Azov-Syvash National Nature Park
Kherson region
About park
Kingdom of grey protected wormwood steppes and bright red-yellow Salsola. A unique park, where only one-sixth of the territory is occupied by land, and the rest is covered by the waters of the Sea of Azov, Lake Syvash, and Utliutskyi estuary. This is the Azov-Syvash National Nature Park –one of the most valuable natural sites of Pryazovia.
The Biriuchyi Island is like a magnet for tourists as this is the only place in the park open to visitors. Once Scythians lived here, which is evidenced by mounds and Kurgan stelae. It attracts by white sands, healing sea air and a real animal kingdom. The island has become a “Noah’s Ark” for 198 rare species that were on the verge of extinction on the mainland. Now deer, fallow deer, and onagers roam the island freely. Such a concentration of ungulates is a rarity even for the African savannah. So there are good grounds for saying that animals are seen here more often
than people.
The migration route of birds passes through the island. In spring and autumn, near the shores and estuaries huge flocks of shorebirds, gulls, black geese, and pelicans crowd here. Predatory golden eagles, falcons, and the common kestrel also appear here. Due to the mild climate and saline soil, steppe plant species predominate here, among which there are the rare sage (Salvia), Scleranthus verticillatus, and yarrow (Achillea millefolium). And in spring the protected Kuyuk-Tuk, Churyuk islands turn into a flower carpet. Schrenck’s tulip (Tulipa schrenkii), the ancestor of ornamental tulip species, blooms en masse here.
The Biriuchyi Island is like a magnet for tourists as this is the only place in the park open to visitors. Once Scythians lived here, which is evidenced by mounds and Kurgan stelae. It attracts by white sands, healing sea air and a real animal kingdom. The island has become a “Noah’s Ark” for 198 rare species that were on the verge of extinction on the mainland. Now deer, fallow deer, and onagers roam the island freely. Such a concentration of ungulates is a rarity even for the African savannah. So there are good grounds for saying that animals are seen here more often
than people.
The migration route of birds passes through the island. In spring and autumn, near the shores and estuaries huge flocks of shorebirds, gulls, black geese, and pelicans crowd here. Predatory golden eagles, falcons, and the common kestrel also appear here. Due to the mild climate and saline soil, steppe plant species predominate here, among which there are the rare sage (Salvia), Scleranthus verticillatus, and yarrow (Achillea millefolium). And in spring the protected Kuyuk-Tuk, Churyuk islands turn into a flower carpet. Schrenck’s tulip (Tulipa schrenkii), the ancestor of ornamental tulip species, blooms en masse here.
Enjoy
What to do
Flora
Fauna
Area in square kilometres – 525
3
routes for trips
52 km
length of routes
198
rare animal species
63
rare plant species
Увага!
Park’s reserve areas include Churiuk, Kuyuk-Tuk, Martyniachyi islands, waters of Central Syvash and 250 hectares on the Biriuchyi Island. No tourist activity is allowed here.
International statuses
How to get here
The nearest railway stations:
Henichesk town, Novooleksiyivka urban village, Melitopol town.