About This Site

Carpathian National Nature Park is Ukraine's first and largest national park, spanning 515.7 km². It protects unique Carpathian Mountain ecosystems with primeval forests, alpine meadows, and rich wildlife.

Established in 1980, Carpathian National Nature Park covers 51,570 hectares and is the largest protected area in the Carpathian region. The park conserves at least 48 mammal species, 110 birds, 11 fish, 10 amphibians, and 6 reptile species. Of these, 32 are listed in IUCN or Ukrainian Red Data Books, including brown bear, wolf, Eurasian otter, and lynxes. The park contains 1,100 vascular plant species, 35 endemic to the region, 75 listed in Ukraine's Red Book. One distinctive feature is relict patches of Scots pine, Swiss stone pine, and European white birch. 600 hectares of spruce and beech primeval forests are protected. Mount Hoverla (2,061m), Ukraine's highest peak, lies within the park. At its foot, the Prut river begins. The Carpathian Mountains extend 1,500 km across Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Ukraine, forming one of Europe's largest mountain ranges.

Historical Significance

The park was established in 1980 as Ukraine's first national nature park. The Carpathian Mountains formed at the same time as the Alps and are home to Europe's largest remaining tracts of primeval forest. These forests cover an area almost the size of Great Britain and constitute the largest unfragmented forest tract in Europe. Ten patches of primeval beech forest in the Carpathians were designated UNESCO World Heritage in 2007. WWF named the Carpathian Mountains one of its Global 200 ecoregions representing the world's most outstanding areas.

Highlights

• ✓Mount Hoverla (2,061m) - Ukraine's highest peak
• ✓Primeval beech forests
• ✓Brown bears, wolves, lynxes
• ✓Alpine meadows
• ✓Waterfalls and mountain lakes