Tarutyns'kyj steppe, Landscape reserve in Odesa Oblast, Ukraine.
Tarutyn steppe is a protected landscape reserve in southern Odesa Oblast featuring open grasslands mixed with scattered wooded sections across rolling terrain. The reserve covers several thousand hectares of typical steppe vegetation.
The area functioned as a military training ground starting in 1946 before transitioning to protected status in 2012. Local authorities and the Defence Ministry negotiated this shift to conservation use.
The landscape displays native forb and feather grass vegetation that formed the backbone of Ukraine's natural scenery for centuries. Visitors can walk through what these traditional steppes actually looked and felt like.
The reserve is most accessible during warmer months when the ground is dry and vegetation is fully developed. Wear sturdy shoes for uneven terrain and bring enough water for exploration.
The reserve holds one of Ukraine's last populations of southern birch mice. These small creatures are hard to spot, but their presence signals the ecological value of the protection here.
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