The Ukrainian Carpathians: Borzhava
The name “Carpathians” derives from Albanian “karpe” (stone), and Dacian could mean “mountain”. The ancient Polish word "karpa" means "significant irregularities", "underwater stones", "large stems or roots." The name of the people - "Carpi" - "those who live in the mountains" who inhabited the Carpathians during the Roman Empire may derive from a possible Dacian meaning - "mountains".
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The Carpathians is a mountain system at the east of the Central Europe, on the territory of Ukraine, Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia and Romania. It extends for 1500 km, forming a convex arc, closing the Middle Danube plain. Maximum width is 430 km. The Carpathians is one of the main European watersheds between the Baltic and Black Sea.
Orographically one can distinguish the Western Carpathians, Eastern Carpathians (some of which are Ukrainian Carpathians), Beskid, Southern Carpathians, Western Romanian Mountains and Transylvanian plateau. The predominant heights of the Carpathians are 800 - 1200 m, maximum height - 2655 m (Mount Gerlachovsky-Shtit in the Tatra Mountains), Hoverla – in Ukraine (2061 m).
The Ukrainian Carpathians is part of the Carpathian mountain range in the West of Ukraine. The length of their upper parts of San to Suceava sources is 280 km, width is over 100 km. They occupy the territory of Transcarpathian, part of Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk and Chernivtsi regions. The area is over 24 thousand square kilometres. Mountain ranges, separated with lengthwise lowlands and delimited with transversal deep valleys, stretch out from northwest to southeast.
Lowlands and midlands of the Carpathians are presented with mountain range of the Eastern Beskid, Gorgan and Pokutsko-Bukovina Carpathians. Central zone consists of lowlands and hollows of Vododilno-Verkhovynska region. A solid orographic core of the Polonyno-Chornohory Carpathians appears behind them. The ancient Rakhiv-Chyvchynskyi crystalline range has been preserved farther to the southwest.
Many festivals and colourful cultural events take place in the Carpathians. For example, the festival "Hutsul brynza" (sheep cottage cheese) in Rakhiv. You will never encounter such quantity of brynza, cymbals, carpets, lizhnyks (home made wool blankets) at a place. Hosts and hostesses in uniforms, every village has its own. Here people dance, sing, treat, play at full spirit. You will be surprised with private museums of the Carpathians: Roman Kumlyk’s Museum of Antiquities in Verkhovyna with an excellent guide-host, who not only comfort with unusual stories, but also will play the ancient Hutsul instruments.
Find out more about festivals and museums in the Carpathians:
Trembitas are calling, brynza is waiting!
Carpathian miracle, or who is someone who lives near Cheremosh...
On a trip to the Carpathians and the festival "Hutsul brynza" (September, 2005)
Something about cheese and meadows
Borzhava
Borzhava Polonyna (meadow) is a mountain range within the Polonyna range of the Ukrainian Carpathians between the rivers Rica and Latorytsya (Transcarpathian region).
The length of the range is more than 50 km, the maximum height - 1681 m.
The ridge begins from Mount Cook near the village of Mizhgirya (1361m), then passes through Pryslop pass (938 m), Mount Opolonok (1171m) extends to the northwest with a gradual climb. From the mountain Vysokyi Verkh (1598 m) heights are lowing down the same direction (to Volovets) (Play, 1350 m, Temnatyk 1344 m) and enlarging towards southwest to the mountain Stoy (1681m), then the ridge ends very abruptly. The river Borzhava heads on the southern slopes of the ridge cutting a wide beam in the volcanic ridge and flows into the Tisza. In the north Borzhava borders with Volovets-Mizhhirya Hills. Distant crest of meadows is located at a distance of 44 km, therefore Borzhava is the longest mountain meadow of Transcarpathia.
The peaks of Borzhava
Stoy, 1677 m
Magura-Zhyde, 1518 m
Velykyi Verh, 1508 m
Gemba, 1494 m
Grab, 1374 m
Menchul, 1248 m
Kuk(Gun), 1362 m
Play, 1334 m
Temnatyk, 1344 m
The highest top of the range Borzhava – Stoy Mountain (1677 m) lies on the southern branch of the range within the Transcarpathian region. Earlier there were military antennas at this height, which was visible from a considerable distance from many locations of Transcarpathia. Now antennas are removed.
The western slopes are steep, the bottom part is covered with beech forests with single coniferous trees. The southern and eastern slopes - are much flatter, covered with lots of meadows (meadows on the western slopes) a reserve of national importance "Rosishnyi". The southern slopes of "Rosishnyi" are flat lands (covered mostly with grass) and steep slopes. The northen slopes come down by steep rocky precipices. It is better to get there by car from the locality of Berezniki, Svaliava district or Lisichevo, Bronka, Kushnitsa, Irshava district.
In the past Borzhava meadow was the district of sheep breeding, today it is a tourist area. Borzhava is perfect training ground for those who want to learn to ski seriously. Carving, mogul, raw lands, the slopes for beginners and trails to extreme-admirers - there are all types of road, steep and sloping, hilly and ratracheni.
Information is taken from www.nedaleko.com.ua
