…I look at Latoritsa. How much poetry there is in it!
When there is no wind, it seems that it is not a river,
but a pure mirror in which all the best can be seen….
One of the most beautiful rivers of Transcarpathia, along with the Uzh, Tisa, Terebla and other water treasures of the region, is Latoritsa River. Legends, legends and miracles are associated with it, which make the river even more beautiful and interesting for tourists.
The Latoritsa River originates in Volovetsky district of Transcarpathian region near the village of Latirki. This river is on the list of the longest water bodies in Transcarpathia. Its total length is 191 kilometers, 144 of which are within Ukraine and the rest in Slovakia, where it merges with the Uzh River to form the Bodrog River, which flows into the Tisza.
The character of the Latoritsa, like many other Transcarpathian rivers, is inconstant. Up to the town of Mukachevo its waters, overcoming mountain ranges and valleys, are rough and fast, the river’s path is bordered by high hills and mountains, its banks are framed by rocky scatterings and dense coniferous and deciduous forests, presenting picturesque pictures to the eye. From Mukachevo, where the beauty of the river combined with magnificent architectural landscapes manifests itself in all its grandeur, the Latoritsa becomes a quiet, calm, wise river.
The town of Mukachevo owes its origin to the Latoritsa. In ancient times, as the legend says, on its banks was built a huge mill, which made flour from grain — from this word, according to some historians, and the name of the city. And the city itself appeared here thanks to the fertile soils of the river valley and the fact that Slavic trade routes crossed there in ancient times.
In the area of Mukachevo Latoritsa appears in all its beauty, framed by gentle banks with many beautiful houses. There is also an ancient Mukachevo Castle on almost 100-meter high mountain, and Mukachevo Orthodox Svyato-Nikolaevskij nunnery on the right bank of the river. Another legend is connected with the foundation of this monastery.
According to the legend, the local ruler F. Koryatovich, choosing a place to build a monastery on the bank of the river, saw an angel above its waters, who pointed with his hand to the mountain where the monastery should be built. The painting «The Appearance of the Angel on the Latoritsa River to Prince Fyodor Koryatovich», painted by Archimandrite Vasily (Pronin), was dedicated to this miracle.
Many miracles and legends are associated with this river. And one of these miracles can be seen by any guest of Mukacheve, Chinadiev or Svalyava: the picturesque views of the river are a miracle in itself. Thanks to care and frugality, the waters of Latoritsa remain clean, and the surrounding nature is inspiring and incredibly beautiful.
The Latorica is home to the main indicator of the ecological purity of the water — trout, as well as many other fish species. In the upper reaches it is grayling, burbot, in the middle reaches — eel, chub, chub, in the lower reaches — pike, roach, tench and many others. Fishing on this river is very popular, although not easy due to the strong current for inexperienced anglers. Rafting in the mountainous area of the river is popular among other entertainments, which attracts lovers of outdoor activities due to the possibility to get a lot of adrenaline without risk — there are no dangerous and complicated rapids on the Latoritsa.
In the valley of the Latoritsa River there are many famous attractions of Ukraine — the ancient villages of Svalyava and Gankovitsa, the village of Chinadievo and, of course, Mukachevo. There are many spa places, water treatment centers, balneological resorts, sanatoriums. Beautiful views of the valley of this sights of Transcarpathia, the purest healing mountain air and opportunities for active recreation on the Latoritsa have made it one of the most famous rivers in Transcarpathia, and anyone can visit it.