Yelanets steppe Nature Reserve, Nature reserve in Mykolaiv Oblast, Ukraine.
Yelanets Steppe Nature Reserve covers 1,675 hectares of native grassland with limestone outcrops and diverse plant species across the North-Western Black Sea region. The terrain features open meadows, rocky cliffs, and undisturbed habitats that showcase the original character of this landscape type.
The reserve was established in 1996 to protect one of the last remaining sections of natural steppe in Right-bank Ukraine, west of the Dnieper River. This designation marked a critical effort to preserve the original grassland ecosystems that once covered much of the region.
The "Palace of Nature" within the reserve serves as an educational center where school groups learn about local ecosystems through direct observation and hands-on activities.
The Dyvo-step educational trail is accessible from April through mid-October, while the rest of the reserve remains closed for conservation purposes. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes and bring appropriate clothing for walking, as access to the open grasslands is limited to marked paths.
The reserve maintains a herd of 25 American bison in a 70-hectare enclosure, with animals originating from Askania-Nova Biosphere Reserve. This population represents a rare case of large grazing herbivores being kept within a Ukrainian protected area.
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