Ukraine is the largest country completely within the European territory with a land area of 603,628 square kilometers (149 million acres). It has a population of over 42 million, excluding the Crimean Peninsula, which has been annexed by Russia. Ukraine is still laying claim to the territory surrounded by the Black Sea.
Just like its Russian neighbor, Ukrainians, too, love to drink. But it has its popular hard drink is called horilka, which translates to “burning water.” This drink is usually flavored with chili pepper. While Ukrainians love their alcohol, they love their coffees and pastries, too. The city of Lviv is said to have the most cafes in the world on a per capita basis.
The country is also home to some of the most historically relevant places in the world—both famous and infamous. As for the latter, that place is Chernobyl. In the north of Ukraine, there used to be a Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, which was the venue for a nuclear accident on April 26, 1986. It is considered the worst nuclear disaster in history. But it is also important to note that this nation is home to seven World Heritage Sites, including the 11th century Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kiev, the Struve Geodetic Arc, and Chersonesus, which is an ancient city.
The national parks in Ukraine are also worth checking out for its natural beauty, mostly with thriving flora and fauna. Here are five of the country’s unexplored national parks:
1. Azov-Syvash National Nature Park
The Black Sea features Ukraine’s only coastline. This marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean is connected to the Sea of Azov, which separates parts of Ukraine and Russia. The Sea of Azov is the shallowest sea in the world and is often called the northern extension of the Black Sea. The Sea of Azov is rich in marine resources including various species of fish, an abundance of plankton, and green algae.
This park was established on Feb. 25, 1993, primarily to protect the coastal environment of the northwestern part of the Azov Sea. Not only is it rich in various underwater resources, but the water body is also a significant stop among migratory birds. Over a million birds have been documented to nest in the park every year. It has been designated as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International.
The name is from the two regions of the park: Azov Site and Syvash Site. The former covers the Byriuchyi Island within the Azov Sea. Byriuchyi used to be an island but is now relegated to a spit starting in 1929. The spit is generally sand and coquina. The coast has several lakes, the largest of which is Lake Olen. The meadow in the area hosts over 700 species of plants. Some forests shelter various wildlife, mostly deer species. Among the most popular animal residents of the spit are the red and fallow deer. There are also some onagers and some horses, moufflons, and pheasants.
The Syvash Site, on the other hand, covers the land and water territories of the Syvash Bay, which is more of a lagoon. This part of the park has a dry terrain characterized by poor soil and brackish vegetation. But the islands in the bay area have exhibited better vegetation qualities with its steppe habitats, characterized by shrubs and smattering of colorful wildflowers.
2. Biloozerskyi National Park
The park is shared between the provinces of Cherkasy Oblast and Kiev Oblast and was established on Dec. 11, 2009. It is noted for its lush vegetation. As soon as tourists enter the park, they come across a sea of green grasses. Some meadows become more vibrant during the spring and summer months because of the presence of wildflowers. The entire park is also peppered with woodlands that have towering trees. The Dnieper River also flows alongside the park.
It is a serene park that is perfect for easy hiking. The park is small at just 70.14 square kilometers (17,331 acres) but the rich vegetation is quite significant.
3. Cheremosh National Nature Park
The park was created to join three natural reserves under one management. Compounding three protected areas also results in three different ecosystems in just one area. The three nature reserves joined together were the following: Black Dil Nature Reserve, Marmaros Crystalline Massif, and State Enterprise. The Black Dil focuses more on the different geological marvels while the Marmaros features limestone mountains and caves. The State Enterprise is a forest that covers the upper level of the White Cheremosh River.
4. Hetman National Nature Park
This park is characterized by floodplains and terraces along the Vorskla Riverbank. The river stretches 122 kilometers. Surrounding the river are plains, hills, and ravines. The flatlands are sporadically covered with grass, but the periphery is lined with large trees. The trees are mostly ash, aspen, birch, birch bark, cherry, linden oak, and pine.
The river hosts paddling activities while the land is great for hiking and trekking. The park is also open to hosting ecological excursions.
5. Sloboda National Nature Park
This is one of the most exciting natural parks in Ukraine because of the presence of different natural forms: a forest-steppe region with refreshing rivers, highlands, and with low lands characterized by marshes, swamps, and wetlands. This park is known for the diversity of plants and animals because of the varied ecosystems.
One of the famous features of the park is the vast floodplains covered in green grass, with some meadows and marshes. It is a great place for some easy hiking or a multi-day trek. However, authorities want to preserve the beautiful natural resources within this park so activities are controlled. This means that tourists would have to coordinate with park authorities to schedule recreational activities.
Around 90% of the park comprises of forests. The most dominant water body in the park is the Merla River—one bank hosts a thriving maple-lime forest while the other bank hosts artificial pine plantations.