Askania Nova Reserve Ukraine set of postcards 1986 USSR

Description: Askania Nova Reserve Ukraine set of postcards 1986 USSR. Full set 17 postcards. Photo captions on the postcards are in Ukrainian and Russian. Askania-Nova (Ukrainian: Аскания-Нова) is a biosphere reserve named after F.E. Falz-Fein NAANU, located in the Kherson region of Ukraine, near the urban-type settlement of the same name, 60 km southeast of Kakhovka. Askania-Nova (literally "New Askania") was founded in 1828 by Duke Ferdinand Friedrich of Anhalt-Köthen, a representative of the German Askania dynasty, as a sheep-breeding colony for the Duchy of Anhalt-Köthen. The territory of the reserve was seized at the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In March 2023, the Russian occupation administration established de facto control over the institution. The area of the reserve is 33,307.6 hectares, of which 11,054 hectares are "absolutely protected" steppe zone, that is, virgin territory that has never been touched by a plough. The Askania steppe belongs to the fescue-feather grass type, this is the only virgin territory of this type in Europe. Feather grass is the most common plant in Askania-Nova, accounting for 75% of all vegetation. At least 1,155 species of arthropods, 7 species of amphibians and reptiles, 18 species of mammals live in the dense grasses, more than 270 species of birds fly by at different times of the year, of which 107 species stay for nesting. In addition, 478 species of higher plants grow here. The Red Book of Ukraine includes 13 species of higher plants, 3 species of fungi and 4 species of lichens. On the territory of Askania-Nova there is the Bolshoy Chapelsky pod - a unique relief depression measuring 4 by 6 km, periodically filled with melt water. It is included in the international list of the Ramsar Convention on the Protection of Wetlands. In the deepest part of the pod, hydrophytes grow, including the rarest species in Ukraine - Damasonium alisma Mill. (1768) - Starfruit. This area has the highest diversity of flowering plants in the reserve — 368 species, including 53 endemic ones. 8 species are listed in the Red Book of Ukraine. Wild ungulates from different continents are kept in conditions close to natural ones on the territory of the Bolshoy Chapelsky Pod. Bison, saigas, European fallow deer, Przewalski's horse, Turkmen kulans, donkeys, red deer, sika deer, mouflons, and two-humped camels live here all year round. In summer, watusi, eland, kaffir buffalo, wildebeest, nilgai, zebras, and gayals are released here. In autumn, a large number of migratory birds gather in the center of the pod: different types of ducks, flocks of cranes, grey geese, and waders.

Price: 27 USD

Location: Kiev

End Time: 2024-12-08T16:58:37.000Z

Shipping Cost: 20 USD