Ukrainian Carpathians - a fabulous land in the center of Europe

Nature can be protected only when people fall in love with it,

and only because nature itself is beautiful...

And man, as you know, cannot live without beauty...

The Carpathian Mountains are located in the heart of Europe. The total length of the mountain system, which crosses Romania, Ukraine, Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Serbia and Montenegro, is about 1.5 thousand kilometers. There are 3 main parts of the Carpathians: the Eastern, Western, and Southern Carpathians. The highest mountain is Gerlachovský Špil, 2655 meters high (located in the Slovak Tatras).

The Ukrainian Carpathians are the northwestern part of the Eastern Carpathians. Their total length is 280 km and width is 50-100 km. The area of the Ukrainian part of the Carpathian Mountains, located in Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv, Zakarpattia and Chernivtsi regions, is about 3.7 thousand km².

It is worth noting that the Ukrainian Carpathians are much lower than the Carpathians of neighboring countries: there is no snow line and no glaciers. However, it is here that the highest peak of our country, Mt. Hoverla (2061 m), which is located on the Montenegrin ridge.

The uniqueness of the Carpathian region of Ukraine

The mountainous system of the Ukrainian Carpathians is a unique treasure trove of European significance, as it is here that there is great biodiversity, powerful natural resource potential, a high level of wildlife conservation and an original cultural heritage.

Indeed, the hilly mosaic landscapes of the foothills with vineyards and flowering gardens, subalpine alpine meadows, dense coniferous, deciduous and mixed forests are of great value and serve as a true haven for an incredible number of animals and plants.

A large part of the Carpathian region is covered by semi-natural areas, including alpine meadows and pastures - meadows, which are home to a large number of relict and endemic plant species.

The Ukrainian part of the Carpathians is only 10.3% of the total area of the mountain system. However, it is here that about 1.5 thousand objects belonging to the nature reserve fund are concentrated - nature reserves, national natural and regional landscape parks, reserves and natural monuments of national and local importance.

Ukrainian Carpathians - the main territorial units

The absolute altitudes of the Ukrainian Carpathians range from 150-400 meters above sea level (at the foot of the mountains), 500-800 meters in intermountain depressions, and 1300-2000 meters along the main ridges.

All the highest peaks of the Carpathians (over 2000 m) - Hoverla (2061 m, the highest point in Ukraine), Brebeneskul (2032 m), Pip Ivan Chornohirsky (2028 m), Petros (2020 m), Hutyn Tomnatyk (2016 m), and Rebra (2001 m) - are located on the Chornohora ridge, which lies on the border of Ivano-Frankivsk and Zakarpattia regions.

The nature of the Carpathians is represented by a rather complicated system of territorial units that create high-mountain, middle-mountain, low-mountain and foothill tiers. The most famous and popular tourist destinations are the Chornohora, Svydovets and Marmarosy mountain ranges, the Krasna, Borzhava, Polonyna-Runa, Gorgany, Eastern Beskydy and other ranges.

We will tell you about each mountain system, its highest peaks and popular hiking routes in our next articles. Subscribe to the news on our Facebook page.