Mud volcano, mammoths and a high-mountain observatory: what you didn't know about the Carpathians

The Carpathians are a special place for every Ukrainian. This mountain range has countless incredible places and interesting routes. However, few people realize how many unique locations can be found in this region.

• In 1809, famous Polish geographer, writer, and public figure Stanisław Staszic drew the first geological map of Ukraine, or more specifically, the Carpathians. On it, you can find many peaks and the mark of the highest point of our country, Hoverla.
• One of the oldest and longest stone railroad bridges in the world is located in Vorokhta, Ivano-Frankivsk region. It is an arched viaduct built across the Prut River in 1895 during the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It is interesting that Italian prisoners of war were involved in the work.

• In the Carpathians, you can also find one of the longest railway tunnels in the world. It is 1764.5 meters long. It is located between the stations of Beskyd and Skotarske. By the way, it was also built during the Austro-Hungarian Empire. However, at first it was a single-track railway, and in 2018 it was reconstructed by adding a second track.

• The popular tourist town of Rakhiv is considered the highest mountainous district center in Ukraine. It is located at an altitude of 820 meters above sea level. But this does not make it the highest settlement in our country. This status belongs to the village of Vypchyna in the Chernivtsi region. To reach it, you have to climb to an altitude of 1100 meters.
• The village of Seliatyn in the Chernivtsi region is the most affected by disasters in our country. Almost 45 days a year, abnormal phenomena are observed here: thunderstorms, storms, lightning. Relatively recently, in 2017, a terrible hurricane hit the area, causing many trees to fall and houses to be severely damaged. The wind was so strong that it could easily overturn cars. At the same time, the storm also affected part of Romania. But this was not the most illustrative case. In 1948, a 37-hour thunderstorm was recorded there. It's hard to imagine how much trouble it caused the locals.
• The most snowy settlement in Ukraine is the Transcarpathian village of Ruska Mokra. Due to its unique location between mountain ranges, it is very rarely sunny here, so snow lies on the local hills about 162 days a year.

• The deepest hospital in our country is also located among the mountains. These are the salt chambers in Solotvyno, where patients with bronchial asthma are treated. The depth of this health complex is almost 282 meters. By the way, the medical facility has been operating since 1968 without a single long stop.
• The largest local cave, Romania (Druzhba), is 46 meters deep and stretches for a kilometer. It can be found near Mala Uholka in Zakarpattia.
• The Carpathian Mountains are home to the highest mountain building in Ukraine, the Observatory White Elephant. It was built in 1938 on the top of Pop Ivan and did not last long, until the Second World War. Employees of this institution had to live on its territory for weeks at a time because it was not easy to get to the nearest settlements. Today, only the walls remain of the building, which even now look impressive.

• In the Carpathian Mountains, there is also the only operating water smithy in Europe. It has been operating for almost 300 years in the village of Lysychovo in Zakarpattia region. Interestingly, it produces not only souvenirs for tourists but also equipment for locals.

• The Carpathians have another unusual record. The Hutsul trembita has received the status of the largest wind instrument in the world. It can be up to 4 meters long, and its melody can be heard for almost 10 kilometers around.
• The nature of the Carpathians is a topic for a separate conversation. Just imagine: on the territory of the mountain range, you can see long-lived trees that are 3-4 thousand years old. These are berry yew and cedar pine. Unfortunately, hunters for precious wood have illegally destroyed almost all specimens of these unique trees because they are incredibly expensive, and furniture made from them will last for decades.

• Here, among the mountains, there are representatives of a unique breed of horses, Hutsul. They are very hardy and can travel for a long time on difficult roads in bad weather conditions. Since 1979, they have been under state protection.
• There are more unusual animals in the Carpathians. In particular, the Carpathian newt lives here. It is a rare species of newt found nowhere else in the world. It is listed in the Red Book of Ukraine.
• By the way, the Carpathians are the only region of Ukraine where brown bears are common. But there is no need to be afraid of meeting them. There are quite a few of these animals here, and they are rarely seen on tourist routes.
• Over the long history of its existence, this region has been home to many animals. The remains of giant sharks, mammoths, saber-toothed tigers, woolly rhinos, red deer, and more have been found here.

• Few people know that the Carpathians are home to the only active mud volcano in the world. It was formed as a result of an earthquake in 1977 in the Ivano-Frankivsk region. During seismic activity in different regions of Europe and Asia, it releases water, gas, and even oil. It looks very unusual.
• The only geyser in Ukraine is also located among the mountains. It used to emit streams of water 5 meters high. However, it has long been hidden in a pipe and directed away, so now it does not cause such admiration as it once did.

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