Liubiaz is a floodplain lake on the Prypiat, east of the village of the same name in Kamin-Kashyrskyi Raion. It is one of the largest lakes in Volyn Polissia and part of the Prypiat-Stokhid National Nature Park. The Prypiat itself flows through the northern part of the lake, so Liubiaz lives alongside the river: when the water rises in the Prypiat, it rises in the lake as well.
Dimensions and depth
The length of Liubiaz is 3.8 kilometres, its width is 2.5, and its area is over five square kilometres. The lake is shallow: the average depth is about two metres, and the maximum is 3.8. From above, it looks like two round open water areas connected by a channel, and locals call them the "Big" and "Small" lake. The Prypiat flows from the north, and the Korostianka River flows in from the southwest.
The banks are low, sometimes boggy, with dense coastal vegetation. There are two islands on the lake, and the bottom is sandy and silty. In winter, Liubiaz freezes over.
Life on the water
Liubiaz is a typical Polissia landscape: houses open directly to the water, wooden boats lie on the shore, and almost every second local is a fisherman. All the river fish of the Prypiat can be found here: pike, carp, crucian carp, bream, perch, catfish, burbot. Around 2015, grass carp were released into the lake.
Birds and nature
The lake lies within the Prypiat-Stokhid National Park, among floodplain meadows, bogs, and channels. There are many waterfowl here, especially in spring during migrations.
Fishing
The main catch on Liubiaz is pike. Since the Prypiat flows through the lake, all river fish are found here: carp, crucian carp, roach, perch, grass carp, catfish, ide, rudd, burbot, ruffe, bream. Locals catch the predator mostly by trolling from motorboats, using large paddle tails with heavy jig heads or large wobblers. People almost never fish from the shore here. General fishing regulations apply.
Liubiaz on video
Nearby
The Prypiat flows through the lake, Liubeshiv is the hromada centre, and the Prypiat-Stokhid National Nature Park is all around. More details can be found in the article Kamin-Kashyrskyi Raion.
How to get there
Buses run to the village of Liubiaz from Liubeshiv. It is best to see the lake from a boat: locals are happy to show the channels.
