Gorgany Nature Reserve ( uk, Ґорґани заповідник) is a strict nature reserve (a 'zapovidnyk') of Ukraine that covers a part of the

Gorgany Gorgany ( uk, Ґорґани) is a mountain range in Western Ukraine in Outer Eastern Carpathians, adjacent to Chornohora range. The highest peak of Gorgany is Syvulia (1,836 m) with the other high peaks including Ihrovyshche, (1,804 m), (1 ...

mountain range of the Outer Eastern Carpatians in southwest Ukraine. The reserve is 46% old-growth forest, one of the last and largest such stands in Europe. The reserve was originally created in 1996 to protect relic stands of Stone pine trees (

Pinus cembra ''Pinus cembra'', also known as Swiss pine, Swiss stone pine or Arolla pine or Austrian stone pine or just stone pine, is a species of a pine tree in the subgenus ''Strobus''. Description The Swiss pine is a member of the white pine group, ...

). The reserve is administratively in the Nadvirna District of

Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast ( uk, Іва́но-Франкі́вська о́бласть, translit=Ivano-Frankivska oblast), also referred to as Ivano-Frankivshchyna ( uk, Іва́но-Франкі́вщина), is an administrative divisions of Ukrain ...

Topography

The Gorgany range is mostly strongly-layered sedimentary rock (a type called

flysch Flysch () is a sequence of sedimentary rock layers that progress from deep-water and turbidity flow deposits to shallow-water shales and sandstones. It is deposited when a deep basin forms rapidly on the continental side of a mountain building ep ...

), that fractures into debris fields known locally as 'gorgan'. The full vertical range of the central Carpatians are represented, with altitudes in the park ranging from 710 to 1754 meters above sea level. The range runs from northwest to southeast, on

Cretaceous The Cretaceous ( ) is a geological period that lasted from about 145 to 66 million years ago (Mya). It is the third and final period of the Mesozoic Era, as well as the longest. At around 79 million years, it is the longest geological period of th ...

and

Quaternary The Quaternary ( ) is the current and most recent of the three periods of the Cenozoic Era in the geologic time scale of the International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS). It follows the Neogene Period and spans from 2.58 million years ...

conglomerates, sandstones, clay and marls. There are 30 mountain streams in the park, forming a dense network that feed into the

Bystrytsia River The Bystrytsia ( uk, Бистриця; pl, Bystrzyca) is a river, a right tributary of the Dniester which flows through Ivano-Frankivsk Raion, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast. Bystrytsia river is formed by confluence of '' Bystrytsia of Solotvyn'' and ...

. The steep landscape, formed in the Wurzburg glaciation, is covered with coniferous forests.

Climate and ecoregion

The climate of Gorgany is '' Humid continental climate, warm summer'' (

Köppen climate classification The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by German-Russian climatologist Wladimir Köppen (1846–1940) in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen, notabl ...

(Dfb)). This climate is characterized by large seasonal temperature differentials and a warm summer (at least four months averaging over , but no month averaging over . Average temperature in January is and in July is . Average annual precipitation is . Average annual humidity is 78%.

Flora and fauna

76% of the territory is stable, natural forest that has grown on its own and demonstrates the sustainability of the site through the complete forest cycle. 46% of the total area is virgin (old-growth) forest, totalling over . The dominant trees in the old-growth stands are spruce and pine. The relic pines (European, ordinary, and mountain pine), decay to produce the soil that supports the more productive successor fir and beech forests. The lower elevations are mixed deciduous and coniferous. The most numerous non-tree plants are the herbaceous perennials, with relatively fewer shrubs (cranberries, heather, blueberries, etc.) The main altitude zones are: * Stream valley - mixed forest. * Moderate and cool zone (770-1200 meters asl) - spruce forest * Moderately cold thermal zone (1200-1600 meters asl) - pure fir and cedar-spruce forest * Sub-alpine zone (about 1600 meters asl) - pine shrubs, and rocks covered with moss and lichen Further down on the lower stream terraces are speckled alders (

Alnus incana ''Alnus incana'', the grey alder or speckled alder, is a species of multi-stemmed, shrubby tree in the birch family, with a wide range across the cooler parts of the Northern Hemisphere. Tolerant of wetter soils, it can slowly spread with runners ...

), with grass cover featuring white butterbur (

Petasites albus ''Petasites albus'', the white butterbur, is a flowering plant species in the family ''Asteraceae''. It is native to central Europe and the Caucasus. Description ''Petasites albus'' is a perennial rhizomatous herb, with large suborbicular (almos ...

), meadowsweet (

Filipendula ulmaria ''Filipendula ulmaria'', commonly known as meadowsweet or mead wort, is a perennial herbaceous plant in the family Rosaceae that grows in damp meadows. It is native throughout most of Europe and Western Asia (Near east and Middle east). It has ...

), marsh horsetail (

Equisetum palustre ''Equisetum palustre'', the marsh horsetail, is a plant species belonging to the division of horsetails ( Equisetopsida). It is widespread in cooler regions of North America and Eurasia. Description ''Equisetum palustre'' is a perennial cryp ...

), marsh-marigold ( Caltha palustris), and narrow-leaved bittercress (

Cardamine impatiens ''Cardamine impatiens'', the narrowleaf bittercress or narrow-leaved bitter-cress, is a plant species in the genus ''Cardamine'' of the family Brassicaceae. It is a slender, biennial herb, that produces sterile leaves in the first year, one to s ...

Scientists have mapped the reserve into 17 different characteristic forest types, the diversity due to altitude zoning, soil differences, micro-climate differences, and other factors that make the Gorgany Reserve a valuable reference for natural Carpathian ecosystems.

Public use

As a strict nature reserve, Gorgany's primary purpose is protection of nature and scientific study. Public access is limited: mass recreation and construction of facilities is prohibited as are hunting and fishing.

References

External links