pechera Dovbush" (near Nemchich). These rocks are also quite a target for hiking. They stand in a beech forest on a low mountain, from where you can see the Carpathians in all their glory. You can put up a tent in the forest. The ascent is not difficult - it is possible with children.

Rafting on the mountain river Cheremosh

The Cheremosh River was once the border between Romania and Poland, and now separates the Chernivtsi region from Ivano-Frankivsk. This is the most popular river in the Carpathians among amateurs. Google, you can easily find about 10 companies that organize not only rafting, but also a comprehensive adventure program with rafting and mountain climbing.

pick mushrooms

Bukovyna is the edge of beech forests, where giant mushrooms grow. If you are planning an autumn trip to the Carpathians and want to join the sacred action of picking mushrooms, go from Vyzhnytsia to Vyzhenka (6.5 km) - there are the most mushroom places and you can find a guide from local seasoned mushroom pickers.

To ski

Near Vizhnitsa there are two ski resorts at once - the modest Nemchich Pass and the solid Migovo.

"Nemchich Pass"- This is a small tourist complex, which includes a hotel, a restaurant, slopes, 2 drag lifts and a rental office. You can go skiing here on an extremely budgetary basis: € 0.15 - a one-time lift, from € 3 - a subscription, from € 2 per day - ski / snowboard rental.

"Migovo"- a solid ski complex with a hostel, several hotels, restaurants, clubs, spa-center. Someone calls Migovo the main competitor of Bukovel, but the prices here are incomparably lower: from € 1 - a one-time lift, from € 16 - a day pass, from € 3 per day - ski / snowboard rental.

Where to stay

It is best to choose accommodation in Vyzhnitsa, Vizhenka and Migov on the website hotels24.ua. Unlike Booking, you can find accommodation options in estates, guest houses and mini-hotels there. Prices in Vyzhenka and Vyzhnitsa start from € 14 for a double room, in Mihov - from € 30, and in Nemchich for € 30 you can rent a double room with two meals a day.

Where to eat

The largest and most popular restaurant in Vyzhnytsia - "Kupalska Nich"(st. O. Dovbush, 1a) . Try “trout in sour cream”, “pull in glechika” and draft beer here, and for dessert, take dumplings with cherries. Just get ready for the fact that you will find yourself in a traditional Hutsul establishment, where service and speed of service are not the strongest points.

How to get there

From Minsk: by plane to Chernivtsi (UIA - from € 84). By train or bus via Kyiv, Lviv or Kovel (from € 25) to Chernivtsi. From Chernivtsi - by minibus to Vizhnitsa. Next - ride / taxi.

From Brest: by bus Brest-Kovel (from € 4), from Kovel by train to Chernivtsi (from € 3.5). From Chernivtsi - by minibus to Vizhnitsa. Next - ride / taxi.

From Kyiv: by train to Chernivtsi (from € 6), by plane to Chernivtsi (UIA - from € 38). From Chernivtsi - by minibus to Vizhnitsa. Next - ride / taxi.

Verkhovynshchyna - two-thousander mountains, waterfalls and a cultural reserve

Alpine city Verkhovyna (Ivano-Farankovskaya region) and its satellite villages are considered the center of the ancient Hutsul region, this is true Western Ukraine, surrounded by two-thousander mountains. In Verkhovyna itself, be sure to visit a private museum Roman Kumlik (St. I. Franka, 35) , where, in addition to authentic Hutsul household items, he collected a rich collection of musical instruments.

Things to do

Charge with creativity and get acquainted with the culture of the Hutsuls in Kryvorivna (Krivorivnya)

Hutsul is a Ukrainian highlander, a freestyler who loves to dress up himself and his house in order to appear before his neighbors in all its glory. Therefore, the jacket of a normal Hutsul is embroidered with gold and flavored with pompoms, and his house is decorated with carpets, embroidered towels and intricate carvings. All these cultural artifacts you can see in the village Krivorivnya(7 km from Verkhovyna), where there are 14 (!) Museums. "Hutsul hut-citizenship" and the historical and cultural museum in the school building are an obligatory part of the program of every decent tourist.

Kryvorivnya is not only a terry Hutsul region, but also a once bohemian center, a fashionable resort where the cultural beau monde gathered - writers and public figures - Ivan Franko, Lesya Ukrainka with his girlfriend Olga Kobylianska, Osip Makovei, Vasyl Stefanyk and Mikhail Kotsyubinsky. And Sergei Parajanov filmed "Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors" here. In general, Kryvorivnya is charged with creativity. To feel the atmosphere, visit the Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors Museum and the Ivan Franko Literary and Memorial Museum.

The cultural program can be diversified by hiking. In the vicinity of Kryvorivnya begin hiking trails to the rocks of Pisanoy Kamen and to the top of Igrets (1311 m).

See the waterfalls and climb to the mountain observatory

If the main purpose of your trip to the Carpathians is hiking, head for Dzembronya, a highland village where no more than 300 highlanders live. From here it is most convenient to climb Mount Pop-Ivan and, in general, start climbing the Chernogorsky Range.

You can climb Pop-Ivan in different ways, but to see the cascades of Smotrytsky waterfalls along the way, head to Mount Eared Stone. From this point to the top of Pop-Ivan and the old observatory is within easy reach.

The stone observatory - the White Elephant - on Mount Pop-Ivan was built by Warsaw University in the late 30s. last century to observe the stars and the weather. The building was abandoned for several decades. Recently, in a small part of it, volunteers have equipped a tourist shelter, where rescuers live and tourists exhausted by mountain climbs stop.

Try voorda, try on the Hutsul vyshyvanka and see the Carpathian two-thousanders in Iltsy

In the Carpathian dreams of experienced tourists - the conquest of the Montenegrin ridge - six mountains of two thousand meters. If you are a beginner and spend more time in the office than in the gym and on the treadmill, we advise you to start from the Kostrych ridge. Climb Mount Kostrych (1586 m), which is located directly opposite the Montenegrin ridge, and watch how powerful two-thousanders prop up the clouds with their snow caps. You will not see such a picture from any other point of the Carpathians! And here's another nice bonus for you: the slopes of Kostrych are strewn with blueberries in summer, and in autumn with porcini mushrooms.

Take some cash with you on a hike and don't pass by the huts - small wooden houses, there are several of them on the ridge. In the summer, Hutsuls-shepherds live in the huts, who graze cows, sheep and goats in the vicinity and immediately prepare cheeses - brynza, budz and vurda. From late autumn until April, no one lives in the huts, and tourists use them for overnight stays.

You can climb Kostrych from the village of Iltsy or from the Krivopol Pass, which can be reached from Verkhovyna. In Iltsy, do not forget to look into museum-estate of the poetess Galinka Verkhovinka(village Iltsy, annex Veliky Grabovets) to learn all about the Hutsul vyshyvanka and try on the image of a Hutsul. In winter you can go skiing in Iltsy. To do this, there are three slopes of medium difficulty (length - 700 m), two drag lifts and equipment rental.

See how the Hutsul "lizhniki" make and grill their own trout caught in Yavoriv

In the village Yavorov(Yavoriv) in many houses they still create "lizhniki" - woven bedspreads made of sheep's wool. The ability to weave here is inherited. Until recently, children studied lizhnikarstvo at school and even passed a mandatory test for it. Today, woven bedspreads are used less and less in everyday life, but local craftswomen updated their product and began to sew raincoats, coats and jackets from it. Go to Yavorov (21 km from Verkhovyna, there is a bus) to join the ancient Hutsul art. In the center of folk art "Hutsulska ґrazhda" you can take part in a master class.

If you like fishing, here's another reason for you to be in Yavoriv - a trout farm "Eco-trout", where you can catch a few fish, and then place an order for their preparation. Be sure to try the trout in sour cream sauce and banosh. While your fish is cooking, go see the local waterfall, which is modestly called Yawor Niagara.

Where to stay

A double junior suite in a private estate in Verkhovyna can be rented for € 15-20, although it is not so easy to find a double room - most owners of cottages rent them out entirely. Find the right option on the website. hotels24.ua or booking.karpaty.ua. Pay attention to the private estate of the Jurak family, especially if you are planning mountain trips. The owners of the estate promise to help with an instructor.

If you are traveling with a large group, take a closer look at the cottage "Trembita" 8 with sauna, fireplace, gazebos and barbecue facilities.

There is a cozy guest house in the village of Krivopillya "FIREPLACE" with a beautiful terrace, a fireplace room and large windows in the rooms that look at the mountains. You can order meals from the owners.

Where to eat

Restaurant with panoramic windows "Panorama Verhovel" (St. Ivana-Franka, 1, Verkhovyna village) go for complex aesthetic pleasure. Unlike many other Hutsul establishments, here they bother about the beautiful presentation of dishes. Panorama Verhovel prepares excellent bograch, trout in sour cream sauce and banush with porcini mushrooms. Don't forget to try the liqueurs here.

If you go to Yavorov, go to a colorful restaurant for lunch "Babai" (attached to Rivne, on the highway Kosiv-Verkhovyna) . Try here the signature dish "Babai in Glechika", Hutsul cabbage rolls and banosh, and for dessert - tea with mountain herbs and pancakes with cottage cheese. The restaurant has a good selection of wines.

How to get there

From Minsk: by bus to Ivano-Frankivsk (from € 30), by plane to Ivano-Frankivsk (UIA - from € 70). From Ivano-Franovsk by minibus to Verkhovyna, Iltsov.

From Kyiv: by train to Ivano-Frankivsk (from €4), by plane to Ivano-Frankivsk (from €47.5). From Ivano-Franovsk by minibus to Verkhovyna, Iltsov.

Vorokhta - 100-year-old viaduct, zipline and mountain lake

Yaremche, together with Bukovel and Dragobrat, is one of the three most famous ski resorts in the Carpathians. Life in these villages revolves around tourists. They built a good tourist infrastructure here, sacrificing their authenticity and sincerity for this. Therefore, we advise you to choose Yaremcha or Bukovel, only as a last resort - if your main interest is a good ski track and comfort. And for lively culture, hiking, (cheap living) and rural romance, it is better to go to the neighboring high-mountain Vorokhta or Mykulychyn, making forays into the surroundings from there, including Bukovel or Yaremcha.

Things to do

Walk under the arches of the century-old viaduct in Vorokhta

The two longest viaducts in Ukraine (100 and 130 meters) appeared in Vorokhta in Austro-Hungarian times. Despite their advanced age, they still help trains climb the slopes of the mountain. And they still amaze with their greatness.

Climb to the mountain lake

The tourist base "Zaroslyak" in Vorokhta is the starting point for mountain hikes to the nearest mountains of Spitz and Kukul, and to main mountain Chernogorsky ridge - Goverle. If your body requires hiking and your soul needs beautiful views, but multi-day hikes are not included in your plans, choose Spitz Mountain (1863 m) with Nesamovyte Lake (1750 m) and / or Kukul as your goal. One day is enough to conquer these peaks. The route to the lake is well marked, so you are unlikely to get lost. There are many legends connected with Lake Nesamovite, each of them seems to hint that you should not swim in the icy (even in summer) waters of a high mountain reservoir. But this does not stop the majority of frost-resistant tourists.

If you are an advanced skier and like to freeride, the western and northeastern slopes of Mt. Kukul are the right place for this. Other slopes of this mountain are quite gentle, so climbing to the top will not take much effort from you. And if you suddenly take a walk before dark, then you can spend the night in one of the Hutsul huts. Look for them in the mountain valley. If you find yourself in Vorokhta in the spring (April), be sure to climb Kukul to see the purple slopes strewn with crocuses.

Go down the 720-meter zipline in Vorokhta

The first in Ukraine appeared in Vorokhta (St. B. Khmelnitsky, at the beginning of the forest) . The descent is divided into two sections: 550 and 170 meters. Height difference - 18 meters.

Climb the abandoned ski jump in Vorokhta

A ninety-meter springboard for extreme training appeared here in the 30s of the last century, when Vorokhta was part of Poland. For the last 20 years, it has stood idle, despite periodic attempts to “restart” it. If you go here to take some interesting photos, look at the Hutsul market next to the springboard, where everything that warms the soul of a Belarusian tourist is sold: traditional cheeses, honey, mushrooms, berries and woolen socks.

Try craft beer in Mykulychyn

In a small Hutsul brewery "Mikulychin" (v. Mykulychyn, vul. Grushevskogo, 68b) beer has been brewed for 15 years: light, dark, honey, wheat and rye. In addition to it, here you can try real Carpathian honey, homemade cheeses and buy natural "beer" cosmetics. A visit to the brewery can be combined with a walk to the 15-meter Zhenetsky (Hook) waterfall, which does not dry out even in summer.

Where to stay

In Vorokhta, several dozen cottages, private estates and mini-hotels accept tourists. Prices for double rooms start from € 10. It is better to look for options on booking.karpaty.ua or hotels24.ua. If you want to live higher from the highway and look at Hoverla from your window, take a closer look at a private hotel "Huts on stumps" (St. Mikhail Grushevsky, 5) , which is managed by the good-natured Orestes. There is a sauna with two pools, a vat, a trout pond where you can go fishing, a small restaurant and a rooster that will not let you sleep through all the fun.

Where to eat

The main (it is by local standards and the most expensive) restaurant in Vorokhta - "Stara Vorokhta"(st. Danila Galitsky, 66) with typical Western Ukrainian cuisine. Try herb trout, porcini mushrooms and liqueurs here.

If you want to dine in a real Carpathian hut, go to Yaremcha in "Red Manor" (st. V. Ivasyuka, 6) . Feel free to order potato pancakes in glechek, veal cheeks with pea puree and shish kebab, which will be cooked for you on the grill right in the center of the hall. Rumor has it that they serve the most delicious horseradish in the Carpathians.

How to get there

From Minsk: by bus to Ivano-Frankivsk (from € 30), by plane to Ivano-Frankivsk (UIA - from € 70). From Ivano-Franovsk by minibus to Vorokhta. Or by plane to Kyiv (UIA - from € 65), by train to Kyiv (from € 35). From Kyiv by train to Vorokhta (from € 4.5) or Yaremche (from € 8.5).

From Kyiv: by train to Vorokhta (from € 4.5) or Yaremche (from € 8.5).

Synevyr park to climb to the mountain lake of the same name. See brown bears given new life in rehabilitation center(v. Synevyrska Polyana) , is a no less worthy reason to make this long journey. Most of the guests of the Rehabilitation Center are former "employees" of circuses and entertainment venues. Almost all bears end up in this shelter with psychological trauma and a bunch of diseases. Some emaciated animals are given away by the owners voluntarily, while others are won back by the employees of the Rehabilitation Center through the courts. In their new home, the bears are treated, restored and learn to live in natural conditions (they even have dens here!).

Hutsulize

Synevyrska glade is an excellent location for relaxing in the off-season (spring, autumn), if you want to breathe in fresh air, take a break from people and get a little humour. At the market in Mizhhirya, you can buy everything you need for this - Transcarpathian wine, homemade milk and eggs, cheese and meat. And then settle in one of the cottages in the Synevyr meadow, walk by the mountain lake for days, conquer the local peaks (several marked routes start from Synevyr), and in the evening fry the barbecue on the grill, drink wine and listen to the stories of local Hutsuls.

Visit the village-museum Kolachava

The village of Kolochava, which at different times belonged to Austria, then the Czech Republic, then Hungary, then Romania, is a mix of languages ​​\u200b\u200band cultures. A textbook on express immersion in the Carpathian culture. There are 10 museums and 20 unusual monuments, including a teacher from Vkrajina and a shepherd. Here you will see the most picturesque in Ukraine skansen "Old Village" (from March 20 to April 20 it turns into a valley of blooming crocuses) and a train that once traveled on a narrow gauge railway, you walk along the corridors of the Czech and Soviet schools.

When you walk around "Old Village" do not pass by the kryivka "Staer's Bunker"(headquarters of the Kolochava rebels) and the Jewish Taverns at Wolf's, where you can look through the debt book with the names of the villagers who drank in the institution on credit.

Another feature of Kolochava is the shepherd's school - together with an instructor you can take a walk on the slope of Mount Strimba, where sheep graze from May to November, see how vurda is cooked, try the miraculous "zhentitsa" and listen to trembita.

Conquer Gymba in Pylypets

The mountains in the region of Volovets, Podobovets and Pylypets are called the Borzhava meadow - they are not very high (up to 1500 m), but very picturesque. From a height they look like a restless sea, playing with blue-green colors. To see them, climb Mount Gymba (1491 m), which even children easily conquer. And all because a chair lift takes tourists from Pylypets to a height of 1100 m (it works even in summer). If, after conquering Gymba, you are still cheerful, cheerful and full of desire to see more - take a walk to the neighboring mountains of Stoy (1681 m), Great Top (1598 m), Mount Plai ( 1330 m) and Temnatik (1343 m). After that, you can go down to Volovets.

In winter, Pylypets turns into a ski resort - the second highest after Dragobrat - with the longest in Ukraine ski slope(20 km). The cost of one lift on the chair lift starts from € 2, a day pass - from € 17, ski / snowboard rental - from € 2.5. There is a professional ski school where for €5/hour an instructor will teach you how to be handsome on the slopes.

Ride through the mountains on a bike in Pylypets

In the village of Pylypets

Carpathian mountains on the map

Ukraine is rich in enchanting natural beauty, first of all, it is the magnificent mountain range of the Carpathians. Other countries can only dream of such a source of clean air, spring water and wildlife. The Carpathians are located on the territory of various countries - Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, as well as Slovakia, Hungary, Poland.

The Southern Carpathians are located on the territory of Romania, and the Eastern ones are located in Ukraine (on the territory of the Transcarpathian, Lviv, Chernivtsi and Ivano-Frankivsk regions.

Carpathian mountains on the map

Map of the Ukrainian Carpathians

At some point in the daily hustle and bustle comes the realization that our body just needs at least a short break. Even a few days spent in this nature reserve can quickly relieve psychological fatigue and charge you with optimism and good mood for a long time. Fast mountain rivers, fog that wraps the valleys in the morning, mountains covered with sharp peaks of coniferous trees - this beauty cannot be described in words and even more difficult to get around on foot.

The secret of spring holidays in the Carpathians is that it is based on complete freedom of action. Someone will like morning fishing, someone will want to conquer the local mountain peaks, while others will appreciate the quality of service, which is by no means inferior to advanced European resorts.

Interactive map of the Carpathian Mountains

Probably, perfect place for May holiday in the Carpathians, you can call the village of Slavske. There are several reasons for this. The natural location of the Beskydy and Gorgan ranges around this settlement has created a unique local microclimate that ensures constant windless weather. In spring, beautiful landscapes open up here with evergreen coniferous forests on the slopes of the mountains, which beckon to take a walk along them.
You can always walk in the mountains with benefit. Fans of excursions and national history will discover a lot of interesting things. To do this, you just need to visit local attractions: Kamensky waterfall, Tustan castle, Khashchovanskoye lake and many, many others. In Slavske, you will definitely be advised to go look at the Dovbush rocks - a legendary place where, according to legend, the national avenger hid part of the gold taken from the rich. cave monastery, located right there, will surprise even an experienced traveler.
The month of May is an ideal opportunity to recuperate after a cold winter, stock up on vital energy for a very long time, and I decided to give myself unforgettable memories, at the same time buy a corner rack, I think I can find a suitable option in the online store. Of course, you can take this chance to go to distant overseas resorts, but such a vacation will be very expensive. It would be much faster, more comfortable and cheaper to spend a weekend in your native corner. And there is such a place! You can feel the full power of the awakening of nature, plunge into its bright green splendor in the Carpathian Mountains.
After spending the whole day in the fresh May air, in the evening you will certainly want to take a break from impressions. Both comfortable hotel rooms and cozy private cottages are at your service. For a more active holiday, shops, pharmacies, cafes, bars, restaurants, billiard halls, and discos are always available to tourists.
If unity with nature gets a little boring, you can always visit district or regional centers, enjoy their architectural sights, get acquainted with history. An hour or two by car, and now Lviv, Yaremche, Ivano-Frankivsk, Uzhgorod and other cities will gladly open their doors for you.

Ukrainian Carpathians from A to Z: map of hotels and ski areas, slopes and pistes, lifts and ski passes. Bright photos and videos. Reviews of mountain skiers about the Ukrainian Carpathians.

• Tours for May all over the world
• Hot tours all over the world

Weather in the Ukrainian Carpathians

In terms of ecology, the Carpathians are a powerful climate-forming factor, a source of fresh water and clean air for the region. The climate of the region is temperate continental, in the lowlands winters are short and mild, summers are warm. average temperature+19..+21°C. In the mountains, winters are cold and snowy, summers are short and cool. Snow in the mountains lies from mid-December to early March, and in some places even from November to May.

Nature of the Ukrainian Carpathians

The flora and fauna of the Carpathians is rich and varied, many plants are found only in this region, and some animals are on the list of rare species. A large number of mountain rivers and lakes are full of fish, in particular trout. As you know, this fish is found only in clean water, and its ubiquitous distribution in the Carpathians indicates the purity of the local reservoirs. The most famous of the lakes is Synevyr, it is recognized as the cleanest in the region. Large rivers are suitable for timber rafting. The mountains themselves are flat, full of spacious plateaus, there are no rocks here, so the terrain is distinguished by smooth lines and is very picturesque.

Treatment and sources

The Carpathians are of interest as a region rich in mineral waters of all types. A huge number of natural springs, more than 800 in total, made the region attractive not only for recreation, but also for health improvement. Almost every region can boast of its own numerous sources of this or that water. Some of its species are known throughout the world: Naftusya, Morshinskaya, Truskavetskaya, Rapa, Polyana-Kvasova. The well-known resort Truskavets, the treatment of which is based on the use of Naftusya water, specializes in the treatment of diseases of the digestive system and kidneys, diabetes. Svalyava region has water sources such as Borjomi and Vichy. The composition of these waters is indicated for the treatment of metabolic diseases, gastrointestinal tract, and tuberculosis. Staying in the fresh air, which is literally saturated with phytoncides of the local coniferous plants, combined with hydrotherapy, gives an amazing long-term effect in the treatment of diseases of the upper respiratory tract. Some sources are associated with ancient touching legends, some of them are revered by the local population as holy sources.

Ski resorts

The Carpathians are well known to amateurs skiing. Bukovel, Dragobrat, Slavske are the main ski resorts in the region. Snow stays here for a long time, thanks to the mild winter (in the coldest month of January, the temperature rarely drops below -6 degrees), you can ride from late December to late March. These resorts are becoming more and more popular, they are developing dynamically and in recent years offer a level of service and infrastructure comparable to European ones. Many lifts, schools for beginner skiers, well-groomed slopes, many of which are illuminated in the evening, equipment rental points are waiting for athletes.

You can relax and unwind in numerous places of entertainment that offer a varied menu and entertainment programs. With the end of the ski season, interest in recreation in the Carpathian Mountains does not subside: numerous routes for horseback riding, hiking and cycling are interesting for outdoor enthusiasts of all ages.

Maps of the Ukrainian Carpathians

Popular hotels in Ukrainian Carpathians

Entertainment and attractions

There are many interesting towns and villages, castles, natural sights in the Carpathians, so there are all opportunities for the implementation of an extensive excursion program. The original way of life has been preserved in the mountain villages, and a trip through the Carpathians will clearly show: the higher people live in the mountains, the less fuss there is in their lives. However, civilization is also less. Extremely interesting for their original architecture and rich history of the city, which are located in the Carpathians. First of all, this is Lviv. One of the largest cities in Ukraine and the most beautiful. The central part of the city was included in 1998 in the list of world cultural heritage UNESCO. The city was founded in 1256, it was incredibly lucky: it was almost not destroyed during both world wars, so more than 2,000 monuments of history and architecture have been preserved in it.

Some Lviv cafes were opened even before the First World War and have preserved to this day the magical aura of the beginning of the last century.

Popular with tourists Ivano-Frankivsk, one of the largest cities in Ukraine. It is traditionally considered a city more European than Ukrainian, this can be seen both in architecture and in the way of life. Numerous historical sights of the city speak eloquently of the former Polish rule. Mukachevo, Uzhgorod, Ternopil, Truskavets are unusually cozy and attractive, and their sights can compete with what can be seen in recognized European tourist centers.