Uzh National Nature Park
{{Short description|National park in Ukraine}}
{{Infobox protected area
|iucn_category = II
|designation = National Park
|name = Uzh National Nature Park
|alt_name = {{langx|uk|Ужанський національний природний парк}}
|photo = Uzhanskyi NPP.jpg
|photo_caption =
| map = Ukraine Zakarpattia Oblast#Ukraine
| map_width =
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| relief = 1
| coordinates = {{coord|49.0233|N|22.6000|E|source:wikidata|display=inline,title}}
|nearest_city =Velykyi Bereznyi
|location = Zakarpattia Oblast, {{UKR}}
|area = {{cvt|39159.3|ha|km2 mi2}}
|established = {{start date|1999|08|5|df=y}}
|visitation_num =
}}
Uzh National Nature Park ({{langx|uk|Ужанський національний природний парк}}) is a protected area in Ukraine. It is located in Uzhhorod Raion of Zakarpattia Oblast, at the border with Poland and Slovakia. The national park was created on 5 August 1999 and has the area of {{convert|39159.3|ha|mi2}}.{{cite web|url=http://pzf.menr.gov.ua/%D1%83%D0%B6%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%81%D1%8C%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9-%D0%BD%D0%BF%D0%BF.html|title=Ужанський НПП|publisher=Природно-заповідний фонд України|language=uk|access-date=12 March 2017|archive-date=18 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218210248/http://pzf.menr.gov.ua/%D1%83%D0%B6%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%81%D1%8C%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9-%D0%BD%D0%BF%D0%BF.html|url-status=dead}} Since 2007, it is part of the World Heritage site Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe.{{cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1133/multiple=1&unique_number=1777|title=Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and the Ancient Beech Forests of Germany|publisher=UNESCO|access-date=20 March 2017}} It is also part of the East Carpathian Biosphere Reserve. The park was created to protect the pristine beech forest of the Carpathians.
History
In 1908, when the Transcarpathia still belonged to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, a nature reserve in the upper valley of the Stuzhychanka River to protect the beech forest landscape. The area of the reserve was {{convert|331.8|ha|mi2}}. At the same time, a forest reserve of the area of {{convert|14.9|ha|mi2}} was created in the upper valley of the Uzh River. Between 1919 and 1938, the Transcarpathia belonged to Czechoslovakia, and both reserves were considerably expanded in area. Another reserve was created on the Yavirnyk Mountain. After World War II, the area was completely neglected, and mass timber production started.{{cite web|url=http://www.krasnayakniga.ru/uzhanskii-natsionalnyi-prirodnyi-park|title=Ужанский национальный природный парк|publisher=Красная книга - Заповедники стран мира|language=ru|access-date=20 March 2017|archive-date=18 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018094407/http://www.krasnayakniga.ru/uzhanskii-natsionalnyi-prirodnyi-park|url-status=dead}} In 1974, during the Soviet period, Stuzhytsia Forest Landscape Reserve was established. The area of the reserve was {{convert|2542|ha|mi2}}. In 1995, the reserve was upgraded to a regional landscape park, and in 1999 to a national nature park.{{Cite web |url=http://pzf.menr.gov.ua/%D1%83%D0%B6%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%81%D1%8C%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9-%D0%BD%D0%BF%D0%BF.html |title=Uzhansky NNP/General Information/History of creation. |access-date=2017-03-12 |archive-date=2017-02-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218210248/http://pzf.menr.gov.ua/%D1%83%D0%B6%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%81%D1%8C%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9-%D0%BD%D0%BF%D0%BF.html |url-status=dead }}
Geography
The park is located in the valleys of the Uzh and its tributaries, as well as of the San, in the western slopes of the Carpathian Mountains. The highest point of the park is Kinchyk Bukovskyi Mountain ({{convert|1251|m|ft}}). Uzh National Nature Park contains four altitude zones, including beech forest, alder forest, and, above {{convert|1100|m|ft}}, alpine meadows. The climate is temperate, with the annual rainfall being around ({{convert|900|mm|in}}, and temperatures in winter below zero, so that the mountains are covered in snow.
Ecosystem
Tourism and infrastructure
The area is populated by Lemkos and has a strong influence of their culture. In particular, six wooden churches built in 17th-18th centuries survived inside the park.
References
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{{Protected areas of Ukraine|state=expanded}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Protected areas of Zakarpattia Oblast
Category:National parks of Ukraine
Category:Protected areas established in 1999