The Meotis is what the ancient Greeks called the Sea of Azov. In translation «meotida» means «nurse». And indeed the Sea of Azov was the breadwinner for the peoples living on its coast, who caught sea fish and hunted birds living on the coast. In the 1930s, 60-80 kilograms of fish were caught from one hectare of water surface, which is 35 times more than in the neighboring Black Sea!
Meotida is the name of the National Natural Park (NNP), created on the coast of the Azov Sea in Donetsk region (Pershotravnevyi and Novoazovsk districts). The park is spread over one hundred and fifty kilometers along the coast of the Sea of Azov and captures two kilometers of coastline. The area of the park is 14 351, 9 hectares. 
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The park includes: nature reserves of national importance «Bakai Krivaya kosa», «Elenchak Bakai», «Belosarayskaya kosa» and «Priazovskij heron», ornithological reserve of local importance «Krivokosskij liman», nature monuments of local importance «Krivaya kosa» and «Pine cultures», regional landscape park «Polovetskaya steppe».
The richness of the park is the diversity of flora and fauna species, many of which are unique, rare and protected in many countries of the world. Gradually, the process of urbanization is absorbing more and more new territories and there are not so many places left where you can touch the «real» nature.
One of such places in Donetsk region is NPP «Meotida». The territory of the park was specially allocated to preserve the diversity of fauna and flora by creating conditions under which the maximum number of species can be restored.
The flora of the park is unique, it has preserved aboriginal features of steppe vegetation and includes a number of species listed in the Red Book of Ukraine.
The fauna is also unique. At present there are 47 species of mammals (among them steppe polecat, Mediterranean mute and hedgehog, which are listed in the Red Book of Ukraine), 7 species of reptiles in the park.
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But it is particularly interesting and fascinating to observe the bird settlements.
More than 250 species of birds, some of which are listed in the Red Book, are registered on the territory of the MNP «Meotida». Grey and red herons, puffins, gulls, gulls, black-headed gulls, cuckoos, hoopoes, long-eared owls and even pelicans — these are the few inhabitants of the park that you can see!
Thousands of birds on the seashore are worth visiting at least once.
Also on the territory of NPP «Meotida» more than 60 archeological artifacts were found. Remains of culture and architecture of ancient Slavs, Greeks and Don Cossacks have been perfectly preserved.
The main object of attention, of course, is the Sea of Azov — a natural rarity of planetary scale — the smallest, the shallowest, the most freshwater, the most productive and the most remote from the World Ocean on the globe!
As already mentioned, the Meotida Park covers almost the entire coast of the Azov Sea in Donetsk region, which means that you can enjoy the beauty of the sea, nature, meet interesting representatives of flora and fauna along the entire coast, but Belsarayskaya and Krivaya spits deserve special attention. Everyone knows where Belosarayskaya Spit is located, Krivaya Spit is located near the village of Sedovo.
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It is on Krivaya Spit that the largest colonial settlement of waterbirds on the entire European continent is located. There is also a special zone for tourists, where excursions are organized. Experienced guides will tell you about the uniqueness of the park, its inhabitants, will take you to the places where you can admire black-headed puffins, curly pelicans, cormorants, pied-billed jocks, etc. up close. From the observation platform, located on a 26-meter tower and equipped with optical equipment you will see the most beautiful landscapes of the wildlife of the Azov Sea. In the park you can take a boat trip, boat rides, horseback riding, taste local cuisine and make beautiful photos. In the local congress-hall you can listen to an entertaining lecture about the peculiarities of «Meotida» and its inhabitants, watch an interesting video.
The recreational potential of the park meets world standards, which is conditioned by: warm shallow sea, comfortable shell-sand beaches, favorable climatic conditions (a large number of sunny days, sea breezes that bring to the coast a lot of clean air enriched with ozone, salts and microelements), reserves of mineral waters and therapeutic muds, convenient geographical location, developed transport infrastructure (seaport, airport, railway station, international highway in Mariupol).
In 2001 the park was accepted as a member of the international organization «Federation of Europarks».
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Very close to the city of doneck. Donetsk there is a unique place — NPP «Meotida». Its uniqueness is that the human hand has not fully touched it. Come here to see the real nature of Azovia!