Synevyr

Synevyr National Park was established in Zakarpattia province, in south-western Ukraine, and protects some 40,400 hectares of the eastern Carpathians. Its best-known feature is Lake Synevyr, a mountain body of water formed by a landslide that dammed the valley, designated a Ramsar site on 29 July 2004.

Its forest value is of the first order. The park brings together some of the largest beech forests of the eastern Carpathians, outstanding examples of virgin woodland that was never exploited: pure beech stands predominate, with trees up to three hundred years old, alongside mixed stands of beech and spruce. Nine endemic plant species grow here, among them the Carpathian knapweed and buttercup, and the integrity of the area has allowed the faunal composition to remain authentic. The spread of beech to higher altitudes is being studied as an example of an ecological process under way in association with climate change.

On 13 July 2017 the Darvaika, Kvasovets, Strymba and Vilshany sectors of the park were added to the World Heritage List as one of the massifs of the serial property of the ancient and primeval beech forests of Europe. The park is home to brown bear — with a bear rehabilitation sanctuary within its boundaries — wolf, lynx, wild boar, otter, badger and stoat.