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

Gorgany Gorgany () 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), (1,772 m) a ...

mountain range of the Outer Eastern Carpatians in southwest Ukraine. The reserve is 46%

old-growth forest An old-growth forest or primary forest is a forest that has developed over a long period of time without disturbance. Due to this, old-growth forests exhibit unique ecological features. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Natio ...

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

). The reserve is administratively in the Nadvirna District of

Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast (), also referred to as Ivano-Frankivshchyna () or simply Frankivshchyna, is an administrative divisions of Ukraine, oblast (region) in western Ukraine. Its administrative center is the city of Ivano-Frankivsk. It has a pop ...

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 143.1 to 66 mya (unit), million years ago (Mya). It is the third and final period of the Mesozoic Era (geology), Era, as well as the longest. At around 77.1 million years, it is the ...

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), as well as the current and most recent of the twelve periods of the ...

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 (; ) 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 Solotvynska and Bystrytsia Nadvirnianska. Formation a ...

. 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 divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...

(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, tag 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 w ...

), 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 perennial herbaceous pteridophyte belonging to the subclass of horsetails (Equisetidae). It is widespread in cooler regions of Eurasia and North America. Description ''Equisetum palustre'' has ...

), marsh-marigold (

Caltha palustris ''Caltha palustris'', known as marsh-marigold and kingcup, is a small to medium sized perennial herbaceous plant of the buttercup family, native to marshes, fens, ditches and wet woodland in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It flow ...

), and narrow-leaved bittercress ( Cardamine impatiens). Stamp 2009 Horhany

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