Pryazovskyi National Nature Park

Pryazovskyi National Nature Park (Ukrainian: Приазовський національний природний парк) is the second largest national park of Ukraine, covering the estuaries, coastal plains seaside landforms around the Molochna River estuary the Utlyuksky estuary, on the northwest coast of the Sea of Azov. The area is one of high biodiversity, protecting both steppe and aquatic habitats, and the unique transition zones in between.[1] The wetlands support very large populations of nesting and migratory waterfowl.[2] The park is crosses several administrative districts, including Pryazovske Raion, Melitopol Raion, Berdiansk Raion, and Yakymivka Raion in Zaporizhia Oblast

Pryazovskyi National Nature Park
Ukrainian: Приазовський національний природний парк
IUCN category II (national park)
Berda River floodplain, Pryazovskyi National Park
Location of Park
Location	Zaporizhia Oblast
Nearest city	Berdiansk
Coordinates	46°50′25″N 35°21′32″E
Area	78,126.92 hectares (193,056 acres; 781 km^2; 302 sq mi)
Established	2010 (2010)
Governing body	Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources (Ukraine)
Website	http://pnpp.info/

Topography

Pryazovsky is a coastal strip on the northwest of the Azov Sea, about 20 miles south of the city of Melitopol. The area's estuaries (limans) are about 80% land and 20% water. The habits themselves show great diversity: steppe, coastal plain, floodplain swamps, estuaries with variable salinity, spits, peninsulas, sandy-shell islands, dunes and saline lakes. The largest river through the park is the Molochnyi River, which forms a saline liman (lagoon) off the Azov Sea. The park is connected by the thin Fedotova Spit to Biryuchyi Island in the Azov-Syvash National Nature Park.

Beach on the Fedotova Spit, Pryazovsky NNP

Climate and ecoregion

The climate of Pryazovskyi is Humid continental climate - Hot summer sub-type (Köppen climate classification Dfa), with large seasonal temperature differentials and a hot summer (at least one month averaging over 22 °C (72 °F), mild winters, and relatively even precipitation through the year (no dry season).[3][4] Precipitation in the park averages 300–400 mm/year, and evaporation is 800–900 mm/year. The temperature of the water ranges up to 30 °C (86 °F) in June.[2]

Pryazovskyi NNP is located in the Pontic–Caspian steppe ecoregion, a region that covers an expanse of grasslands stretching from the northern shores of the Black Sea to western Kazakhstan.[5]

Park Development

As a national park, Pryazovskyi is laid out in zones providing for both protection and recreation.

• Protected zone: 8561 hectares (10%)
• "Stationary recreation" zone: 665 hectares (1%);
• "Regulated recreation" zone: - 7082 hectares (9%);
• Economic zone: 62,943 hectares (80%).

Pryazovskyi includes two wetlands of international importance "Ramsar sites": "Molochnyi Liman"[6] (Milky River Delta), and "Berda River Mouth & Berdianska Spit & Berdianska Bay".[7]

Tourism and Recreation

There are two resort villages on the coast in the region - the village of Kyrylivka, and the tourism-oriented city of Berdiansk. The area is accessible by rail, and is a popular beach destination, with a variety of spas and recreational facilities.[8] The area is known for mineral waters, medicinal muds and a healthy climate. Scientists from the park provide educational programs for the local public and schools.[9]

See also

• National Parks of Ukraine

References

1. "Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 154-2010 (creating Priazovsky NNP)" (in Ukrainian). President of Ukraine. Retrieved September 17, 2010.
2. "Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands - Molochnyi Liman" (PDF) (pdf). Ramsar. Retrieved September 17, 2018.
3. Kottek, M., J. Grieser, C. Beck, B. Rudolf, and F. Rubel, 2006. "World Map of Koppen-Geiger Climate Classification Updated" (PDF). Gebrüder Borntraeger 2006. Retrieved September 14, 2019.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
4. "Dataset - Koppen climate classifications". World Bank. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
5. "Map of Ecoregions 2017". Resolve, using WWF data. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
6. "Molochnyi Liman". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved September 17, 2018.
7. "Berda River Mouth & Berdianska Spit & Berdianska Bay". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved September 17, 2018.
8. "Priazovsky NNP" (in Ukrainian). Nature Reserve Fund of Ukraine. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
9. "Information" (in Ukrainian). Official site, Pryazovskyi National Park. Retrieved September 20, 2018.

External links