Bile Lake is one of the most beautiful lakes in Rivne Polissia, near the village of Rudka in Varash District. Transparent water, wide sandy beaches, and pine forests all around attract vacationers from the entire region and neighboring areas. The lake is often called "glycerin": the water here is soft and silky to the touch, and locals attribute this to its special composition.
Karst Lake
Bile Lake is of karst origin: its basin was formed as a result of rock dissolution, and underground waters mainly feed the reservoir. Therefore, the water here is clean and cool even in the heat. A maximum depth of about 34 meters is most often cited — this is one of the deepest lakes in Polissia. Near the shores, the bottom is sandy and sloping, and further out it drops off steeply.
Under Protection
The lake is part of a hydrological nature reserve, and since 2013 it has been included in the list of wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. All around are forests and marshes, where waterfowl live. Therefore, conservation area rules apply here: cars cannot be parked near the water, fires cannot be lit outside designated areas, and garbage must not be left behind.
Recreation
In summer, recreation centers and boat rentals operate on the shore, and there are equipped beaches. The lake is also beautiful in spring and autumn when there are few people: then people fish here, walk through the forest, and photograph the reflection of pine trees in the water. Nearby are Nobel Lake, the Rivne Nature Reserve, and the Antonivka – Zarichne narrow-gauge railway, so the trip can easily be extended to two or three days.
How to Get There
Rudka lies north of Varash and Volodmyrets. From Varash it is about half an hour by car, and from Rivne 2.5–3 hours. Read more about the region in the article Rivne Polissia: where to go and what to see.
