Border zone. Since 2023, access to the northern part of the lake district requires a permit from the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.
Shatsk Lakesreference guide · svityaz.lutsk.ua
Біле латаття та жаби серед листя на поверхні озера Ритець
51.4975, 23.6767

Photo «Оз. Ритець.jpg» — Lorane16CC BY-SA 4.0cropped

karst lake

Rytets

Ритець

Shatsk National Nature Park

Verified dataset

Key facts

Rytets is a tiny but relatively deep karst lake hidden in the forest near the village of Koshary. The historical Mościcki canal carries its outflow to the Western Bug, and the open fish lists for it are sparse and need careful reading.

Area
≈0.042 km²
Maximum depth
6 m
Average depth
3 m
Shoreline
km

Ichthyofauna

Fish of the lake

All species →

Ecosystem

Flora and birds

Birds

mallardgarganeyEurasian cootblack-headed gull

What to know

Lake in detail

  • Only 4.2–4.4 ha in area, yet sources put its maximum depth at anywhere from 3.7 to 6 m; this profile shows the upper published estimate.
  • Hidden in dense forest near the village of Koshary and almost free of direct agricultural pressure.
  • Linked by the historical Mościcki canal to the Western Bug, which carries its outflow; it has no surface canal connection to the other Shatsk lakes.
  • The lake bed is covered with sapropel; the southern, western and northern shores are peaty and boggy, while the eastern and north-eastern ones are raised and sandy.
  • One lake description with scientific names lists channel catfish, crucian carp and gudgeon; an angling guide separately names perch and roach.
  • The channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus is not the same as the brown bullhead Ameiurus nebulosus; with no modern control survey, the record for Rytets carries moderate confidence.

State and recreation

The lake today

How the lake has changed

1933–2021

Unlike most small lakes of the group, the published comparison records a slight increase in area and volume; the exact figures need checking against the primary table.

Hydrology

Documented connections

outflow

Western Bug

Geography and access

Places nearby

All places →

Language note

Editorial scope

This English profile carries the full narrative, chronology and local traditions. Source titles stay in their original language, and the Ukrainian page remains the reference version.

Read the Ukrainian profile →

Sources

Source titles are retained in their original language.

Photo «Оз. Ритець.jpg» — Lorane16CC BY-SA 4.0cropped