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Khortytsia Island, Khortytsia Island National Reserve (Zaporizhia)

Island of Khortytsia, Zaporizhia.

Map

http://www.hortica.org.ua

The unique natural and historical complex of Khortytsia is the biggest island on the Dnieper River and is located in the Zaporizhia area below the Dnieper hydro-electric power station. The Island stretches from north-west to south-east 12.5 km in length and approximately 2.5 km wide.

The geological basis of the Island is made up of Precambrian stones, which are approximately 2.5 million years old. These are primarily granites covered with a layer of more recent sedimentary rocks. In the northern part of Khortytsia there are rock faces that are between 30 to 50 metres high that drop down to the south.

From a geological point of view Khortytsia represents a part of the Ukrainian fundamental crystalline formations. The river-valley of the Dnieper below the Dnieper hydro-electric power station is the only remaining fragment of the world famous system of cataracts (rapids) in the river's course. Before the sharp rise of the river's level due to the building of the Dnieper hydro-electric power station nine cataracts intersected the channel section of the Dnieper between Dnepropetrovsk and Zaporizhia, each of them with their own names: in the north, just below Dnepropetrovsk there was the "Starokodatsky cataract", followed by the "Sursky", "Lokhansky", "Zvonetsky", "Nenasitetsky", "Vovnigsky", "Budilovsky", and "Lishny" cataracts. The last cataract in this cascade was the "Gaduychy" or the "Volny cataract", which was located above Khortytsia Island.

In the Dneper's river bed right near Khortytsia there was not a complete lithoidal range. However, the region very much resembled the one near the cataracts: like nowadays, at that time numerous rock faces were rising up under the water and had their own names "Two Brothers", "Stoops", "Bowl of Zaporizhia" et al. The cragged cliffs formed a canyon, which very much resembled the canyon near the "Vovnigsky cataract", the peaks of which can be still seen today.

The cataracts were formed by the same lithoidal rocks that are now peeling off in the form of enormous rock faces in the northern part of Khortytsia and on the right bank of the Dnieper opposite the island. The region of Khortytsia Island can therefore rightfully be regarded as a relict or a distinctive geological monument of the Dnieper region cataract system that has miraculously remained intact, even after such mass human intrusion into nature.

Picturesque ravines cut across the coast of the Island, the historical origins of their names lost in the depths of time. There are still the remnants of small forests in steppe ravines, which shelter many different animals.

The Island of Khortytsia is peculiar in that all the different types of Ukrainian landscape are represented here — from steppes to mountains. In the steep banks, stows, and marsh soils 1,052 species of higher plants grow, 657 of which are wild-growing and aboriginal to the area, 41 relicts species, the remnants of primordial times and endemics, plants that spread over small areas. Despite the fact that the Island is practically located in the centre of a city with the population of almost 1 million people, 4 species of amphibians, 7 species of reptiles, 140 species of birds, and 18 species of mammals are recorded as inhabiting the Island. Arthropods are represented by 165 different species, 11 of which are on the endangered species list of Ukraine.

One of the steppe areas of the Island has become the natural habitat for a small butterfly from the gossamer-winged family. Tomares nogelii (Lycaenidae) is a very rare species not only in Ukraine but also in Europe.

Khortytsia is a treasure island of the Ukrainian land. There are numerous caves within its sea cliffs, the most famous of which is called "Zmieva" meaning "the one of a snake" as according to legend, the cave was inhabited by a twelve-headed snake.

Evidences of the ancient history of Khortytsia are to be found both under water and underground. In 1995, not far from the Generalka ravine, the frame of a large-hollowed oak vessel was found at a depth of 9.5 metres. Archeologists believe that these are the remains of a boat from the Kiev Russia period. In addition, several dugouts, an amphora, ceramics, and arrowheads also belonging to the Kiev Russia times were found on the north-eastern coast of the Island.

Man came to the Island in the Paleolithic and Mesolithic eras, but the first settlements to be substantially studied were those of the bronze (3rd — 2nd centuries B.C.). Numerous burial places, sites of ancient towns, and religious constructions were found in these settlements.

Due to the natural and archeological uniqueness of the Island and in order to provide governmental protection and preservation of its integrity, in 1965 the Island of Khortytsia was declared a Historical and Cultural Nature Reserve Area of the State (order #911 of the Ukrainian Council of Ministers as of 09/18/1965).

For the purpose of preservation the unique geological monuments which include Precambrian crystalline rock yields, cliff vegetation, liquid and endangered plant species located in the Dnieper River, in virgin steppes, and ravine forests, the geological wildlife preserve "Dnieper Cataracts" was established on the territory of the Historical and Cultural Reserve by order #500 of the Ukrainian Council of Ministers as of 10/28/1974.

By order #254 of the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers as of April 06, 1993 "On the National Nature Reserve of Khortytsia", the State Historical and Cultural Reserve was granted National status. This comprises the Island of Khortitsia and its adjoining islands and the rock faces: "Bayda", "Duboviy" (The Oak), "Rostebin", "Tri stoga" (Three stacks), "Srednyaya" (The Middle), "Bliznetsy" (The Twins), and the natural tract "Voronka" (The Hole) on the right bank of the Dnieper River. The total area of the natural reserve is about 2,360 hectares.

Archeologists continue to explore Khortytsia to this day and an exploration of the Dnieper bottom near the Island has also begun.

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Khortytsia Island, Khortytsia Island National Reserve



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