Polissya Nature Reserve, Nature reserve in Zhytomyr Oblast, Ukraine
Polissya Nature Reserve is a protected area in northern Ukraine that covers woodland marshes, pine groves, and peat bogs between the Uborti and Bolotnisya rivers. The landscape extends over more than 20000 hectares and hosts numerous animal and plant species, including rare wetland vegetation and larger mammals.
The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources established this protected area in 1968 to preserve the habitats of the Polissja region. Since then the forests and wetlands have been protected from industrial use and monitored for research.
The name comes from the historic Polissja region, known for its wetland landscapes. Visitors can spot stone relics from earlier worship sites where rituals once took place.
Two educational trails lead through parts of the reserve and offer views of the wildlife and plants. The paths are easiest to walk in spring and autumn when the wetlands are less flooded.
The area contains three different types of swamps, each supporting its own plant communities such as cotton grass, blueberries, and sedges. This diversity makes the reserve an important site for wetland research.
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