Zakarpattya is rich in a variety of lakes, rivers and even waterfalls. These water sources, along with ancient castles and other beauties of the region, are considered to be its most beautiful sights. One of such sights is the Tisza River, which opens up natural pictures of inexpressible beauty.
The Tisa River is the longest river in Transcarpathia and the largest left tributary of the Danube. Its waters, overcoming mountain peaks and rapids, steep coastal slopes and waterfalls, make a path of 996 kilometers, 201 of which — in the Transcarpathian region of Ukraine. And throughout its journey through Ukraine, Romania and Hungary, it is invariably beautiful and mesmerizing.
The Tisza owes its birth to the mountain massifs of the Eastern Carpathians Chernogora and Svidovets, from which the White and Black Tisza originate, merging in the east of Transcarpathia near the town of Rakhov and forming its channel. The Tisa is a mountainous river, rough and rushing in some places, calm and quiet in others, but, at the same time, always wide and spacious.
The Tisa Valley is a variety of natural and urban panoramas. On its banks stand the Ukrainian cities of Rakhiv, Tyachiv, Khust and Chop. One of the most beautiful views of the Tisa River in Transcarpathia is from the town of Khust, where one of its tributaries, the Rika, flows into it. Here, on the embankment formed by steep rocky cliffs and gentle plains, the ancient Hust Castle has been rising above the blue waters of the river at a height of more than 150 meters since the XII century.
It is with this river that the birth of the city of Khust is connected. In the XI century, the famous salt route passed along the Tisza, which the Hungarian kings wanted to control. The construction of the castle began, and at its foot the settlement was born. In general, the picturesque valleys of the river have attracted people since time immemorial — on the bank of the Tisa near the village of Korolevo the oldest human settlement in Ukraine, dating back to the early Paleolithic era (500 thousand years ago), was discovered.
In the area of Khust there is one of the most calm and wide stretches of the river, which is a natural picture of amazing beauty. The smoothness of the blue waters, dissecting hilly and level expanses, brings to mind the eternity and inexhaustibility of natural beauty, its depth and richness. However, if you go down the river below Khust, its stroppy, impetuous character becomes apparent again — here the Tisa once again makes its way among the mountain peaks — the banks again become precipitous, and their slopes are covered with dense ancient beech and coniferous forests.
The variety of natural panoramas of the Tisza, presenting either quiet and peaceful landscapes in green valleys or exciting and mesmerizing pictures of turbulent waters reflecting high mountain peaks and age-old forests, attract not only lovers of the beauty of unspoiled nature, but also lovers of outdoor activities. From March to October, rafting and tourist rafting trips on the Tisza are organized on canoes, kayaks, catamarans and other types of water transport.
Rafting on the main water attractions of Transcarpathia — the Tisza River or a simple walk along its banks leaves a lot of pleasant impressions. Such natural sights of Ukraine form parts of its soul, reflecting the incredible beauty of Ukrainian nature.