Aukštaitija National Park

Aukštaitija National Park

 

Location: Ignalina Map

Area: 405.70 km²

 

Aukstaitija National Park situated in Ignalina region of Lithuania 100 km North of Vilnus. This natural reserve covers an area of 405.70 km². It is the oldest national park in the country founded in 1974. Glaciers from an Ice Age carved unique landscape of Aukstaitija National Park. About 15% of the park area is covered by 126 lakes and numerous rivers. The largest lakes are Kretuonas and Tauragnas. Lake Baluosas contains seven islands. One of the islands contains its own small lake. The park is inhabited by 209 species of birds, 64 species of plants and 35 species of fish. Fishing is legal within the norms established by the park's administration. You can rent fishing rods, boat or a kayak. Additionally you can stay on the land of the natural park if you get the permit.

 

One of the most favorite destinations of Aukštaitija National Park is hill Ladakalnis. Translated roughly as an "iceberg" the hill offers a magnificent view of seven lakes (Linkmenas, Asalnai, Ukoyas, Asekas, Alnas, and Luschay Almayas) of the natural park. According to local legends the hill served as a site for pagan rituals intended to honor mother goddess Lada. Now even though this can not be proven for a fact there are archaeological finds that include first settlements that date back to 9000 BC  as well as 45 burial sites from the 4th to 12th centuries. Each site contains from several up to 400 tumuluses or burial mounds that cover the actual burial along with artifacts that were put in the grave. This region of Europe remained pagan up to late Medieval times so it had unique way to part with the departed ones. Additionally remains of 11 hill forts are scattered through out the area. Needless to say that it is illegal to remove any items from the national park. If you do stumble on an ancient site report it to the administration of the Aukštaitija National Park.

 

History
The area has a history of nature conservation stretching back to 1960, when the Ignalina Landscape Reserve and the Ažvintić Forest Botanical-Zoological Reserve were established. These two came to form the framework of the national park that was established on March 29, 1974 under the name Lithuanian SSR National Park. The purpose of the national park is to protect and conserve the region's natural and cultural environments. The current name, Aukštaitija National Park, was adopted after Lithuania became an independent state again. Since 2010, the park management has been based in the village of Palūšė in the district of Ignalina.

Geography
Aukštaitija National Park is located in the eastern part of the country, about 100 km north of the capital Vilnius and 170 km northeast of Kaunas. It spans the districts of Ignalina, Utena and Švenčionys and covers an area of ​​4,050 ha. The landscape is hilly, with an average height of 120 m above sea level. 15% of the park's surface is covered by water in the form of lakes, rivers and canals. Here is Lithuania's deepest lake, Tauragnas, with a maximum depth of 60.5 m. The river Žeimena connects the area to the Baltic Sea.

Plant-and animal life
In Aukštaitija National Park, 59% of all indigenous plant species in Lithuania occur. 70% of the park's surface is covered by forest, mainly pine forest. The flora includes over 800 species of vascular plants, of which 60 are red-listed. Some of these that are particularly rare in Lithuania are the sycamore, hornbeam and dwarf birch. The fungal flora is also species-rich, with 633 recorded species.

The park's wildlife is rich with several rare and protected species. Among the insects there are 650 species of beetles, over 40 species of dragonflies and several species of bees, including the rallar bee, which does not occur anywhere else in Lithuania. 35 species of fish have been found in the lakes. The number of observed bird species amounts to 209, of which 151 breed here. Among the mammals there are approximately 50 species, of which European beaver and hare are relatively common. Among the rarer mammal species is the bush mouse, which was observed for the first time in Lithuania in 1969. The wolf population in the park consists of 8–10 individuals, and in 1991 traces of a brown bear were found.

Cultural landscape
Aukštaitija National Park is located in an area that has been inhabited by humans for at least 2000 years, which has left its mark on the landscape. Approximately 15% of the park's area is made up of agricultural land and settlements; the villages are 82 in number and have a total population of approximately 2,000 people. Some of the villages are mentioned as early as the 14th century and cultural attractions include watermills, a wooden church from the 17th century and a beekeeping museum. Traditional farming methods are still used in the area.