National Nature Park "Vyzhnytskyi" Berehomet

National Nature Park "Vyzhnytskyi" was established on August 30, 1995 (Park Office: Chernivtsi Oblast, Vyzhnytskyi District, town of Berehomet, Centralna St., 27a. Working hours: 9:00-18:00, Sat and Sun - days off). The basis for its creation were the existing landscape reserves "Luzhky" and "Stebnyk", as well as the protected areas "Stayechnyi" and "Yavoriv". The total area is 11238 ha. The main tasks of the national park are the protection of ecosystems, scientific and recreational activities, ecological education, and nature conservation advocacy.

The park is located in the region of the Outer Carpathians, on the Berehomet low mountains and foothills. This location explains the moderately warm climate and high humidity in the territory of "Vyzhnytskyi". The highest air temperatures occur in July (+30 -+35 ºC), while the lowest are in January (-20 - -25 ºC). The most precipitation is observed in June-August (700-1000 mm). Thunderstorms are typical for the region (possible throughout the year), which can even occur in winter during the passage of active cyclonic fronts.

NPP "Vyzhnytskyi" is located in the basins of the rivers Cheremosh (right tributary of the Prut River) and Siret (left tributary of the Danube). There are also mineral springs on the territory of the park, for example, the "Luzhky" spring, which contains ions of iron, magnesium, and aluminum. Other springs include: "Stizhok" (Krynychka area), "Stebnyk", "Zubrynets" (Berehomet Forestry) and "Diana" (near the village of Vyzhinka).

The territory of the national park is dominated by beech-fir and fir-beech forests, which differ from other forest zones of the Carpathians and are explained by the climatic conditions of the region (beech and fir are thermophilic). Here, there are areas of post-forest meadows, gray willow thickets on river terraces, and rock outcrops.

The flora of the park is represented by 50 rare and endangered plant species, 40 of which are listed in the Red Book of Ukraine. For example, the group of orchids, represented by the leafless lady's slipper - one of the rarest orchids in the flora of Ukraine. Among the relict species, there are ferns from the genus multiple-row: of all the Ukrainian Carpathians, only here grow all three species of this genus (spiny, lanceolate, Brown's). The common ivy, which grows in the Stebnyk area, also belongs to the true species.

The fauna of "Vyzhnytskyi" includes 3 thousand species, including: vertebrates - 217 species, birds - 137, mammals - 41, bony fish - 20, amphibians - 11, reptiles - 7, and 1 species of lampreys. 62 species of the animal world are listed in the Red Book of Ukraine. Among terrestrial vertebrates, there are the white stork, lesser spotted eagle, blue dove, wolf, hazel dormouse, forest dormouse, wildcat, among Mediterranean species are the spotted salamander, common tree frog, and the esculet snake, among less typical mountain species — the mountain toad, mountain pipit, mountain wagtail, common dipper, and others.

Due to favorable natural conditions, the park "Vyzhnytskyi" has great potential for tourism development. For this purpose, 6 ecological tourist routes and 1 ecological trail have been developed, which introduce visitors to local natural and architectural landmarks. The ecological education and enlightenment work is managed by the park's ecological and educational center, which, in particular, organizes various exhibitions.