This
web-page was funded by WWF through its small grants programme, as part of the
Carpathian Ecoregion Initiative. WWF is the world's largest and most experienced
independent conservation organisation.
The
Carpathian Ecoregion Initiative is a unique international partnership achieving
conservation of nature in the globally important Carpathian mountains and, at
the same time, supporting local economy and culture for the lasting benefit of
people living in the heart of Europe. Facilitated by WWF, more than 50
organisations from seven countries are working together to make this vision
reality.
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TOURISM ATTRACTION OF THE CARPATHIAN BIOSPHERE
RESERVE
The Carpathian biosphere reserve possesses great tourism-recreational
potential. This is stipulated by the existence on its territory of the
considerable number of natural phenomena, and great representation of cultural
and historical heritage.
Each of the massifs, which form a part of the CBR, is distinguished
by its typical, unique natural objects. The visiting card of Chornohirskyi
massif is the highest summit of Ukraine – Hoverla Mountain (2061 m a.s.l.) This summit is a worship for the
population of Ukraine, an original Ukrainian Fujiyama, which attracts thousands
of tourists. Close by, rise above the other Carpathian summits, which are more
than 2000m height – Petros, Rebra, Brebeneskyl and others. The relief
of the upland Chornohirskyi range beares marks of the ancient icing with
typical glacial forms – colourful
karren and trough valleys. The mountainous slopes are covered by impenetrable secular
virgin forests, where coniferous species
prevail.
Opposite Chornohora, in the south direction, the Rakhiv mountains are
located – spurs of Maramoroskyi crystalline massif. Here, the reserved area of
the same name is found, which is crowned by the Pip-Ivan-Maramoroskyi mountain
(1940 m a.s.l.). The massif is made
from the solid crystalline rocks: gneisses, micaceous and quartz schists
etc. The geological composition stipulates the
unique relief of this area, typical features of which
are deep inter-mountainous valleys, glacial cirques, numerous rocky ridges
and summits. Such classical alpine relief is not represented anywhere else in
the territory of the Ukrainian Carpathians. Not without reason this
typical nook of the Ukrainian Carpathians is called the Hutsul
Alps.
The highest part of Svydovets with the Blyznytsa summits
is included to the Svydovets protected massif. Close by the
upland areas, where gigantic steep rocks are towering
over the glacial cirques and karren, considerable massifs of virgin
forests, which are characterized by the large diversity of flora and fauna, are
represented in this territory. According to the
popularity scale in tourist circles, this district
gives up it’s place in the Ukrainian Carpathians only to Chornohora. The
adornment of Svydovets – the
legendary Blyznytsi and growing over there edelweisses, attract thousands of
tourists annually. Their main outpost is not the less famous shelter
“Drahobrat”, the name of which is borrowed from the summit, located close by and
known even for travellers-beginners. The mountain Drahobrat is a unique
phenomena for the Carpathian region. Owing to natural
peculiarities, this place is
perfect for the creation of a large tourist complex.
Within the whole year round, here exist wonderful conditions for going in for
various kinds of active rest. In winter, this is
the mountain-skiing and skiing
sport, in summer – mountain, walking and cycle tourism,
and even, extreme tourism.
In the south spurs of Svydovets range, Kuziy-Svydovets
protected massif is located. One of its sites – “Kuziy” stow, is distinguished
by its specific scenic view. It is
surrounded from all sides by steep mountains with the prevailing summits
Kympa (1091 m a.s.l.) and Polianskyi (1094
m a.s.l.). The mountainous slopes, covered by secular virgin forests, with the
dominant oak and beech forests, are cut by the steep rocky ridge of the
Jurassic limestones. Here, on separate rocky outlets,
habitats of the common yew (Taxus baccata) – a relict
plant, which came down to us from ancient periods, are found. Besides natural
values, this territory represents considerable historical interest too. Within a
long period, the hunting country house of the Austro-Hungarian monarch family of
Gabbsburgs, was located just here.
Among all protected sites,
Uholsko-Shyrokoluzhanskyi massif is especially distinguished. It is the largest
habitat of beech virgin forests in Europe. Its southern
part is located in the Pennine zone of cliffs, for which is typical the availability of big blocks of
limestones with the well-developed karst. The various underground karst objects:
caves, grottos, mines, wells etc. are represented here.
More than thirty of them are just in the territory of the protected massif.
Among them is the largest cave of the Ukrainian Carpathians –
“Druzhba”/Friendship/, the total length of its passages makes nearly one
kilometer. The late-paleolith stand of the primitive man, which is of great
scientific value, was found in the cave “Molochnyi Kamin” /Milky
stone/. Among the overground
limestone formations stands out the unique natural bridge, known under the title
of Stone bridge, or Karst. The original geomorphological formations – limestone
rocks, with the altitude of above seventy meters, are typical for the massif’s
territory. The considerable richness of massif’s inanimate nature is supplemented with large diversity of living objects. Many rare,
relict and endemic animals and plants are represented in this territory, side by
side with virgin forests. Special attention deserve various fauna of
troglobionts and calcicolous flora, and also one of the largest in the
Carpathians growing sites of the common yew (Taxus baccata). This territory is
also rich in notable cultural and historical
monuments.
One of the Zakarpattya pearls – the famous “Valley
of Narcissi” is found in the middle of Khust-Solotvynska valley, in the ancient
terrace of the Tysa river. This small site in the flood-plain of the Khustets
river is a unique botanical object, in which the last in Europe flat habitat of
Narcissus angustifoliate (Narcissus angustifolius) is protected. This Middle European species is spread in upland areas of the Alpes, the Balkans and
the Carpathians. Its flat population, is growing here
from the postglacial period and has a relict
character. It is preserved only at this place. Besides
the great scientific significance, the “Valley of Narcissi” is of considerable
aesthetic value. In the period of mass blossoming the “Valley” is covered with a
continuous white carpet of flowering narcissi, to delight in which come tourists
from everywhere.
The volcanic Carpathians are represented in the
Carpathian biosphere reserve by two small preserves “Chorna hora” /Black
mountain/ and “Yulivska hora”/Yulivska mountain/, which got their names from
summits of the Hutyn range of the same name. The vegetation
of these massifs is formed by unique for the Ukrainian Carpathians stands of
durmast oak (Quercus petraea), Quercus
polycarpa, Quercus
dalachampi, Quercus cerris. Here are also
found the following heat-loving species: Sorbus torminalis, Tilia
argentea, Ligustrum vulgare, woodland grape
(Vitis
silvestris).
A number of rare animals of the Mediterranean nature is spread
only in these massifs of the reserve. Owing to the close location of many
settlements, in particular the town of Vynohradiv, these habitats of wild
nature have great recreational value.
The
informative ecological-training and historical-cultural center – Museum of
Mountains Ecology and History of Nature Use in the Ukrainian Carpathians, was
established in the Carpathian biosphere reserve. Its activity is directed to
conserve natural and cultural heritage of the region. The territory of the CBR
is of special significance for the preservation of culture of the Ukrainian
mountain-dwellers – Hutsuls, Boiky and Lemky. Today, separate elements of the
local use of nature, for example, upland dairy sheep breeding and related crafts
and traditions, are of the unique nature for
Europe.
The
whole network of ecological tourist trials exists in the Carpathian Biosphere
Reserve. They go though the most interesting and attractive protected areas.
Great number of natural, cultural and historical sites are located within
them. Herewith we give you a brief description of the most interesting ones.
1. Ecological tourist trial “To the Falcon Rock”
2.
Ecological
tourist trial “Beech virgin forests of Mala Uholka”
3.
Ecological
tourist trial “Beech virgin forests of Velyka Uholka”
4. Ecological tourist trial “Through Keveliv virgin forests to Petros Mountain”
5. Ecological tourist trial “Through Chornohora virgin forests to Hoverla Mountain”
For further information concerning eco-tours organizing see the web-page of the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve.
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