Brebeneskul

It is a special place that is ideal for a long vacation. It attracts a huge number of tourists, including those from neighboring countries. Many prefer to stay here for the night with a tent. A distinctive feature of the lake is its natural beauty and water temperature, which rarely rises above 15 degrees. The location impresses with its landscapes and vegetation, so you should visit it at least once in your life. It's important to note that no photo can convey such an extraordinary beauty. Therefore, the lake is worth visiting even though it is quite difficult to get to it.

Description of Lake Brebeneskul

The object is located in a deep pit, between the peaks of Gutin Tomnatek and Brebeneskul. That's why in May you can see snow and frost here (even at positive temperatures on the mountain ridge). The unusual location does not allow for proper heating of this unique lake, as the sun's rays practically do not reach it. According to historians, the location is of glacial origin and is fed by underground springs, rainwater, and snowmelt. All these factors have had a positive impact on the purity of the reservoir, which gives it a certain uniqueness. It should be added that the lake is located in the Montenegrin massif, which is part of the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve. There is a lot of greenery around Brebeneskul, and in summer there are a lot of flowers, including crocuses and azaleas.

Video from Lake Brebeneskul

Characteristics of Lake Brebeneskul

The reservoir is located at an altitude of 1801 meters above sea level. The depth of Brebeneskul does not exceed 2.8 meters, on average it is 1.5 - 1.7 meters. The lake is 44 meters wide and 134 meters long. Locals claim that the water in the lake is potable, but due to its unstudied composition, it is better to refrain from drinking it. It is better to replenish drinking water at Lake Nesamovyty, which is located just 4 km from this location.

Interesting facts

If you want to spend the night near Brebeneskul, don't forget to bring a good sleeping bag and warm clothes, as usually the air temperature on Montenegro is quite low at night. Since the lake is poorly warmed by the sun, it is physically impossible to stay in it for a long time, which should be taken into account before entering the water. By the way, there have been fatal cases when people had convulsions from the cold while swimming with all the undesirable consequences.

The name of the lake comes from the Romanian word brebenos, which means periwinkle, an evergreen herb with blue flowers. It is believed that somewhere under the mountain there was once a plain where these flowers grew. Some scientists are sure that the name of the lake comes from the word “berbenitsy” - an elongated Hutsul wooden vessel designed to store dairy products, which has a double bottom. Whatever the case, both versions look very interesting.

Among the distinctive features, it should be noted that a unique mountain pine tree grows next to the lake, which is endangered in the Carpathians. The fact is that the tree is being actively destroyed by tourists who start fires. Unfortunately, it is impossible to properly monitor them, as the protected area is far from civilization. Therefore, we can only rely on the consciousness of the vacationers themselves.

Infrastructure & Activities

When going on a tourist trip, it is recommended to pay attention to the existing routes specially adapted for visits by organized groups. Among the interesting places, it is necessary to note the shepherd's house with a working cheese dairy, where you can get acquainted with the process of birth of a unique Carpathian product. It is definitely worth visiting the peak of the Eared Stone, which was recently the location for a famous music video. The peak of Pip Ivan Montenegrin with the White Elephant Observatory is of no less interest to tourists. The route to Hoverla and Petros passes through Brebeneskul.

You can eat at one of the nearest restaurants. For example, you can do it at Ten, located in Vorokhta at 13 Hoverlyanska Street, or Vepr, at 19a Hoverlyanska Street. A little further away is the Vysokyi Pereval, the Vodohrai Karpat kolyba, and the Grani grill restaurant. You can spend the night in nearby hotels, including the estate “Smotrych”, “U Hutsula” and complexes in Verkhovyna ‘Vezha’, “Gornyi Kutochok”, in the village of Potyakiv meadow “Faina Hata”, in the village of Krasnyk rafting camp “Rada Daraba” and others.

Location

The lake is far from civilization, and you can see a lot of tourists near it. During the season of traveling in the Montenegrin mountains, you can see a real tent city here. The whole hike to Brebeneskul takes several days. If you have no experience in such climbs, it is recommended to use the services of an experienced guide. In total, you will have to overcome about 40 kilometers of various descents and ascents. There will be other lakes along the route, the total number of which reaches 20. You should focus on Mount Brebeneskul, which is 2038 meters high. The easiest way to start is from the Zaroslyak tourist center, where taxis from Ivano-Frankivsk regularly run.

At the foot of the mountain is the village of Luhy, which is reached by a single narrow path from the lake. In addition, Chornohora can be reached from the village of Dzembronia to the village of Kvasy. You can also take a taxi (which is very expensive). A good alternative is the Lviv-Rakhiv railroad connection. You can also get to Dzembronia from Ivano-Frankivsk by buses departing from Rakhiv. From Kyiv, you can get there by all means of transport, but the fastest and easiest way is to drive your own car. In this case, it is recommended to use the GPS coordinates 48.10219410, 24.56147650.