Aktovsky and Arbuzynsky canyons are located near the villages of Trikraty and Actovo. Both are members of the National Nature Park "Buzky Gard". You should start from a smaller one - Arbuzinsky canyon. Take a walk either at the bottom (if the water is not too high) or at the top of the canyon. Rocks in the canyons formed more than 4 billion years ago. In Vienna there are stones that symbolize all continents, and the European stone was taken at this place.
Arbuzinsky canyon ©Yuriy Buriak
Arbuzinsky canyon ©Yuriy Buriak
Arbuzinsky canyon ©Yuriy Buriak
Arbuzinsky canyon ©Yuriy Buriak
Arbuzinsky canyon ©Yuriy Buriak
There are many different animals around the canyons. We saw a large snake and hundreds of lizards. But there are plenty of other animals, even deer. Both canyons are visible from the cliff "Navel of the World" (see the map below), which is located between them.
There are lots of lizards in the canyons. ©Yuriy Buriak
The Grand Canyon is several times bigger than the small one and is located on the Mertvovod river. First of all, check the best views from the top, then go down.
Aktovsky canyon ©Yuriy Buriak
Aktovsky canyon ©Yuriy Buriak
Aktovsky canyon ©Yuriy Buriak
Aktovsky canyon ©Yuriy Buriak
Aktovsky canyon ©Yuriy Buriak
Interesting rock formations ©Yuriy Buriak
Near the canyons in the Trikraty village you can find a small local reserve called Labyrinth. This park was created between 1849 and 1870 by landowner Victor Skarzhinsky. It is not an easy task to create a green area in the arid steppe, many trees died. Irrigation canals were dug manually and have survived until this day. The park hasn't been restored for a long time, so it's not in the best condition.
©Yuriy Buriak
Toilet in the Labyrinth ©Yuriy Buriak
Toilet in the Labyrinth ©Yuriy Buriak
Entrance to the Labyrinth in the Trikraty village ©Yuriy Buriak
©Yuriy Buriak
Getting there: By train or by bus to Voznesensk. There are buses from Mykolaiv, Odessa, Vinnytsia and Kyiv. Next take either a minibus to Trikraty (30-40 minutes) or a taxi directly to the canyons. Take the phone number of the taxi driver and call him when you go back.
