Mount Zvir

Zvir (also called Zvor) is a 1,115 m summit on the main crest of Polonyna Borzhava in Zakarpattia Oblast. It lies in the lower, south-eastern part of the massif, where the ridge climbs gradually from the Pryslip pass towards Zhyd-Mahura. The nearest village is Tiushka (about 2.7 km), with Richka and Potik a little farther away (about 3.7–3.9 km).

Zvir is one of the low “steps” of the crest: about 1.1 km to the south-east stands Opolonok (1,171 m), and 1.4 km to the north-west Kruhla (1,208 m). Further north-west the ridge rises to Kychera (1,257 m) and Shyrokyi Verkh, and then to the main summits of Borzhava.

How to get there

Fifteen of our routes cross Zvir or pass within 80 m of it — almost every traverse of the Borzhava crest between Mizhhiria and Volovets. The shortest start is right at the foot of the mountain:

• Tiushka – Mount Zhyd-Mahura – Mount Hemba – Mount Velykyi Verkh – Volovets, 35.2 km, about 1,540 m of ascent;
• Pylypets – Shypit Waterfall – Mount Hemba – Mount Zhyd-Mahura – Mizhhiria, 38.1 km, along the ridge from north to south;
• Skotarske – Polonyna Borzhava – Polonyna Palenyi Hrun – Nyzhnii Bystryi, 63.7 km, a multi-day crossing of the whole massif.

The Transcarpathian Tourist Trail also crosses the summit.

Water, shelter and safety

On our map the nearest spring is about 600 m north-west of the summit, at roughly 1,080 m; another, weak one lies about 900 m to the south-east, and two more about 1.2 km in the same direction, at around 1,060 m. The condition of most of them is unknown, so carry your own water. Our map shows no huts or shelters nearby. The Borzhava crest is exposed to wind and thunderstorms, and in fog it is easy to lose the path on the open pasture. The nearest summit with our forecast is the weather on Mount Stii, about 13 km away. In an emergency call 112 or 101 — contacts of the nearest units are on our mountain rescue page.