Carpathian Biosphere Reserve

Carpathian Biosphere Reserve is a protected area in the Transcarpathian region of Ukraine. The reserve was established in 1968. Its huge area includes six separated massifs – Kuziyskyi, Marmaroskyi, Svydovetskyi, Chornohirskyi, Uholsko-Shyrokoluzhanskyi and the Valley of Narcissi, as well as botanical reserves “Chorna hora” and “Yulivska Hora”. Almost untouched by humans, pristine forests of the reserve are home to a wide biodiversity. It is a real shelter for endangered species of animals and plants that are listed in the Red Book of Ukraine. Amazing beauty of the Carpathian slopes covered with forests and meadows, crystal clear mountain rivers, flora and fauna of the region annually attract more and more fans of eco-tourism from different countries.

On the reserve’s territory there is the Museum of Ecology of the Mountains and History of Wildlife in the Ukrainian Carpathians, near which several visitor centres operate. The geographical centre of Europe is located not far from there. The highest point in the country – Hoverla – is located on the Chornohirskyi massif. Included in the list of UNESCO beech forests of Uholsko-Shyrokoluzhanskyi massif are pride of the reserve. They are the largest ones in all of Europe.

The area of Carpathian Biosphere Reserve covers Rakhivskyi, Khustskyi, Velykobereznianskyi and Vynohradivskyi regions. Around 20 settlements, as well as places to stay are located on its territory. There is also a number of organised ecotourism routes.