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Photo «Озеро Люцимер» — Шацький національний природний паркUsed with permissioncropped

karst lake

Liutsymyr

Люцимер

Shatsk National Nature Park; its western shore adjoins the town of Shatsk

Verified dataset

Key facts

Liutsymyr is one of the largest and warmest lakes in the park, reaching almost to the edge of Shatsk and holding a sandy island at its centre. It is also among the most heavily loaded: together with Chorne Velyke it carries the highest nitrogen and phosphorus content in the district, and mineralisation reaches 275 mg/dm³.

Area: ≈4.3 km²
Maximum depth: 11.2 m
Average depth: ≈4.1 m
Shoreline: 8.7 km

Water

Published water indicators

Transparency: 1.6 m
pH: ≈7.9
Total dissolved solids: ≈275 mg/L
Dissolved oxygen: 8.8–14.3 mg/L

Water type: calcium bicarbonate
Trophic state: eutrophic (trending towards eutrophication)

Ionic composition, mg/dm³

HCO₃⁻171

Ca²⁺50

Na⁺+K⁺18

Cl⁻18

SO₄²⁻14

Mg²⁺4

Ecosystem

Flora and birds

Red Book flora

white water lily

Birds

mute swancommon goldeneyemallarddiverEurasian cootgarganeygreat crested grebe

What to know

Lake in detail

One of the largest and warmest lakes in the park — fourth by area, after Svitiaz, Pulemetske and Luky — with a sandy island in the middle.
Artificial canals connect it to Lakes Chorne Velyke and Kruhle, a system built in the interwar Polish period.
Twenty lake-specific fish profiles are backed for Liutsymyr: nineteen species and forms are listed directly by the Shatsk park profile, and white bream is additionally attested by the official 2010 quota.
In the commercial catches of 2010–2018 roach dominated at 41.6%, followed by carp (17.3%), bream (14.0%) and pike-perch (13.0%).
A survey in September 2015 recorded 8 species from 4 families in its sample — a single field snapshot rather than a full list of the lake's fish fauna.
Crayfish survive only in the lakes with clean water — Svitiaz and Liutsymyr — which serves as an indicator of water quality.
The name is explained by legend either from a cruel squire called Lytsemir or from the lovers Liudmyla and Liutsymer; the scholarly reading derives it from German “Luce” (light) and “Meer” (sea).
Archaeologists found remains of a Pomeranian-culture settlement nearby, and it has been suggested that the chronicled town of Rai stood here.

History

Chronology

Міжвоєнний період
Polish engineers brought Liutsymyr into the canal system Chorne Velyke — Liutsymyr — Kruhle — Dovhe — Plotychchia — Krymne.
1937
The American brown bullhead was introduced to Liutsymyr and Luky, and later spread to the other lakes of the group.
1983
Shatsk National Nature Park is created, with Liutsymyr among its protected complexes.
2000
A project to improve the hydrological state of Liutsymyr, Chorne Velyke and the adjoining marshes was carried out: water levels stabilised and spawning grounds began to recover.
2010
Official quotas for the use of aquatic living resources separately attested carp, bream, Prussian carp, pike, eel, pike-perch, roach, perch, bleak, brown bullhead and white bream for Liutsymyr.
2010–2018
By commercial catch, the core of the stock was roach (41.6%), carp (17.3%), bream (14.0%) and pike-perch (13.0%).
Вересень 2015
A field sample recorded 8 fish species from 4 families and revealed an imbalance in the food base: exceptionally abundant phytoplankton against much weaker zoobenthos.

Folklore

Legends of the lake

“The castle of squire Lytsemir”

In the popular version the lake takes its name from a cruel squire, Lytsemir, whose estate the water is said to have swallowed.

“Liudmyla and Liutsymer”

Another legend traces the name to a pair of lovers, Liudmyla and Liutsymer, whom fate parted on these shores.

“Giant eels”

Local lore tells of eels two to three metres long living in the depths of Liutsymyr — an echo of the lake's reputation among anglers.

State and recreation

The lake today

Recreation

Beaches: sandy beaches, with holiday bases and guest houses among the woods

One of the few lakes in the park open to both commercial and recreational fishing; park rules and the spawning closure apply.

Ecological pressures

Wastewater from Shatsk

Domestic wastewater from the town accelerates eutrophication; together with Chorne Velyke, the lake carries the highest nitrogen and phosphorus content in the group.

a belt of overgrowth 70–150 m wide

Hydrology

Documented connections

canal

Chorne Velyke

canal

Kruhle

Geography and access

Places nearby

All places →

settlement

Shatsk

Shatsk is the administrative centre and main gateway to the Shatsk lake district. The settlement lies between Lakes Liutsymyr and Chorne Velyke and concentrates the community’s everyday services.

Open profile →

village

Ostrivia

Ostrivia is a village beside Lake Ostrivianske and the Luky–Peremut lake network. It provides access to a quieter north-western part of the lake district away from the main resort flows.