Svityaz is the deepest lake in Ukraine and the heart of the Shatsk Lakes in the northwest of Volyn. Its maximum depth is 58.4 meters, and its area is 25.2 square kilometers. In summer, people come here for the clean water, wide sandy beaches, and the surrounding pine forest. The lake warms up well, and the shallow coastline is convenient for children.
Karst Lake
The basin of Svityaz was formed by karst and glacial processes. The bottom is complex: shallows along the shores and several karst sinkholes up to 38 meters deep. The northwestern part is deep, while the eastern part is shallow. Almost in the middle is an island with an area of 7 hectares. Svityaz is a drainage lake: water flows through Lake Luky to the West Bug.
Shatsk National Park
The lake is part of the Shatsk National Nature Park, established in 1983. The park covers almost 49 thousand hectares and includes two dozen lakes — Pulemetske, Pisochne, Luky, Liutsymer, Krymne, and others, as well as swamps and nature reserves.
Where to Rest
The main recreation areas are "Hryada" on the eastern shore within Shatsk, the village of Svityaz with natural sandy beaches, and the Hushove tract. Around the lake, there are recreation centers, cottages, and private rentals. Fish are caught in the lake, so the place is also suitable for anglers.
How to Get There
Buses run to Shatsk from Lutsk and Kovel. From Kovel, it is about two hours. Read more about the region in the article about Kovel Raion.
