Askania-Nova

What is special?   Biosphere reserve "Askania-Nova" – a green oasis in the dry Tavriya steppe, well-known all over the world. It was founded by a well-known landowner Friedrich Eduardovych Falz-Fein more then 100 years ago."Askania-Nova" Zoo has a territory for about 30 sq. km., were Przhevalsky horses peacefully graze together with droves of black bison, Grevy's zebras, blue antelopes and Turkmenian koulans. The Askania steppe is the only place in Europe, where American buffaloes are kept. One of the most precious parts of the natural reserve is the largest in Europe area of the virgin Festuca Stipa steppe. About 600 higher plants (both perennial and annual), 16 species of which were entered to the Red Data Book of Ukraine, have been preserved in their primary natural form. Description   Askania-Nova, which covers 33,307.6 hectares, is a biosphere reserve located in the fescue-and-feather grass steppe, the only area of its kind in Europe. The reserve was established by Falz-Fein, who used over 1,665 hectares of his grassland for this purpose in 1889. This date marks the founding of the first nature preserve in the Russian Empire. Tsar Nicholas II called Askania “a picture from the Bible.”   The operation of biosphere reserves is coordinated by UNESCO. By the decisions contained in the “Man and Biosphere” program, this organization included Ukraine’s reserves in the worldwide network of biosphere reserves.     From above, Askania-Nova resembles a science-fiction spaceship hovering over Ukraine’s steppes. In reality, the steppe reserve is made up of three relatively distinct parts: the Northern part, the Southern part (including two areas: the Old area and Uspenivka), and the Great Chapelsky Lowland. The Northern and Southern parts are divided by a highway connecting Askania and Chkalove. Uspenivka has been part of the reserve system since 1927, while the other areas have been used as pastures for cattle and haymaking.   Nearly 500 species of higher plants grow in the wild steppe, creating a unique bouquet of scents and visual images. Perennials predominate (51 percent), while 13 species have been placed on the Red List of Ukraine.   Red-listed tulips blossom in the Askania steppe in springtime: Tulipa schrencii with its red, or less common yellow or whitish, flowers and Tulipa scythica with its modestly colored yellow flowers (it does not grow anywhere else in Ukraine except Askania). There is also the checkered lily (Fritillaria meleagris) whose brown-purple flowers with their whitish, checkered pattern hang down like little bells.   In July and August the salty areas of the steppe are dotted with the purple blossoms of Allium regelianum. It is preceded, in June and July, by the no less bright blossoms of Allium scythicum whose perianth has beige or lilac-tinted leaves.   The reserve has a rich avifauna represented by 272 species. The buffer zone of the reserve is home to over 1,000 bustards. The autumn passage of birds that stop and even winter in the Great Chapelsky Lowland is an amazing sight: the phantasmagoric honking of many thousands of birds that hover above the ground forming a dark, menacing cloud and then come down like an ear-splitting avalanche.   The reserve’s state protection service combats poaching primarily in the buffer zone, where hunting is prohibited. On one of my trips to the reserve I was shown an information sign with the marks left by a round of bullets from a submachine gun.