One of the most priceless treasures for man has always been, is and will be nature. Only nature can simultaneously energize a person, add physical strength, improve health and give a huge aesthetic pleasure. That is why it is becoming more and more popular to relax in nature, and Carpathian Biosphere Reserve in the Transcarpathian region is one of the best places in the world for such a vacation.
According to many parameters, the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve is considered to be a unique natural object. On the territory of almost 58 thousand hectares collected so many rare natural riches and beauties that, getting here, every tourist is sure to find something that surprises him and amazes to the very depths of the soul, something that makes you return to this natural fairy tale again.
The ancestor of the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve was the Carpathian Reserve established in 1968 to protect the natural complexes of the highlands of the Eastern Carpathians. In 1993 it was supplemented with new territories and transformed into a larger nature protection institution. Today the reserve consists of six separate areas: the Daffodil Valley, Kuzisky, Marmaroshsky, Svidoveckij-massiv, Chernogorsky, Ugolsko-Shirokoluzhansky; two nature reserves: «Juljevska gora» and «Chernaya gora», as well as the regional landscape park «Stuzhitsa». The huge reserve covers almost 2.5% of the entire Carpathian region!
The nature of the reserve is diverse — there are amazingly beautiful mountains, ancient primeval forests, streams and rivers with crystal clear waters, treeless rocks, forest glades, high mountain meadows, stone placers, foothill oak forests and even alpine meadows. The landscape of the reserve is rich and surprising with many landscapes, views and panoramas. The whole belt complex of the Ukrainian Carpathians is represented here. The lowest point is the unique Daffodil Valley in the Khust-Solotva Basin, located at an altitude of 180 meters above sea level. It is the world’s only low-altitude population of wild narrow-leaved daffodil and the largest — the flower carpet during the blooming period covers an area of 170 hectares! The highest point of the reserve is Mount Hoverla in the Chernogorsk massif — it is also the highest point of Ukraine, its height is 2061 meters above sea level. The breathtaking panorama that opens from Hoverla is the greatest reward for tourists seeking to conquer the «Hutsul Alps».
Carpathian Biosphere Reserve is one of the largest and most interesting in the reserve fund of Ukraine, it is here that another priceless natural treasure is preserved — the largest area of beech forests in Europe. In many parts of the reserve nature has remained completely untouched, preserved its pristine purity and beauty. 90% of the territory of the reserve are beech, fir, spruce, pine, ash, alder forests, most of them are primeval forests. More than 64 species of plants and 72 species of animals listed in the Red Book are protected here, and the floristic composition of subalpine and alpine meadows, especially expressed in Chernogorsky massif, amazes not only by the number of rare and endemic plant species, but also by the fabulous beauty of the pictures opening before the eyes in spring and summer.
Ecological tourism, or recreation in nature is actively developing in the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve — every year it is visited by more than 100 thousand tourists from around the world.
Without disturbing, without harming nature, man has the opportunity to touch its most ancient and marvelously beautiful corners, to observe with his own eyes the ancient world, which in many parts of our planet has been disturbed, to feel the fragrance and see the boundless fantasy of nature, as well as its rare and interesting inhabitants — wild forest cat, Carpathian newt, snowy vole, alpine whirligig and lapwing, more familiar but no less interesting deer, bear, lynx, wild boar, marten and many other animals.
Visiting the reserve, which includes the town of Vinogradov — this is a lot of opportunities for a very interesting, exciting and health-improving vacation. Such sights of Ukraine as the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve will be interesting to visit for all lovers of quiet hunting, winter sports, eco-tourism, and just fans of the beauty of nature and wishing to recover and gain strength from the most healing source — nature.