Mount Pip Ivan is located on the Chornohora ridge and has several other names. The most famous of them are Chorna Hora and Chornohorets. If you hear them, you can be sure that it is Pip Ivan Chornohirskyy, one of the highest peaks in Ukraine (2028 m). Keep in mind that there is another Pip Ivan in the Carpathians - it is located on the Marmorosky ridge, so do not confuse them.
There is still a debate about the origin of the mountain's name, and there are several versions for each of them. The most popular and romantic version explains the name "Black Mountain" - it appeared after Dovbush's heroic victory over the devil (Black Trouble) on this very mountain. The name of the mountain Pip Ivan comes from the peculiar shape of the rock that used to be at the very top, which looks like a priest in a cassock. Now only the remains of this rock can be seen.
Chorna Hora gained its popularity not so much because of its height, but because almost at its top there is a large meteorological and astronomical abandoned observatory, which is the highest building in Ukraine where people used to live and work. The building was named "White Elephant" because in winter it is covered with snow and ice from all sides, and from a distance it resembles the silhouette of a large animal. You can see this by taking part in one of our winter hikes - climbing Pip Ivan in winter. Unfortunately, this large building (a five-story hotel, outbuildings, towers with a telescope, a 10-meter copper dome with automatic opening, and its own power plant) was not in operation for long - from the moment it was opened in 1938 until the outbreak of war in 1941. Nowadays, there are constant talks about resuming the work of the observatory, but so far, unfortunately, to no avail.
The highest mountain tree in Ukraine, the mountain pine, was also discovered on Mount Pip Ivan Chornohirsky. Here it grows at an altitude of 2010 meters above sea level.
You can climb the Chorna Hora in summer and see everything with your own eyes with our club "Kuluar", taking part in a hike along the Chornohora ridge.