Kremenets Mountains National Nature Park (Ukrainian: Кременецькі гори національний природний парк) covers a cluster of mountains and ridges in the Hologoro-Kremenetskiy range of the Podolian Upland in west central Ukraine.[1] Administratively, the park is in Kremenets Raion in Ternopil Oblast.[2]
Topography
The mountains of the park's name are the southeastern third of the Hologoro-Kremenetskiy ridge, which stretches 170 km across the west of Ukraine. They consist of highly eroded hills of chalk, clay and limestone. The terrain is one of low ridges and plateaus cut by ravines, river and stream valleys, and gullies. On the northern slopes, the mountains drop at a steep incline to the valley of the Little Polisia plains. Rocky outcrops of chalk and marl form terraces and ledges.[3] Individual hills are separated from others where erosion has worn away lighter rock.
Danilova Mountain, one of the natural and cultural attractions in Kremenets Mountains National Nature Park
As with many Ukrainian National Parks, Kremenets Mountains was created to encompass a number of smaller protected areas, both natural and cultural. These subsidiary units usually retain their original legal structure. In Kremenets Mountains, these subsidiary units include:
The Veselovsky Botanical Reserve, an oak-hornbeam-ash forest over 100 years in age.
The state-owned Dovzhotsky Botanical Preserve, a similar oak-hornbeam-ash forest.
The locally owned Belokrynitsky Zoological Reserve, protecting the reproduction and restoration of animals under pressure from hunting.
The locally owned Volynsky Zoological Reserve, protecting hunted animals, as well as the locally vulnerable European badger
"Slavic Rock" natural monument, a group of large limestone pillars, said to be a favorite visiting spot of Polish Poet Juliusz Słowacki
"Mt. Stitch", a 357-meter-high (1,171 ft) geological monument, forming a conical mountain of chalk, marl, sand and limestone with a flat top.
Danilova Mountain ('Mount Trinity'), on which still stands the Holy Trinity church of the 12th century
Overall, the average ridge height is 100 – 200 meters above the surrounding territory, or 350 – 400 meters above sea level. At the base of the ridge is a layer of white chalk, which may be up to 100 meters thick. This is overlaid by a layer of sand, laid down by the Galician Sea 15-20 million years ago, over which are layers of sandstone and limestone.[2] Over all is a layer of Quaternary yellow loess and loams, 10 – 30 meters thick.
Kremenets Mountains exhibit the flora and fauna of the southern edge of the Central European mixed forests ecoregion, with some aspects of the northern Forest steppe.[3] Forest types are predominantly oak, elm, and pine. Well developed agricultural fields surround the park on the plains.[3] Biodiversity is high because the area is in the transition between marine and continental zones, as well as different geographic regions. Over 1,200 species of plants have been identified on the site, and 16 species are endemic to Kremenets Mountains.[2]
The park protects the critically endangered species of birch tree, the Klokov birch ("Betula klokovii"), which grows on only two mountain tops, both in the Kremenets Mountains park.[6]
Public use
Park logo
There are hiking trails open to the major natural and cultural sights. Scientists in the park conduct educational classes for the local schoolchildren.
