Obitnaya kosa is a place where nature has triumphed over man.
In modern conditions of growing technogenic load, the development of protected areas is one of the priorities of the state policy of Ukraine. Preservation of nature for future generations is carried out by preserving reference natural complexes, representing the wealth of flora and fauna of a particular region.
Obitnaya Spit, located 10-12 kilometers away from Primorsk, is a pearl not only of Zaporizhzhya region, but also of the whole Ukraine.
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It has the status of a landscape reserve of national importance, and lovers of secluded recreation can be located only in the two-kilometer recreational zone. Even after the war people lived freely on the spit, mostly fishermen of the fish farm. They raised cattle here, and the village had its own school. The gradual decline of fishing and infrastructure of the Spit benefited it. Protective plantations, created on the spit in the 70s of the twentieth century on the area of about 400 hectares to fix the sands and landscape attractiveness of the spit, preserved the unique microclimate of the sandy peninsula. Since 1980 Obitnaya Spit has been included in the nature reserve fund of Ukraine and is protected as a national treasure, in relation to which there is a special regime of protection, restoration and use. The protection regime allowed to preserve unique water and water resources.
wetlands with all wetland plant and animal biodiversity in its natural state. There are many unique plants on the spit, which are not found near human habitation. In addition, the spit is one of the most valuable in the south of Ukraine spawning, feeding and wintering grounds for many species of birds, including rare and endangered. In 1974, 14 red deer were brought to Obitochnaya Spit from Biryuchy Island and since then these animals have become an indispensable attribute of the reserve.
According to the forester of Nogai forestry Alexander Eryomenko, since recently the main environmental problem of the territory of Obitochnaya spit have become flocks of great cormorant. The spread of cormorant colonies from the islands to the trees has become a threat to the plantations, as it is impossible to control cormorant reproduction.
This trouble started to go beyond the boundaries of the reserve, because the protection of the flora of the Obitnoye Spit, as well as the fish productivity of the coastal zone of the Azov Sea from the great cormorant is a problem that Primorsky leskhoz has neither legal nor financial possibilities to solve.
At the very end of Obitnoye Spit, a lighthouse with farm buildings was built, but now it is a private territory.
Besides, it is believed that once in 6 or 7 years the spit dries up 30-50 meters from the coast and is covered with healing food salts. It is said that this natural anomaly has healing properties for those who cannot have children.
On the territory of the reserve there used to be a small ostrich farm (it is unknown how it is now), with wind turbines, solar panels and other items of modern civilization (the place is private, access is naturally closed). On the southern cape of Obitnaya spit there is a kind of «Graveyard of ships» — there used to be 2 ostavos there.
As for the rest, Obitnaya Spit can offer a lot of prepared for it boarding houses, private hotels, territory for car camping and health camps for children — all this is located at the very base of the spit, not in the protected area, entry to which in most cases is prohibited. The reserve itself occupies a not very large area of about 9 thousand hectares,
some of which is heavily guarded and while there are still ways to officially enter the general area, there will be no entry.
Entry to the territory of the reserve of all types of transport, except official, is prohibited. Employees of Nogai forestry, which is assigned to protect the reserve, is working to protect against fire, barbaric unauthorized felling of forest plantations, illegal shooting of animals. Along with gamekeepers, the spit protects itself from uninvited guests. It is possible to drive through the sand deep into the reserve only on an off-road vehicle, and where the forest begins, swarms of mosquitoes are waiting impatiently for people. Any walk turns into a real safari along the winding sandy road, far from civilization, utility networks and electric wires.
And yet, those who manage to visit Obitnaya Spit will be amazed by the beauty of nature that has defeated man here. Not everyone has an opportunity to visit the Spit, but everyone can watch a quality video about the beauty of the native land in the Museum of Local Lore.