Bystroye Canal

Bystroye Canal is a navigation route that links the Danube River to the Black Sea through a network of distributaries in southern Odesa Oblast. The waterway handles vessel traffic and connects inland areas to international maritime routes.

The canal served as a transport route during Soviet times but closed in 1959 due to silting and remained inactive for decades. Its reopening in 2007 after major dredging work restored this historical waterway to active use.

The waterway remains vital to local communities, where fishing and reed harvesting continue as traditional practices that connect people to the landscape. These everyday activities shape how residents relate to their environment.

Direct access to the canal is restricted, but visitors can observe it from nearby viewpoints and embankments along the surrounding area. Local guides in adjacent communities can provide information about the waterway and its current operations.

The waterway passes through protected wetlands that shelter more than 300 bird species, including significant populations of white pelicans. These wetlands hold special international protection status for their ecological value.