The Carpathian National Nature Park

The Carpathian National Nature Park was established under the Decree of the Council of Ministers of Ukraine of June 3,1980. It occupies 50,303 hectares. It spreads for 55 km from the north to the south and for 20 km from the west to the east. The prevailing elevations of the area vary from 500 to 2,000 m a. s. I. The highest point of Ukraine, the summit of Hoverla (2,061 ma. s.l.) is located right here.

The Carpathian National Nature Park is designed for the conservation of typical for the Chornohora and the Gorgany regions landscapes, valuable historic, architectural and cultural monuments, for the ecological education, conducting scientific researches in the field of nature protection, and for the purposes of recreation and tourism development. Within the Park's area a network of three tourist routes, recreation sites, eight ecological and educational trails are organized. The infrastructure of green tourism is well developed, as well as numerous different recreational establishments (sanatoriums, rest-houses, sanitary and medical complexes, tourist camps and others) are functioning.

The area of the National Park lies within two geo-structural zones: Chornohirs'ka and Skybova zones of the Carpathian fold system. This area represents the region of the Eastern Gorgany characterized by mountains of middle height and stony fields, the region of Yasyns'ko-Verkhovyns'ka intermountain depression with mild landforms and flat tops of the mountains, and the region of the Chornohory mountainous massif with high ridges which extend from northwest to southeast and have characteristic landforms of ancient

All types of phytocenosis (except for the oak forests): subalpine, and alpine altitudinal belts, which are typical for the mountainous regions of Central Europe are protected within the Carpathian National Nature Park. The beech, spruce, fir, alder (Alnus incana) and mixed forests occupy most of the area, while the black alder, birch, and pine forests are rather rare. The beech-fir-spruce and pure spruce forests are the most typical. Here such tree species as sycamore, ash,, and elm, are also growing. The flora is also rich with rare species. Thirty-five endemics are recorded in the Park's area with 12 all-Carpathian endemics. The landscape diversity of the National Park's area makes , for the diversity of the wild life. Its specific feature is the great part of insectivorous, Cherioptera and rodents. The number of carnivores and Artiodactyla is somewhat less. Sometimes a visitor is lucky to see a red deer, a roe deer, a wild boar, or a wild cat. The number of birds' species of the National Park's area is big. In its dark coniferous forests you could even find birds that are typical for the taiga landscapes: bullfinches and nutcrackers. On the whole the fauna of the National Park is represented by 48 species of mammals, 110 of birds, 11 of fishes, 10 of amphibians, 6 of reptiles. Thirty-two species of fauna are listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine. Such species as wolf, brown bear, true otter, lynx and others are included to the European Red List.

The area of the Carpathian National Park is located within the very interesting and unusual historic and ethnographic region of Ukraine named Hutsul'schyna. This land is famous for it's cultural and historic heritage. Law protects numerous monuments in this area. Here you can find archeological monuments that date back as far as 15,000 years ago, monuments of traditional wooden architecture of the 16th-19th centuries, and, finally, modern elegant buildings of recreation sites whose architecture succeeds the traditions of local Hutsul architectural style. The natural monuments in the National Park's area are numerous. The raised bog named Rudiak with bog cranberry and other rare plant species is very interesting from scientific point of view. The locality Kedruvate in Chornohora Mountains is the only habitat of Swiss stone pine. Many tourists are fascinated with cliffs and caves, named after Oleksa Dovbush. The special gift of the National Park's nature is its mineral springs with water of two types: chloride hydrocarbonate natrii and sodium bicarbonate of low salinity and high organic acidity.

Apart from the natural values the park is rich in cultural and historical heritage of the local people. Within the Carpathian National Nature Park (CNNP) lives the ethnic group of Ukrainian mountain dwellers, known as the Hutsuls. The traditional use of natural resources by these mountain dwellers is rational. Local resources, if used reasonably, can become the

glaciations: vast glacial moraine valleys and kars (lakes) with crystal-clear water.

The climate of the National Park's area is characterized as transitional from the West European moderately warm to the continental East European. The average annual temperature is +6° C, decreasing at high altitudes, while the annual precipitation increases with the altitude from 800 to 1,400 mm. The amount of snow precipitation is normally about 50 cm, but in some winters it could reach up to 2 m. The soil cover is rather diverse with brown mountain forest, mountain podzol, mountain meadow soils that prevail. The main waterway in the National Park's area is the Prut River. Its riverhead is located near the foot of the Hoverla Mountain and its total length within the Park limits is 50 km.

foundation for the region's transformation to a model of sustainable development. Traditional Hutsul culture and their way of life are notable for their numerous original features, formed under the influence of the severe mountainous conditions. Consequently, stockbreeding (in particular, sheep-breeding) plays a large role in the economy of the Hutsuls. Sheep are especially appreciated by the Hutsuls, as these animals gave all the necessary products for survival: milk, cheese, sour cream, brynza (a kind of salted cottage cheese, the specialty of the region), wool, etc. The Hutsul culture has preserved many archaic features. It can be seen in the imprints of the spiritual life of different eras, from the primitive epoch with it's belief in fantastic elements to modern thinking formed through

practical experience. The Hutsul folklore is very rich and unique. It contains different song genres, as well as a wide variety of traditional dances and instrumental music. This region is notable for rich decorative art, expressed through ceramics, embroidery, weaving, artistic metals, wood carving.

The reserve areas of CNNP are scientific-research institutions, where investigations are carried out with the following goals; studying natural processes, providing the public with the constant observations of their changes, providing the citizens with ecological prognosis, working out of the scientific grounds of the protection, renovation and use of natural resources and valuable objects. In the last years the scientific research embrace most of the components of nature ecosystems. The preference is given to the study of biotic pnvironment, as it is the most vulnerable concerning the anthropogenic impact. The study of dynamic of heavy metals in hydro- and atmosphere is also an important point. The works of monitoring are conducted by means of stationary complex researches, developed in the permanent plots, phenotogical, meteorological and hydrological posts, and permanent inventory routes,

With the aim of regulation of nature protection, economic and recreation activities directed to conservation of nature ecosystems, the territory of the park is divided into four functional zones: the reserved zone, the zone of regulated recreation, the zone of stationary recreation and the economic zone. The reserved zone is designated for protection and reproduction of especially valuable nature complexes. Tourist routes are permitted in this zone. The zone of stationary recreation permits the construction on its territory of stationary recreation establishments for park visitors, in the economic zone economic activities are carried out, and the natural resources are used for inhabitants' needs (30,000 people live on the territory of the park), as well as wood cutting with forest keeping purposes. The existence of these zones causes a number of prohibitions in the territory of the Carpathian NNP.lt is prohibited to;

-deviate from the route;

-damage the nature objects;

-make a fire in the unauthorized places, smoke in the forest;

-cut and damage the trees, pick the flowers, or collect medicinal herbs;

-hunt animals, cause any harm to the areas of their habitats, fish, carry fire-arms;

-leave litter, make noise.

Our park is an open-air museum of the Carpathian nature, which attracts visitors by its picturesque landscapes of alpine meadows, mountainous forests and lakes. Having enjoyed its beauty and improved your health at local resorts, you will certainly want to visit these places again.

+380 (03434) 2-27-31;

+380 (03434) 2-22-59;

+380 (03434) 2-11-57.

+380 (03434) 2-28-17.

E-mail: ecoplay@phantom.pu.if.ua