Liman is a Greek word. It means a bay. Most often limans are formed at the place where a river flows into the sea. The obligatory condition for the mouth of the river to be called a liman is the presence of a sandy partition, spit or oversypy. It is reclaimed by sea waves, trying to block the access of river water to their reservoir. The most important estuaries in Ukraine are the Dnieper-Bug and Dniester estuaries.
Berezansky estuary is slightly inferior in physical parameters (mirror area and depth) to its «colleagues», but it is a very attractive place for recreation. It is located on the territory of Odessa region, in the place where the rivers Berezan and Sosik flow into the Black Sea. The surface area of this water body is only 60 km², its length does not exceed 25 km, and its maximum width reaches 3 km.
The peculiarities of the Berezansky estuary is a rather large strait, by which it communicates with the Black Sea. Its width is 400 meters, so there is a wide exchange of water, phytoplankton and fauna between both reservoirs. This has a beneficial effect on the economic and recreational value of the estuary. Another original feature of this reservoir is the presence of a second spit, which clearly divides the hydrological object into a southern and northern part.
Besides, the Berezansky estuary has steep, precipitous shores characteristic for the whole relief of the Odessa region, formed by layers of clay, siltstone and sandy rocks. They take part in the formation of the unique appearance of this natural object and are a refuge for dozens of species of shore birds. For example, for coastal swallows and pelicans.
What is good to rest in these places? In addition to the special Odessa flavor and salty aroma of the Black Sea, Berezansky estuary attracts the inhabitants of the region and those few visitors who know about its advantages, wonderful fishing.
Naturally, the main treasure, which is found in local waters, is the famous bullhead. The small fish with an exorbitantly large head is presented here in 20 varieties. For example, whip and round, sandpiper and greenling, redfish and so on. These fish have perfectly adapted to life in the brackish water of the estuary, they are relict and valuable commercial animals at the same time. The gobies are accompanied by carp, pike-perch, pike-perch, cutthroat trout and pike, which live in the northern part of the reservoir, as well as mullet and glossy flounder, which prefer its southern part. Daily catching tickets are sold to those who wish to do so, the cost of which is much lower than the fish that can be caught here during this time.
On the shore of the Berezansky estuary is the village of Rybakovka. It has become a base for those who come to fish on the estuary. Not many people know, but on the territory of the village was found a treasure trove of bronze weapons of the Cimmerian period, on its lands there is a lake Solonets-Tuzla, filled with therapeutic mud, and in the XVIII century there was a Turkish outpost, known to historians under the name Hasan-Kale. It was part of the Ottoman Turks’ defense system, along with the fortresses of Ochakov and Silistra.
Today, to get on vacation in the Black Sea region, you should not try to capture the region, as Suvorov’s army did in his time during the Russian-Turkish war. It is enough just to buy a tour, book accommodation or come here as a «savage» to enjoy all the sights of Rybakovka and take advantage of the natural riches of the Berezansky estuary.