Шацькі озера / Shatsky Lakes Svitiaz

The Shatsk National Natural Park was established in 1983 to preserve, reconstitute and to use the natural complexes and objects of special environmental, recreational, educational and aesthetic value that is present in the north-west area of Volyn Oblast, Ukraine. The area covers 490 square kilometres and only its lakes reach almost 70 of them. Forests occupy 52.5% of general park area, grasslands 7.3%, marshes 2.8%, and water reservoirs 14.2%. The rest of the area is taken by farms and roads. Another incredible point of strenght of the Park is its Flora and Fauna; In the Shatsk Lakes territory, 1180 species of plants belonging to 124 families are found. Among them there are 795 species of higher vascular plants and 112 bryophytes. 332 vertebrate species have been noted in the park: 55 mammals, 241 birds, 7 amphibians, and 29 fish (11 families). All these features place the area among the most protected in Ukraine.