Irshava district

Irshava district is situated in the central part of Transcarpathian region within the boundaries of Borzhava and Volcanic mountain ranges, Irshava valley and Transcarpathian Lowland. The highest peak is Mount Buzhora (1081 m). There are lots of ponds and forests there; Borzhava River with its tributaries Irshava and Kushnytsia flows through it.

The first settlements here appeared during the Neolithic age (c. 5000 BC), as evidenced by the archaeological finds on the outskirts of Irshava (on Lozyanska Mount), near the villages Chornyi Potik, Ilnytsia, Ardanovo. There is also a unique monument - Kolodnyanski kurgans that represent Kushtanovytska culture. In the district there have been discovered Scythian kurgans as well as hillforts of different epochs and cultures in the villages of Ardanovo and Bilky, on the mountains Badaniv and Stremtura.

On the 7th of June, 1703, in Irshava district, near the village Dovhe, the first memorable battle of kuruc rebels happened that later entered the history of Hungarian War of Independence. In 1865 near the village Ilnytsya the first Transcarpathian coal mine was opened.

An important part in economic growth of the district played the construction of Borzhava narrow gauge railway, the so-called commercial railway that continues to function even nowadays.

The tourists will doubtlessly be interested in Charming Land National Park, which contains two unique natural sites of national importance: natural landmark Smerekovyi Kamin (near Ilnytsia village), renowned in Ukraine as the most peculiar rock massif, and unique for Europe, rare raised sphagnum bog Chorne boloto. The hikers will be attracted by the mountains Kuk and Buzhora from the top of which a panoramic view of The Borzhava Mountain Valley opens up. In the interfluve between Borzhava and Irshava rivers gardens and vineyards are spread out as well as fields planted with vegetables.