Khotyn National Nature Park

Khotyn National Nature Park
Ukrainian: Хотинський національний природний парк
IUCN category II (national park)
View of the Hedgehog's Nose, Khotyn National Nature Park
Location of Park
Location	Dnistrovskyi Raion, Chernivtsi Oblast
Nearest city	Khotyn
Coordinates	48.5°N 26.16666667°E / 48.5; 26.16666667
Area	9,400 hectares (23,228 acres; 94 km^2; 36 sq mi)
Established	2010
Governing body	Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources (Ukraine)
Website	Official site:[1]

Khotyn National Nature Park (Ukrainian: Хотинський національний природний парк) is a national park of Ukraine that covers a segment of the Dniester River Canyon and the Dniester River Reservoir. It is located in the west of the country on the border with Romania. The famous Khotyn Fortress is located within the territory. The park is administratively in Dnistrovskyi Raion of Chernivtsi Oblast.[1]

Topography

The park stretches for 160 km along the Dniester River. The geology of the Dniester Canyon, cut into the surrounding plateau, includes granite and gneisses up to 2,000 million years old, as well as sedimentary and limestone rocks of the more recent Cenozoic (10–12 million years). The karst landscape in places supports numerous caves.[1]

Khotyn Fortress in the park

Climate and ecoregion

The climate of Khotyn is Humid continental climate, warm summer (Köppen climate classification (Dfb)). This climate is characterized by large swings in temperature, both diurnally and seasonally, with mild summers and cold, snowy winters.[2][3]

Flora and fauna

Because of the variety of terrain, habitat, and micro-climates in the park, plant and animal diversity is very high. Over 1,500 species of vascular plants have been recorded in the area, 57 species of fish, 187 species of birds, and 40 of mammals.[1]

Public use

Besides the Khotyn Fortress, there are a wide variety of archaeological and cultural sites in the park. Several developed excursion routes are available for hiking and ecological study.[1]

See also

• National Parks of Ukraine

References

1. "Khotyn National Nature Park" (in Ukrainian). Official Park Site. Archived from the original on January 19, 2019. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
2. Kottek, M.; Grieser, J.; Beck, C.; Rudolf, B.; Rubel, F. (2006). "World Map of Koppen-Geiger Climate Classification Updated" (PDF). Gebrüder Borntraeger 2006. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
3. "Dataset - Koppen climate classifications". World Bank. Retrieved September 14, 2019.

External links