About This Site

Synevyr National Nature Park is a protected area in Zakarpattia Oblast covering the upper Tereblya River basin and including Ukraine's largest mountain lake — Synevyr. The park is famous for its UNESCO-protected beech primeval forests.

Synevyr National Nature Park was established in 1989 and covers an area of 40,400 hectares in Zakarpattia Oblast, Ukraine. The park is located in the western part of the Gorgany mountains, with most of its territory situated in the highlands (from 440 to 1,719 meters above sea level). The crown jewel of the park is Lake Synevyr — the largest mountain lake in the Ukrainian Carpathians, situated at an altitude of 989 meters. Scientists estimate the lake to be about 10,000 years old, formed as a result of an earthquake. The lake is called the 'Sea Eye of the Carpathians' due to a small island in its center resembling the pupil of an eye. In July 2017, four sections of the park's beech primeval forests (Darvaika, Kvasovets, Strymba, and Vilshany) covering over 3,000 hectares were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the 'Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe' property. The park is home to Ukraine's unique Brown Bear Rehabilitation Center — the largest in the country. Since 2011, it has provided sanctuary for bears rescued from circuses, entertainment facilities, and smugglers. The center occupies 12 hectares of forest and is open to tourists. The park is characterized by rich flora and fauna: 1,726 plant species grow here, 53 of which are listed in the Red Book of Ukraine. Fauna includes brown bears, wolves, wild boars, lynxes, deer, and roe deer. Among birds, one can find capercaillies, hazel grouse, white and black storks, and various species of woodpeckers.

Historical Significance

Synevyr National Nature Park was established on March 18, 1989, by a resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Ukrainian SSR to preserve the unique natural complexes of the upper Tereblya River. The park became one of the first national nature parks in Ukraine. The park's territory has been an important forestry region for centuries. In the 19th-20th centuries, active logging took place here, evidenced by remnants of old buildings and timber floating structures. The park houses the Museum of Forest and Timber Floating — unique in Europe and second in the world, telling the story of traditional logging and timber transportation in the Carpathians. An important historical monument is the 'Arpad Line' fortifications — defensive structures of the Hungarian army from World War II. The park also preserves military cemeteries from World War I. In 2004, Lake Synevyr was included in the list of Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention. In 2007, following a popular vote, the park was included in the list of the Seven Natural Wonders of Ukraine. In 2011, the Brown Bear Rehabilitation Center opened in the park — the first and largest project in Ukraine for rescue and rehabilitation of these animals.

Highlights

• ✓Lake Synevyr — Ukraine's largest mountain lake (989 m a.s.l.)
• ✓UNESCO beech primeval forests covering over 3,000 hectares
• ✓Brown Bear Rehabilitation Center — the largest in Ukraine
• ✓Mount Strymba (1,719 m) — the park's highest peak
• ✓White Beast Waterfall
• ✓Hlukhania Bog — the largest sphagnum bog in Gorgany
• ✓Museum of Forest and Timber Floating — unique in Europe
• ✓140 km of tourist routes

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