Oleshky Sands National Nature Park

Oleshky Sands National Nature Park (Ukrainian: Олешківські піски національний природний парк) is a national park of Ukraine, located south of the lower Dnieper River about 25 km east of the regional city of Kherson, and 70 km northwest of the Crimean Peninsula. The park features expanses of low-fertility soil and sand, and a variety of unusual microhabitats. The area is not a true desert, but rather semi-arid. As of 2019, visits by unaccompanied members of the public were strictly prohibited, with warnings that the area was next to a military training ground. The park is located in Kakhovka Raion of Kherson Oblast.[1]

Oleshky Sands National Nature Park
Ukrainian: Олешківські піски національний природний парк
IUCN category II (national park)
Semi-arid landscape, Oleshky NNP
LocationKakhovka Raion, Kherson Oblast,  Ukraine
Nearest cityKherson
Coordinates46°33′00″N 32°55′23″E
Area8,020 hectares (80.2 km2; 31.0 sq mi)
DesignationNational Park
EstablishedFebruary 23, 2010 (2010-02-23)
Websitehttp://nppop.gov.ua/

Topography
Main article: Oleshky Sands

The park is located on the north slope of the Black Sea Basin. It is divided into two main zones:

  • Radensk. The largest area, notable for the absence of pine forest stands, and for large sand dunes in the center. (6,780 ha)[2]
  • Burkut. An area of pine forest, meadows and lakes surrounded by sandy steppe. (1,240 ha)[3]
Stands of shrub and trees surrounded by sandy steppe

Climate and ecoregion

The climate of Oleshky Sands is Humid continental climate - Hot summer sub-type (Köppen climate classification Dfa), with large seasonal temperature differentials and a hot summer (at least one month averaging over 22 °C (72 °F), and mild winters.[4][5]

Oleshky Sands is located in the Pontic–Caspian steppe ecoregion, a region that covers an expanse of grasslands stretching from the northern shores of the Black Sea to western Kazakhstan.[6]

Flora and fauna

The landscape is quite varied, with sandy-steppe, semi-arid steppe, meadows, reed beds, and forest stands. The dunes of the Radensk sector are interspersed with patches of shrubs, lakes and birch groves (12% of the area).[2]

Public use

The parks website warns the public of danger from a nearby military installation, and strictly prohibits unaccompanied visits by members of the public.[1]

References
  1. "Oleshky National Nature Park" (in Ukrainian). State Management of Affairs (Ukraine). Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  2. "Radensk Sector - Oleshky National Nature Park" (in Ukrainian). Official Park Site. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  3. "Burkut Sector - Oleshky National Nature Park" (in Ukrainian). Official Park Site. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  4. 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)
  5. "Dataset - Koppen climate classifications". World Bank. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  6. "Map of Ecoregions 2017". Resolve, using WWF data. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
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