Yalpug

This is one of the largest reservoirs in our country, located in the south of Ukraine, where you can organize a good family vacation. It is a picturesque estuarine lake that stands out for its size, rich vegetation, wildlife and wide coastline. The location is an excellent choice for a tent camp, picnic in the warm season. Yalpug is popular among cycling enthusiasts and short hiking enthusiasts. A large number of fishermen can be found on the lake. In addition, the reservoir is used for water supply to nearby settlements.

Description of the Lake Yalpug

The location is considered a unique natural attraction not only in the Odesa region, but also in Ukraine as a whole. Not every tourist and resident of our country knows about its existence. The lake is located in Reni, Izmail and Bolhrad districts and has an unusual elongated shape. It is fed by underground springs, most of which originate in Moldova. Yalpug impresses with its fabulous scenery. Plains, gullies, reed beds, and smooth ponds can be smoothly replaced by picturesque hills. It should be noted that the lake is one of the three largest reservoirs in Europe.

Video from Lake Yalpug

Characteristics of Lake Yalpug

The reservoir is 38,000 meters long and 7,000 meters wide. The total water surface area is 149 km2. During high water and floods, the maximum depth of Yalpug reaches 6 meters, with an average value of about 2.5 meters. The estimated area of the catchment basin is between 4200-4400 m2. The volume reaches 0.4 km3. The water in the lake is fresh, and after special treatment it can be suitable for drinking. Its mineralization is quite low and amounts to only 355-526 mg/l. Water transparency ranges from 0.5 to 1.5 meters. The height above sea level is 240 cm. It is connected to the Danube by Lake Kugurlui.

Interesting facts

During spring floods, the lake is replenished with water. It is interesting that after the construction of the dam in the 70s of the last century, the exchange of water with neighboring water bodies decreased by almost 75%. This fact led to the rapid pollution of Yalpug, which has been going on for 40 years. It is important to note that part of the water resources comes from the Minzul and Karasulak rivers. Despite the fact that the bottom of the lake is mostly muddy and muddy, the water is very clean. In summer it can warm up to a temperature of 25 degrees, and in winter it almost never freezes.

It is a sad fact that the level of pollution in the reservoir is increasing every year. Currently, all existing permitted standards have been exceeded. The reason for this is that the rivers of Moldova that flow into the lake are polluted with chemicals and industrial waste. Unfortunately, the local administration cannot influence the process. This situation has a negative impact on the freshwater inhabitants of Yalpug, leading to more and more water blooms. Despite all this, the ongoing cleanup work has improved the situation slightly.

Infrastructure & Activities

The lake is very popular with fishermen, as it is home to pike, catfish, crucian carp, white cupid, crayfish and other aquatic life. On the territory of Yalpug, there are rental shops that offer fishing tackle, boats, tents, vehicles, and beach accessories for rent. Odessans like to hunt in the local lands in the coastal zone (with the appropriate license) for hare, wild boar, roe deer, and game (there are several hunting clubs). In order to diversify your leisure time, you can visit Bolgrad, a very beautiful city with a number of historical monuments, such as St. Nicholas Church, Inzov's Mausoleum, etc.

There are many catering establishments near the lake, where you can not only eat, but also spend a comfortable time. Most of them are concentrated in the town of Bolgrad. The most noteworthy is the Semya cafe on Zavodska Street, where you can enjoy delicious homemade dishes, baked sausages, grilled mushrooms and vegetables, pizza, and much more. For more sophisticated visitors, we advise you to consider visiting the Pivdennyi restaurant complex, located on Varnenska Street with a convenient entrance, adjacent territory, and modern interior. One of the best options is the Sagan restaurant at 25 Chapaevskaya Diviziya 1, with its characteristic space design and friendly staff.

Finding a good place to stay by the lake will not be a problem. In Bolgrad, on Inzovskaya Street, it is worth considering a stay at the Inzov Hotel, located along the T1629 highway. The establishment has the necessary furniture and service. In addition, the “House for Cultural People” hostel is popular. Among the available offers, it is also worth noting the hotel “Cooperator” with good living conditions. The bed and breakfast on Zelena Street is also worth a visit. More interesting in terms of the range of services, comfort, grooming and size of the territory can be considered a stay in hotels located in Izmail. For most tourists, they look unremarkable due to their remote location.

Location

Yalpug Lake is located in the Odesa region, near the cities of Izmail and Bolhrad. It can be reached from Odesa by rail or bus. Minibuses to Izmail from the central bus station run several times a day. By car from the capital of Ukraine, it is better to follow the E-95, M-15 highway in the direction of Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi. It will take at least 6 hours to get there. The easiest way to get to the destination is by GPS coordinates 45.416667°, 28.616667°. It should be noted that the quality of the road surface from Odesa leaves much to be desired.