Verkhovynskyi National Nature Park, Verkhniy Yaseniv

Verkhovyna NNP is the only park in the Ukrainian Carpathians where the oldest metamorphic formations, covered by the Paleozoic and Mesozoic sedimentary cover, come to the surface. On the slopes of the ranges, there are outcrops of Jurassic limestone boulders that create exotic landscapes and are home to a large number of rare species. The park is also distinguished by the fact that it contains the most valuable virgin forest and subalpine areas with endemic and relict species and communities, and the sources of the White and Black Cheremosh rivers.

In the most remote and inaccessible place of the Ukrainian Carpathians, at the source of the White and Black Cheremosh, there is the Verkhovynskyi State Reserve. This is a huge area of great beauty, with forests, meadows, meadows, rivers, mountains and valleys. The park was created in 2010 to exploit the recreational opportunities of the mountain ranges of the Ukrainian Carpathians - Chyvchyna and Hryniava, but the idea of its creation has been in the air for a long time. As early as 1930, Hryniava forester Y. Turkot appealed to the Lviv National Forest Administration with a request to pay special attention to these original natural complexes.

But it was only in the 90s of the last century that the request of the forester was heeded and the panoramic Chyvchyno-Hryniavski (7243 hectares) and hydrological Black Cheremosh River with Coastal Strip (1740 hectares) regional reserves were established.

This unique park of national importance is now the fifth nature reserve in Ivano-Frankivsk region. This means that the region has reached European standards, according to which at least 15% of the land area of a territorial unit should be protected by the state.

In October 2011, the Verkhovyna Nature Reserve was put on the map of Ukraine.

The reserve covers 12022.9 hectares of land. It is located in the regions of Hryniava and Verkhovyna state forests. It is home to natural reserves that are valuable in many ways. The necessary conditions for scientific research are provided. The park's lands are divided into four nature conservation research departments.

The climate here is transitional from rather warm Western European to continental Eastern European, it is also cool and humid. Winters are relatively mild, and summers are warm and damp. Precipitation mainly falls in summer.

The reserve is very rich and generous in natural treasures. It features majestic mountain landscapes, amazing mountain gorges, virgin beech and coniferous forests, and the magnificent canyons of the White and Black Cheremosh, whose sources are located here. There are about 1240 rivers in the park. There are also mineral water springs.

The flora is of three types: forest (dominant), marsh and meadow. Scientists divide meadows into forest, alpine and subalpine. More than 700 species of plants grow here. Of these, 59 are listed in the Red Book of Ukraine, which is a third of those found in the Ukrainian Carpathians. Moreover, there are 32 species of plants in the reserve, the distribution of which is limited to a certain area.

The most studied type of fauna is 5 classes of chordates (bony fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals). The following inhabit the area: brown bears, foxes, martens, wolves, deer, wild boars, roe deer, spotted salamanders, golden eagles. There are also unique representatives of the fauna that are characteristic of this area. The Cheremosh and other rivers flowing high in the mountains are home to river trout and Danube salmon (chub).

In addition, the park is rich in natural attractions, such as the largest dam in the Carpathians with a lock - the Lostun Lock, the group of rocks "Stone Babas" made of Triassic limestone, the oldest Polish balneological health resort - Burkut.

The Verkhovyna district is the center of the Hutsul region, a land with a rich historical and cultural heritage. There are many historical and cultural monuments and archaeological sites in the region. Various types of folk crafts are developed in Verkhovyna: weaving, carving, and many others. The lifestyle and customs of the Hutsuls attract the attention of tourists, which stimulates the development of green tourism.