Carpathian National Park
Carpathian - a national natural park located in the western part of Ukraine, Ivano-Frankivsk region. It is considered the oldest among the national natural parks of the country and was founded on June 3, 1980, by decree of the Council of Ministers of the Ukrainian SSR. The national park is a natural laboratory for many Ukrainian and foreign scientific institutions. Its area is 143 km2 and is divided into main zones as follows:
- the protected – the most valuable natural complexes are protected by the state;
- recreation area – is carried out rest and rehabilitation of visitors, and an overview of the most beautiful places of the reserve is also provided;
- economic – performed by an economic function;
- protective – work is underway to preserve and renew ecosystems.
In this park is the largest point of the Ukrainian Carpathians – Goverla ( 2061m. ). At the foot of this mountain, the Prut river is born, which intertwines with numerical water flows such as Kamenka, Zhenets, Prutets, Gomulets and many others on the way. A lot of lovers of natural beauty gather at the waterfalls « Breakthrough » on the Prut River in Yaremche and « Hook » on the Zhenets River. The fantastic caves of Dovbusch will also be captivated by their grace. It makes you look back a unique place where cedar pine trees – Kedrovatny tract grow. The climate in the park has a very positive effect on the development of tourism in this area. For pedestrian and motor tourism, the summer-autumn period is great, but for the ski resort – winter.
Marichika and the Frantic, such names are the most outstanding glacial lakes that are located in the reserve. Here you can also meet the springs of hydrogen sulfide water. The park is rich in carbon dioxide, as well as medicinal hydrocarbonate, and no less useful sulfate, chloride crystal mineral waters ( « Borjomi », « Arna », « Essentuki » ). Carbon dioxide-sodium water with the name « Burkut » is also popular.
The pristine landscapes and lack of industrial zones, gives the air a special healing. All these factors influenced the opening of health-medical complexes throughout the park, and especially in the part where Yaremche, Vorokhta, Mikulichin are located.
A successful geographical location, a favorable climate – these are the main reasons for the rich plant world of the Carpathian National Park. Luxurious forests are represented by trees such as: beech, fir, spruce, maple, birch, as well as bushes: elderberry, fishing, willow, alder and many others. Plants in the reserve are very diverse, there are about 1100 species, among which many have medicinal properties, and close to 20 are recorded in the Red Book of Ukraine.
Love this area and animals. 46 species of mammals, approximately 180 species of birds, as well as a large number of amphibians, fish, reptiles chose this area for their housing. The decoration of the circle is deer, roe deer, proteins, birds with one stone, many other animals and birds that carelessly roam the territory.
