Skole Beskids National Nature Park

Skole Beskids National Nature Park (Ukrainian: Сколівські Бескиди) covers the Skole Beskids Range of the Carpathian Mountains on the western edge of Ukraine. It was created in 1999 to protect the beech and beech-fir forests of Carpathians, and to provide for environmental, ecological, aesthetic, educational and recreational uses. The park is in the administrative districts of Skole, Drohobych, and Turka in Lviv Oblast.[1]

Skole Beskids National Nature Park
Ukrainian: Сколівські Бескиди
IUCN category II (national park)
Skole Beskids National Nature Park
Location of Park
LocationLviv Oblast, Skole Raion
Nearest citySkole
Coordinates49.2°N 23.21°E / 49.2; 23.21
Area35,684 hectares (88,177 acres; 357 km2; 138 sq mi)
Established1999
Governing bodyMinistry of Ecology and Natural Resources (Ukraine)
Websitehttp://skole.org.ua/

Topography

The terrain is mountainous, with the park divided into the valleys of both the Stryi River and the Opir River. Altitude above sea-level is 600 to 1,260 meters.[2] The highest point in the boundaries is Mount Parashka.[3] The mountain range runs northwest to southeast, with peaks formed by river cuts between them.

Hiking walkway, Tustan Hill Fort

The geology of the range is deep-sea sedimentary rocks of the Cretaceous and Paleogene ages - known as flysch - composed of sandstones, siltstones, argillites, limestones, and marls.[4]

Climate and ecoregion

The climate of Skole Beskids is Humid continental climate, warm summer (Köppen climate classification (Dfb)). This climate is characterized by large seasonal temperature differentials and a warm summer (at least four months averaging over 10 °C (50 °F), but no month averaging over 22 °C (72 °F).[5][6] In the park, the average temperature in January is −6 °C (21 °F), and 16 °C (61 °F) in July. Average precipitation is 800–1,100 millimetres (31–43 in) per year. There are frequent thaws in the winter, and average snow depth is 39 centimetres (15 in).[3]

Flora and fauna

Most of the site is forested, on gravely soils. The highest altitudes are spruce-fir-beech forest, much of it over 100 years old. Over 635 species of vascular plants have been recorded in the park, 204 vertebrate animals, 18 species of fish, 9 amphibians, 6 of reptiles, 121 species of birds, and 50 of mammals.[3]

Public use
Park logo

Historically, the area has been known for health resorts and tourism, due to the mild climate and outdoors activities. The park continues this today with over 20 recreation and boarding houses in its territory. Services offered by the park include horse excursions, ecological tours, and guided tours up Mount Parashka.[1]

See also

References
  1. "National Nature Park Skole Beskids" (in Ukrainian). Official Park Site. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
  2. "Skole Beskyds National Nature Park". Encyclopedia of Ukraine. Retrieved June 2, 2019.
  3. "Skole Beskyds Park - Data" (in Ukrainian). Skole Beskyds (official park site). Retrieved June 2, 2019.
  4. "Skole Beskyds Park - Landscape" (in Ukrainian). Skole Beskyds (official park site). Retrieved June 2, 2019.
  5. 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)
  6. "Dataset - Koppen climate classifications". World Bank. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
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