Known as the "Ukrainian Atlantis": a glimpse into the village of Bakota, submerged by orders from above.

Today, Bakota is a popular tourist destination with picturesque views, crystal-clear water, and fresh air. It is a natural haven where the Dniester River creates breathtaking panoramas, and steep cliffs and green hills invite relaxation. However, not everyone knows that this water area was artificially created. Where the surface of the reservoir now lies, there once stood an ancient village with a rich history, and even earlier—a significant center from the princely era known as Bakota.

Previously, we discussed the building of the "Children's World" store in Dnipro, which was demolished. Now, we offer a glimpse into how the village of Bakota looked before it was submerged.

How Bakota Looked Before Submersion

The first mention of Bakota dates back to 1240 when it was a large city and the political-administrative center of the Dniester Lowland within the Galician-Volhynian principality. The city was a key part of Podolia, experienced prosperity, and over time, life here became calm and measured. Most residents engaged in agriculture, preserved cultural traditions, and cared for local shrines.

In the 20th century, after 1918, Bakota found itself near the border with Romania, which presented new challenges for the village: a two-meter stone wall was built along the Dniester to mark the boundary. The settlement endured the famine years of 1933 and remained untouched by the battles of World War II. However, the years of misfortune began with the famine of 1947, which led to a threefold decrease in the population.

The Tragic Submersion of Bakota

The history of Bakota came to an end in 1981 when the construction of the Dniester Hydroelectric Power Station was completed. The village of Bakota, along with three other historical settlements—Studenitsa, Kalyus, and Stara Ushytsia—found itself in the flood zone. About 7,500 households from 63 villages in the Ternopil, Chernivtsi, Khmelnytskyi, and Vinnytsia regions were subject to forced relocation. People were moved to other villages and towns, receiving compensation for only a portion of their losses—approximately 40% of the value of their property.

One of the most challenging requirements was that everyone had to personally demolish their homes and cut down the gardens planted by their ancestors, as noted in the group "History of Ukraine in Retro Photographs" on Facebook. Cemeteries, churches, and ancient monuments were also to be relocated, but many remained at the bottom of the reservoir, forever hidden beneath the water's surface.

For many families, leaving the place where generations had lived was a great tragedy. Many resettlers purchased homes in nearby villages, while some were forced to move much farther away. Thus, the story of the village of Bakota came to an end, but its spirit and memory live on in the generations of descendants and in the silent waters that conceal an entire village beneath their surface.

Earlier, "Telegraph" reported on one of the first cafes in Lviv. Ivan Franko was a frequent visitor there.