Rivers of the Carpathians: water riches that are worth attention

07 August 2023

Let’s start with the fact: the Dnipro River originates in the Carpathians, but you won’t be able to see its waves there because the river becomes full of water much further downstream. In addition, 28,000 large and small rivers are located within the territory of this picturesque mountain range. Their total length is 55,000 km. The mountain rivers of the Carpathians are not suitable for navigation but can be used for energy production. Currently, they are not used in the economy, so they have been preserved in their original form. While traveling through the Ukrainian Carpathians, we recommend trying rafting on mountain rivers. This is a great opportunity to enjoy the nature of this picturesque region. In this article, we will list the names of the rivers of Ukraine in the Carpathians and tell more about them.

Rivers and streams of the Carpathians: a short guide

Dniester

It begins in the village of Vovche, in the Lviv region, at an altitude of 870 meters above sea level. It flows from the northwest to the southeast within the territories of Ukraine and Moldova. Its length is 1352 km. The mouth is a Dniester estuary located near Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi.

The natural vegetation of the Dniester basin is best preserved in the Carpathians. Among the plants, the most common are spruce, fir, and beech. Resting on the river is recommended for fishing fans. In the upper reaches, you can find bream, grayling, asp, carp, crucian carp, perch, sazan, catfish, and pike.

Bilyi Cheremosh

This is the right tributary of the Cheremosh River in the Carpathians, which is a natural border between the historical regions of Halychyna and Bukovyna. Currently, this is the territory of the modern Ivano-Frankivsk and Chernivtsi regions. There are many natural rapids on the river, which is why water tourism has developed. Guests of the region are offered mountain rafting. The mouth is the famous and celebrated Cheremosh. The river belongs to the Black Sea basin.

Putylka

It carries its waters through the territory of the Chernivtsi region. It originates on the northeastern slopes of Putilla Ridge, southwest of the village of Ploska. It is the right tributary of Cheremosh. It has many thresholds. Tourists can visit the cave of Oleksa Dovbush, the Nemcich Pass, and the museum manor of Yury Fedkovich.

Prut

What rivers flow in the Carpathians? Powerful, full of water, and freedom-loving, like the Carpathians and Ukraine. Prut is like that. A large mountain river begins on the slopes of Hoverla and carries its waters to the Danube. There are numerous waterfalls and rapids on it. The most famous is the Probiy waterfall, which has a height of 8 m.

Prut is a partly navigable river. It flows through picturesque places. Tourists are offered rafting on the stretch from Vorokhta to Yaremchi. The most dangerous section is Yaremchansky Canyon. The rafting route ends near the Probiy watershed.

Fishing enthusiasts, please note that fishing is prohibited at the source of the Prut. This is the territory of the reserve. Downstream, you can catch bream, zander, trout, pike, and crucian carp.

Latorytsia

It flows within the Zakarpattia region and Slovakia and is a tributary of the Danube. The leak is located near the village of Latirky. There are many rapids on it. The maximum width of the water flow is 25 m. In Svaliava, the river divides into 2 branches. Marta-Margarita Island is located between them.

Latorytsia is a paradise for fishermen. Since 2015, a festival dedicated to fish soup has been held in Mukachevo. In the river, you can catch the king of these waters, the Danube salmon.

Balzatul

Balzatul is a small but typical mountain river. Flows near the village of Luhy on Baltsatul Polonyna and through the territory of the Rakhiv district. The total length is only 10 km. It flows into the Bila Tisza River and is its right tributary.

This river, together with the Stogovets River, is the source of the White Tysa. On Balzatul, you can see the remains of the kliavza (dam). This is a hydro-technical structure that was used by rafters to fuse wood in low-water areas of the river.

Uzh

A winding river in Zakarpattia originates near the Verkhovyna ridge. Scientists still cannot agree on the etymology of its name. The first believe that it comes from the name of the snake because they are widespread in this region. Others insist that snakes have nothing to do with it, and the name of the water artery has Bulgarian roots and comes from the word “corner” or “narrow”. The Uzh River is a tributary of the larger Laborec River, which flows through the territory of Slovakia.

Liuta

Liuta, or Liutyanka, is a small, very “twisted” river that is a tributary of the Uzh. It originates near the mountain village of Liuta on the slopes of Gostra Mountain. At first, the river flows to the southwest, then sharply turns to the southwest, and then at an angle of almost 90° again to the south, and this is repeated several more times.

The most picturesque location on the Liuta River is the “Blue Lagoon”, located near the village of Chornogolova. It is a small pond with very clean and calm water. In good weather, the water there has a deep blue or emerald color.

Rika

Rika (the name itself means “river”) is a linguistic paradox. It is located within the Mizhhirskyi and Khustskyi districts of the Zakarpattia region. It begins near the village of Torun. The length of the river is 92 km. It is of economic importance. Its waters are used for water supply, and a hydroelectric power plant is also located there. The river is also popular among tourists. There are several recreation centers and many water attractions.

Tereblia

A water artery that originates in the mountainous region of the Inner Gorgans. It is a tributary of the Tysa River and belongs to the Danube Basin. Near the village of Tereblia, the river has mineral springs — carbonate-sodium and alkaline waters. The largest lake in Ukraine, Synevyr, also flows into Tereblia. The river is used for water supply to the population as well as for fishing.

Now you know which rivers originate in the Carpathians. This is far from the entire list, there are a lot of them, and most of them have been preserved in their original form. The Ukrainian Carpathians are not only a winter vacation with skiing. They also have a unique nature, picturesque landscapes, and a lot of entertainment for tourists. Here you can take a break from the fast pace of the city as well as enjoy the clean air and peace. You can write a lot about the beauty of this region, but it is better to see everything with your own eyes.