Where the soul rests Turquoise necklace of Kyiv

Lake Almazne

The largest and youngest lake in the left-bank part of Kyiv and in the city as a whole is considered to be Almazne, or otherwise known as Lesove. The lake was named Diamond because of its unusually clean water for this area. In the 70s, there were fields of corn and peas and a small swamp where peat was extracted. This is the reason for another name of the lake - ‘Peat’. The lake is flowing, with a stream flowing out of its western part, which eventually flows into the Dnipro. The depth of Almazne reaches 35 metres in some places.

One shore of the lake is surrounded by a pine forest and a cemetery, but this does not bother anyone - the water is home to fish and crayfish, which are known to not live in dirty water. Every year, experts test the water, and at a depth of 3 metres, the water is quite potable. The other shore is industrial, with the raised chimneys of the CHP-6 and the massive building of the Mint of the National Bank of Ukraine.

The area around the giant lake with its beautiful scenery is considered to be one of the best for jogging. The forest surrounding the lake has its own ‘health track’ - an 8.5 km long circle. The markings on the trees in the form of red arrows on a white background will help you not to get lost.

This is an ideal place to watch the sunrise while sitting on the bank among the pine forest, which is close to the water.

• Getting there: by buses #98, #100 to the Almaz stop.

Lake Solnechne

The lake with the beautiful name Solnechne is picturesque in appearance, like most of the city's water bodies. Its valley was shaped in its current state by the construction of the Poznyaki and Kharkivskyi residential areas. It was in the mid-80s and early 90s of the last century. Therefore, this period is considered the birth date of the lake.

The lake is fed by groundwater and precipitation, the bottom of the lake is sandy and the shores are gentle. In summer, you can always go to the beach, which is very crowded at this time. The most beautiful panorama opens from a small promenade. There are several restaurants and cafe bars near the lake where you can have a bite to eat, as well as an entertainment complex where club parties often take place. The shores of the lake are hidden behind dense vegetation. Many locals do morning exercises and go jogging here.

In winter, you can go ice skating and sledding on Solnechne Lake, go fishing, or just walk around with your beloved one, because it is a romantic place.

•     Getting there: by metro to Kharkivska station (green line), then by taxi #17 or 137N to the Revutskoho Street stop.  Or from the Chernihivska metro station to the Pryvokzalna stop, then walk one kilometer along Kharkivske Shosse and Zdolbunivska Street.

Lake Raduzhne

In ancient times, the Radunka River flowed here, beginning its journey near Troyeshchyna and, having circled it, flowed further south below Vyhurivshchyna, parallel to Chortoryi, and flowed into the Desna. In the early eighteenth century, the Radunka River turned into a chain of swamps and lakes. This is how the Radunka (or Raduzhne) Lake was formed, one of the most picturesque places in the Dniprovskyi district on the left bank of Kyiv.

Raduzhne Lake is a great place for those who want to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city and be alone with nature. It is located between the Voskresenka neighborhood and the Rainbow Massif. The lake is quite large, 3 km long and sometimes 500 meters wide. In the past, the reservoir occupied a huge area, but over time it has undergone many modifications and has shrunk significantly.

In the northern part, the Rainbow Lake is divided by a park bridge.

The surroundings of the lake are ennobled and landscaped. There is a sandy beach, a convenient gentle entrance to the water, gazebos and tables with benches, a restaurant, a cafe, and a playground. There is also enough space for leisurely walks alone.

•     Getting there: by city train (Troyeshchyna station) or by minibuses 59, 61, 70, 578.

Chain of lakes “Opech”

As many as six lakes were formed on the site of the upper part of the Pochayna River bed. They arc around Obolon from the west and south:

• Jordanske (Lower, Opechon-1);
     
• Kyrylivske (Upper, Opechon-2);
     
•  Andriyivske (Bohatyrske, Pozhezhne, Opechon-3);
     
• Ptashyne (Bohatyrske, Opechon-4);
     
• Opech (Luhove, Opech-5);
     
• Minske (Opechin-6).

• The lakes are connected by flow tunnels. A walk from one lake to another is a great idea for an active day out. In the south, the lake system begins with Jordan Lake, located next to the North Bridge.

Jordan Lake

The lake owes its name to a priest who discovered that the underground spring that flows into the lake under the Bald Mountain comes from the Jordan itself. According to the legend, a pilgrim from Kyiv, while in Palestine, dropped a unique silver ladle into the water. Returning home a year later, he wanted to drink water from the stream and came across the lost ladle. This means only one thing - this stream is fed by Jordanian waters. Old-timers say that this spring purifies the water in the reservoir.

The place is popular with Kyiv residents not only as a summer public beach, but also as a reservoir for free fishing. Jordan Lake is home to various types of fish: pike, perch, tench, pike perch, many crucians, and even crayfish.

• Getting there: from the Pochayna metro station, walk to the Lower or Jordan Lake, and then go to all the lakes in the chain.

Lake Verbne

This lake is one of the floodplain reservoirs that arose as a result of the river changing its course as it flowed through the valley. It was created in 1994 in the Obolon district of Kyiv. The lake is fed by underground springs with very clean water, so its second name is Zerkalka. It is an ichthyological and botanical reserve with many species of fish, including those listed in the Red Book.

The lake is located in close proximity to residential buildings, but this does not make it any less attractive.It is surrounded by a number of beaches separated by green spaces - sometimes it seems that you are walking in a forest instead of a lake.During your walk, you can relax on park benches or have a coffee with sweets in mini-cafes.
In summer, the lake beckons with its coolness, and in winter, when the ice is well frozen, a real ice rink is arranged there.

• Getting there: from the Pochayna metro station, walk or take a couple of stops to Pryozerna Street; from the Obolon metro station, take bus 582 and then walk to the lake.

Lake Redkino

The lake is known as one of the cleanest lakes in the capital.It appeared on the city's map only a few decades ago, although the name ‘Redkino’ appeared long before the lake itself was created - in the late 19th century.At that time, the southern part of the modern reservoir was located on the site of the Redkin hamlet. 
The second variant of the origin of this name is the word ‘ridnyk’, which was used to describe the edge of a forest with sparse and sparse vegetation that grows in these places to this day.

The second, more popular name for the lake, Ministrka, came about because of the proximity to the lake of a sanatorium built in the 1960s for members of the Council of Ministers of the USSR. The choice of this place by the party elite was not accidental, as even today it is one of the cleanest lakes in the capital with picturesque views, cosy bays and fishing spots.

It is an ideal place for a good rest after a hard day's work. 

On the ‘wild’ side of Lake Redkino with its small bays, where there are no busy beaches, cafes or ice cream tents, there is everything you need for a leisurely walk - water that is transparent due to special algae, a clean shore, and fresh air.The lake is beautiful at any time of the year.

• Getting there: from the Minska metro station by bus or minibus, get off at the Mayorova stop or from the Heroiv Dnipra metro station to the Diagnostic Centre stop.