Askania-Nova

Askania-Nova is a biosphere reserve in Kherson Oblast, Ukraine, covering more than 33,000 hectares of undisturbed steppe. The area includes research stations, an arboretum, and wide grasslands where native and introduced animal species roam freely.

German landowner Friedrich-Jacob Falz-Fein created the first protected areas in 1898 and gathered exotic animals from around the world. After the 1919 revolution, the property passed into state ownership and became a scientific research institution.

The steppe landscape carries the name of a German principality and shows today how people in this region have lived and worked for centuries. Guided walks explain how herders and researchers work together to help rare animal species thrive in open conditions.

The reserve is best visited during the warmer months when the steppe is in bloom and animals are active. Guests should wear sturdy footwear as paths cross open terrain and can be uneven.

The arboretum holds over 1,000 species of woody plants, even though the steppe is naturally treeless. This artificial collection shows how different plants from Europe, Asia, and America can grow in this dry landscape.