Askania Nova Reserve
Askania Nova is a biosphere reserve located in the Kherson region of Ukraine, near the urban-type settlement of the same name, 60 km southeast of Kakhovka. Nova Askania was founded in 1828 by Duke Ferdinand Friedrich of Anhalt-Köthen, a representative of the German dynasty Askanii as a sheep breeding colony of the Duchy of Anhalt-Köthen. It is one of the most famous national nature reserves in Europe and the only place in this part of the world where the tipchak-sooty steppe has never experienced human influence. Its area is 33,308 hectares, of which 11,054 hectares is an “absolutely protected” steppe zone. On the territory of Askania Nova Reserve there is a zoo, where animals and birds from all over the world are kept in spacious enclosures. The flora is no less bright – in addition to the local flora, a number of exotic plants are presented. On the territory of Askania Nova there is the Big Chapel Pod – a unique relief depression of 4 by 6 kilometers, periodically filled with melt water. It is included in the international list of the Ramsar Convention on the Protection of Wetlands.
