Meshchyora National Park
Meshchera is a national park in the Vladimir region, founded in 1992. It was created to protect the natural complex. The park covers 1,189 km2, which includes part of the land managed by various owners (approximately 39%). The landscape of the park was formed a long time ago and is a swampy forest steppe.
The climate of the park is characterized by hot summers and pronounced winters. The reserve is filled with rivers and lakes. The territory of the park belongs to the basin of the Oka River. Two main rivers flow in the vicinity – the Buzha and its tributary, the Pol. In addition to these rivers, smaller ones flow: Gus, Tasa, Karaslitsa, Poserda, Shurovka, Pynsur, etc. On one side of the park, the Buzha flows into a lake named Svyatoe, part of which (200 ha) belongs to the Meschera Nature Reserve. There are other reservoirs on the territory of the park, with a total area of 600 hectares. Meschera has long been considered an unusual land of dense forests, numerous rivers and lakes. There are many legends and fairy tales behind which there are mermaids, water sprites, goblins, and even a Robber Nightingale nearby. Many poets, musicians, and artists have described this unusual region in their creations.
The flora of the Meschera National Park is very rich. It is mainly represented by forests that are located in the transition zone from taiga to broad-leaved. There are magnificent oak forests, pine forests, birch groves, as well as a wide variety of shrubs: mountain ash, raspberry, lingonberry, rosehip, viburnum. The depths of the forests are covered with green mosses, among which blueberries and lingonberries will be born. The plant families are represented by sedge, carnation, legumes, cabbage, buttercup, norichnik, etc. This area has long been famous for its many animals and birds. A huge forest swampy area serves as a home and a reliable shelter for a large number of species of large mammals, as well as birds. Especially numerous are hare, fox, wild boar, moose, beaver, ermine. Crane, grouse, kobchik, corncrake, etc. are quite common among birds. More rare are stork, heron, partridge, etc. Among the reptiles are lizards, grass snakes, and vipers. As well as amphibians: newts, frogs, etc. Lakes and rivers are filled with fish - loach, roach, perch, pike, crucian carp.
On the territory of the Meschera Nature Reserve, traces of ancient human habitation have been discovered here, which date back to the III-II thousand BC. The finds of archaeologists are located in the museum of the village of Perovo. A mandatory point when visiting the park should be the famous Crystal Museum, because this region has long been famous for the production of crystal products.
Ecological routes to the most picturesque places of Meshchera Park have also been developed here. They can be carried out by car, on foot or by water. The trails are equipped with gazebos for recreation with landscaped springs and campfires. You can also go to the Meshchersky National Park, located next door in the Ryazan region.
In winter, you can go skiing or celebrate the famous Carnival.
