Carpathian Nature Reserve

Carpathian Nature Reserve (Karpatskyi zapovidnyk). A protected area established in 1968 with the aim of preserving the environment, flora, and fauna of the Ukrainian Carpathians (until then only game preserves existed). Initially, the reserve’s total area was 12,600 ha, but during the forty years of its existence, its territory has been changed several times. The reserve was composed of three complexes. Two of them covered the Chornohora range, which includes the highest peaks of the Carpathian Mountains—Hoverlia (2,061 m) and Pip Ivan (2,022 m)—and is covered with fir, spruce, and beech-spruce forests. The third, the Uhlia-Shyrokyi Luh complex, lied in Transcarpathia oblast on the southern slope of Mount Menchul (1,500 m) in a region of unique ancient beech forests. The deer, mountain goat, lynx, brown bear, and other species were protected at the reserve. In 1992 the Carpathian Nature Reserve became part of the newly created Carpathian Biosphere Reserve.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Komendar, V. (ed). Karpatskie zapovedniki (Uzhhorod 1966)

[This article was updated in 2008.]