Ukrainian landscapes that look ripped from 'Lord of the Rings'
Where in Ukraine you can feel the atmosphere of The Lord of the Rings (collage: RBC-Ukraine)
Ukrainian nature is not just scenery, but true natural artifacts that can easily compete with Tolkien's cinematic worlds in atmosphere. Deep ravines, rock walls, turquoise rivers, and misty mornings create a vibe as if you've teleported to Middle-earth. Here are Ukrainian natural locations that resemble scenes from Tolkien's books
Buky Canyon (Cherkasy region): Ukraine's mini Rivendell
Granite shores up to 30 meters high, the fast Hirsʹkyi Tikych River, waterfalls, and chaotically scattered boulders create a cinematic atmosphere.
The place is so dramatic that it is often compared to Peter Jackson's filming locations. The canyon was formed over roughly 2 billion years. It is one of the oldest geological formations in Ukraine.
Rock Radionova (photo: Wikipedia)
Aktove Canyon (Mykolaiv region): Steppe version of Mordor-lite
It is also known as the Valley of the Devil due to its scale and massive chaotic rock formations. This unique granite-steppe complex is part of the Granite-Steppe Pobuzhzhia landscape park. Reaching depths of up to 50 meters, with canyon "streets" and curved rocks, it resembles a fantasy set piece.
Aktove Canyon (photo: Wikipedia)
Dnister Canyon (Ternopil region–Bukovyna–Halychyna): Ukraine's Anduin Valley
One of the largest canyons in Europe. Its walls reach up to 250 meters, and its total length exceeds 250 km. The soft lines of the slopes, the river's bends, and the morning fog create spectacular panoramas that closely resemble the river scenes in The Lord of the Rings. Geologists classify it as a unique erosion structure of the Podillia Upland.
Yin-Yang Island on the Dnister (photo: Wikipedia)
Smotrytskyi Canyon (Khmelnytskyi region): Natural fortress location
The canyon of the Smotrych River surrounds the Kamianets-Podilskyi Fortress. It appears as if the city is hanging above a chasm. The rocky curves create a natural line of defense, a rare natural amphitheater for Europe that enhances the feeling of a fantasy scene.
Smotrytskyi Canyon (photo: Wikipedia)
Tarakaniv Canyon (Rivne region): Atmospheric Fangorn
Although the site is better known for its 19th-century fort, the natural part of the canyon, with its fallen trees, moss-covered growth, and stone passages, creates a dense forest atmosphere. It looks like a place where you could easily imagine the ents appearing.
Dubno Fort (photo: Wikipedia)
Stanislav Canyon (Kherson region): Ukraine's Over the Sea
The chalk and clay cliffs descending to the Dnipro-Buh estuary create a visually Mediterranean-like shore. Especially at sunset, when the slopes glow gold.
Banks of the Dnipro estuary (photo: Wikipedia)
Urytski Rocks and the canyon of the Skole Beskids (Lviv region)
The Dovbush Rocks, with their cliffs, narrow passages, and stone corridors, evoke a strong association with the Rohirrim chase scene. Outcrops of gray sandstone and terraced relief formations are the result of ancient tectonic and weathering processes.
Sunrise in Tustan (photo: Wikipedia)
Earlier, we revealed where in Ukraine the stargazing is the best.
Sources: Discover Ukraine, Ukraine Travel, Wikipedia.
