Luky is a karst lake near the village of Zatyshshia, one of the Shatsk Lakes located between the Pripyat and Western Bug rivers. It lies within the territory of Shatsk National Nature Park. It should not be confused with the lake of the same name near Dubechne in Staryi Vyzhiv district.
Svityaz and Pisochne are known to everyone who has visited the Shatsk Lakes, but Luky is noticed less often. There are no large beaches or developed shores here: the lake is shallow, cut by bays, and surrounded by swampy meadows. People come here for peace, birds, and water without crowds.
What it is like
The lake is about 6 km long, over 3 km wide, with an area of 6.8 km² — one of the largest lakes in the Shatsk group. At the same time, it is shallow: on average 2.1 m, maximum 3.2 m. The basin is elongated and of complex shape, the shores are very indented, low, and swampy.
The lake is fed by underground and surface waters, as well as water exchange with neighboring lakes. The bottom in the eastern part is silty sand, while in the western and central parts there is a layer of sapropel.
Luky and Peremut
Luky is connected by a channel to the lake Peremut. Some researchers consider Peremut a separate part of the Luky water body, so in scientific literature the combined name Lake Luky-Peremut is sometimes used. Luky is also connected by canals to Svityaz and Ostrivyanske Lake.
Such channels among the thickets are part of kayak excursions on the Shatsk Lakes: the photo shows one of them, taken during a paddle trip in July 2023.
Kayak excursions travel the channel from Svityaz to Luky: a narrow channel among reeds and willows leads out to a wide shallow water body where swans and other waterfowl gather.
Water and birds
The water in Luky is clean. Mineralization is about 137 mg per liter, less than in Svityaz. The water is slightly alkaline, well oxygenated, with low nitrates and iron. There are no major sources of pollution nearby, and the national park status protects the lake from development.
The lake is densely overgrown with aquatic and coastal vegetation. Its biological productivity is low, but birds nest on the shores, including swans. Between the two world wars, these lands belonged to Poland, so in Polish sources the lake is called Łukie.
Fishing
The lake is home to crucian carp, tench, bream, perch, pike, and eel; white amur has also been introduced here. The shores are low and swampy, so fishing from a boat is more convenient. Tench and crucian carp are caught on a float near the thickets, pike with a spinning rod along the grass. This is national park territory, so fishing is allowed only in designated areas. General fishing rules apply.
Luky and Peremut on video
How to get there
Zatyshshia is a village of the Shatsk community in Kovel district on the Kopaivka river, about 10 km northwest of Shatsk. Buses run to Shatsk from Lutsk and Kovel, then by car or bicycle. The northern part of the community is a border zone, so carry your documents with you.
Nearby
Peremut, Pisochne and the ecological trail “Lisova Pisnia” between them, Svityaz, Ostrivyanske Lake, Shatsk National Nature Park and the settlement Shatsk.
