Explore Ukraine: Trypillya – Buki Grand Canyon
Although summer has come to an end, autumn continues to pamper the people of Ukraine with good weather. And when the sun is shining, and autumn plays with all shades of gold and crimson, you involuntarily draw to nature. Can't sit still in this weather!
Buk Canyon
One of these places where you are drawn and where you definitely need to visit is the village of Buki, Cherkasy region.
We visited this place in the summer as part of a day trip from Kyiv, which included several interesting locations.
First of all, the group arrived at the Kanevsky reservoir near the village of Trypillia.
View of the Dnieper from the Devich Mountain
The Trypilska TPP, the most powerful power plant in the Kiev region, was built here. The power plant itself was of little interest to tourists, but the fact that salmon is grown in its waters and caviar is milked from it greatly revived the interest of the entire group. So, if you see red caviar in jars that say "Made in Ukraine" in a store, it's not a joke! And not fake! Caviar is indeed produced at Trypilska TPP.
Trypilska TPP
To view the thermal power plant and the reservoir, it is better to climb Devich-mountain.
Climbing the Devich Mountain
The views from there are amazing. I just want to flap my wings and soar in the sky. The hill itself looks quite impressive. This is the highest point of the Obukhov region, it rises more than 50 meters above the Dnieper, and is part of a hilly massif that stretches along the right bank of the Stugna River. The peculiarity of this area is its archaeological value. Indeed, after the research carried out here, it was established that Devich Gora is one of the sites of the Zarubintsy culture that existed from the 3rd century BC to the 2nd century AD. Settlements and pagan sanctuaries dedicated to a female deity were located on it, from which, most likely, the name of the mountain comes.
Devich Mountain– place of power
Devich Mountain is also called a "place of power", because many people say that it is surrounded by some kind of exclusively positive energy.
A little to the south of the Devich-mountain was the chronicle Trepol (now the village of Trypillia), which, according to some researchers, was founded around 1032, when Yaroslav the Wise strengthened the borders along the Stugna. Although studies have shown that people have mastered this area a very long time ago (approximately from the middle of the 5th millennium BC, in the Bronze Age). It was by the name of the village of Trypillia that archaeologists called the ancient culture of Trypillia.
There are only three halls in the Archaeological Museum of Trypillia.
At the archaeological museum
Finds from different eras in the history of this area are exhibited here - from the Stone Age and the Paleolithic times. . .
Museum exhibits
. . . before the Trypillia culture. . .
Museum exhibits
. . . Scythian time, from Kievan Rus to the Cossacks and times close to us.
Museum exhibits
The next point of the excursion program is the village of Vytachiv, a place known primarily for its best view of the Dnieper.
A sign telling us that a temple will be built here
The atmosphere of Vitachiv allows you to plunge into the times when princes still ruled on Ukrainian soil. Previously, this historic town was called Vitichev. It was mentioned in the middle of the tenth century in the Byzantine annals. In ancient Russian times, Vitachiv was indeed a port city. The bay, into which merchant ships entered, is still visible from the shore. And in 1100, a congress of the appanage princes of Kievan Rus was held here.
Gradually, part of the old city collapsed into the Dnieper, and part was buried under new buildings. In the 20th century, during excavations, it was possible to find parts of buildings, towers, and defensive structures. Excavations in Vitachiva are still ongoing.
In the tract, which offers a stunning view of the Dnieper and its left bank, you can find a small wooden church.
Vitachiv
It was built according to the project of Taras Shevchenko and is the most recognizable object of the village. A wooden mill stands right at the entrance to the tract. Below on the hill you can find an old hut.
Vitachiv
The filmmakers did not ignore this picturesque area. It was in these scenery that many Ukrainian films were shot, such as "Babylon XX", "Bogdan-Zinoviy Khmelnitsky". The last was the famous feature film "The Guide".
After having lunch and admiring the breathtaking views of the Dnieper, we set off to the main goal of our trip - the village of Buki and its famous canyon.
Buk Canyon
The canyon is small, about five kilometers long and about 30 meters high. It was formed by the Gorny Tikich River, which cut its way through granite rocks for about two billion years.
Gorny Tikich River
Further downstream is the most interesting place for tourists and vacationers, where high sharp cliffs very picturesquely hang right over the river. The local landscape surprisingly resembles a Scandinavian fjord, completely uncharacteristic for central Ukraine.
Buk Canyon
The canyon is very picturesque and in some places very narrow - about twenty meters. There are places where you can cross from one coast to another on large boulders.
Buk Canyon
And here is the first hydroelectric power station in Ukraine. . .
Old HPP
. . . which is no longer functioning, but near it very atmospheric photos are obtained, and an artificial waterfall with which the canyon begins.
Beginning of the canyon
There are convenient picnic areas along the entire Buk Canyon, so there are a lot of people here on warm weekends.
The day turned out to be hot, and almost all the people present at the canyon were sitting in the river. And since the place where the river flows down the stone rapids is very shallow, it seemed that everyone was enjoying and relaxing in a natural jacuzzi.
Natural Jacuzzi
It was a beautiful July day. We enjoyed visiting these places very much. And, believe me, in the golden autumn it is no less beautiful there (except that it’s a bit cold to swim : )
For those who have not yet visited the Buk Canyon, we heartily recommend visiting it!
