Chorna Hora Nature Reserve in Vynogradiv

Chorna Hora is a botanical reserve of national importance (since 1974). It is located in Vynohradiv district of Zakarpattia region, between the city of Vynohradiv and the village of Mala Kopanya. The area is 823 hectares. It is managed by the State Enterprise "Vynohradiv Forestry" (Vynohradiv Forestry, blocks 16-18, 20-25). It is one of the protected areas of the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve.

Within the reserve there is a mountain of the same name, a volcanic remnant - Chorna Hora (565 m). The mountain belongs to the so-called island mountains, that is, it is not part of any mountain range or massif (some sources refer the mountain to the Vygorlat-Gutyn volcanic range). On three sides, Chorna Hora is surrounded by a plain (the Zakarpattia Lowland), and only its northern slopes turn into a gentle hilly rise that extends northeast to the Tupy massif. The Tysa River flows along the eastern slopes of the mountain, which in several places has formed high rocky cliffs.

The geological basis of Chorna Hora consists of andesites, liparites, and tuffs, which in some places come to the surface as steep cliffs. On these volcanic rocks, brown soils of various thicknesses were formed. The best vegetation cover in the reserve is preserved on the top of the mountain on rocky slopes. Oak and beech forests dominate. Beech forests are distributed mainly on the northern slopes. In addition, the only Ukrainian stands of white-flowered ash have been preserved at the outcrops of andesite rocks. Shrubs are represented by such heat-loving species as privet, European cowberry, single-colored hawthorn, turf, and wild grapes.

In terms of floristics, the centers of steppe, rocky and Mediterranean phytocoenoses on the steep southern slopes are particularly interesting. Rare species for the Ukrainian Carpathians grow here, such as steppe cherry, laxative acorn, pinnate broom, Austrian zinnow, beautiful feather grass, viper's onion, crested corn, fescue, Transylvanian pearlwort, Hungarian cockscomb, and others. In total, about 400 species of higher plants grow on the territory of the reserve.

The fauna of Chorna Hora is characterized by the presence of specific heat-loving species, including invertebrates. In 1997, the reserve became part of the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve.