In the 1980s, the state began building the Kaniv Pumped Storage Power Station (PSPP) in Cherkasy region.
85 households were relocated. The forest was cleared. Lysukhа hill — bearing archaeological monuments — was destroyed. Construction roared ahead.
Then the funding ran out. Work stopped.
The pit was gradually filled by the underground springs of the Trakhtemyriv-Buchak fault zones. The result was a lake 100 ft (30 m) deep with crystal-clear blue water.
General Information
| What? | Description |
|---|---|
| Name | Lake Buchak (Azure Lake, Blue Lake) |
| Address | village of Buchak, Cherkaska oblast, between Kaniv and Trakhtemyriv |
| Type | pit of unfinished PSPP, filled by springs |
| Depth | 66–100 ft (20–30 m); floor covered with concrete slabs |
| Area | ~1 sq mile (~1 km²) |
| Water | spring-fed, not from the Dnipro; cold and clear |
| Status | near-abandoned village; wild tourism |
Why the Water Is Blue and Cold
Lake Buchak is not fed from the Dnipro. It is supplied by underground springs of the Trakhtemyriv-Buchak fault zones — where water emerges from great depth.
That is why even in the heat the water is cool, remarkably clear, with the bottom visible several metres down. On the floor — concrete slabs left from the unfinished station.
14 Settlements from Trypillians to Cossacks
Around the lake is one of Ukraine’s most densely layered archaeological zones.
According to the Institute of Archaeology of the NAS of Ukraine: 14 settlements, 5 hillforts and 2 burial grounds around Buchak. They span virtually all cultures of the Middle Dnipro region: from the Trypillian culture (4th millennium BC) to the Cossack era.
Lysukha Hill, which stood here before construction, contained some of these monuments — and was destroyed during earthworks.
Films and Artists
The blue colour and wild nature made Buchak a popular film location. Dozens of artists from Ukraine and abroad have also come here to capture the beauty of this unique place.
What Not to Expect
There is no proper road: the asphalt ends about 0.6 miles (1 km) before the village; beyond that is a steep dirt track. After rain — difficult to climb. Buchak itself is nearly abandoned: a handful of houses, mainly dacha visitors in summer.
Practical Information
- Entry: free
- Road: steep dirt track; SUV recommended after rain
- Swimming: yes, but cold water
- From Kaniv: ~12 miles (~20 km)
- From Cherkasy: ~50 miles (~80 km)
Conclusion
Building a power station. They destroyed the forest and the hill. Relocated the people.
Money ran out. They stopped.
The springs filled the pit.
The result: a 100-foot-deep lake on the site of 14 Trypillian and Cossack settlements.
