Zasvynske is a karst lake amidst forests, three to four kilometres east of the village of Gradysk in the Manevychi region. It is also called Zasvidske or Zasvitske. Round, with crystal-clear cool water and a well-arranged shore, it has become one of Volyn's most popular forest lakes for camping.
What it is like
The lake has a regular rounded shape. The water surface area is about ten hectares, and the maximum depth is six metres. The southeastern shore is firm and gently sloping, with scattered birches—this is the most convenient place to approach the water. The northwestern shore is boggy and densely overgrown with reeds. The lake has no permanent outflow: it is fed by groundwater and precipitation.
Zasvynske was formed more than a hundred thousand years ago, when, following the retreat of the Dnieper glacier, groundwater dissolved deep chalk deposits and the ground subsided. The lake is part of the Gradyskyi landscape reserve.
The surrounding forest
All around are pine and black alder, rare black birches, and an oak tree that is about three hundred years old. Heather, ferns, cranberries, lingonberries, blueberries, and bog bilberries grow in the clearings. The black stork and the common crane nest here, and roe deer, wild boars, moose, foxes, and wolves live in the forest.
Recreation
On the shore, there are wooden gazebos, tables, campfire spots, garbage bins, piers for swimming and fishing, and spaces for tents. For a longer stay, there is a lodge for overnight stays, a restored dugout with a stove for the cold season, and a water pump. In summer, it can get crowded, so it is better to take a spot in the morning.
Fishing
In Zasvynske, people catch crucian carp, perch, tench, carp, pike, roach, and rudd. You can fish here around the clock, conveniently from the piers and from the firm southeastern shore. General fishing regulations apply.
Zasvynske on video
Nearby
Manevychi is the hromada center, and Okhnych Lake is nearby. More can be found in the article Kamin-Kashyrskyi Raion.
How to get there
From Lutsk, it is about one hundred kilometres. Roads from Manevychi lead to Gradysk, and from there to the lake via a forest road.
