Nature

 

The most beautiful and valuable with regard to nature and culture places of Lithuania bear the status of protected areas. Even 12 percent of country’s area is covered by 5 national and 30 regional parks, 254 reserves, 2 cultural and 3 nature reserves and 1 biosphere reserve, as well as over 400 features of nature heritage. Presently, the establishment of a network of protected areas important on the EU scale, Natura 2000, is continued.

 

Protected areas represent big treasure for our country and society that have not only to be protected and upheld but employed for the development of tourism as well. All the protected areas are interesting and valuable for sightseeing; however, the terms of visiting as well as tourism organization possibilities are very different there.

 

Reserves are the most strictly protected areas; nevertheless, in cultural reserves (Kernavė, Vilnius Castles) tourism is a promoted and widely developed activity. Any farming or visiting is forbidden at nature reserves (Čepkeliai, Kamanai, Viešvilė), yet, short sightseeing tours along adapted routes and guided by reserve personnel are available. The main tourist activity at nature reserves involves museum expositions in administrative premises, short tours guided by a qualified nature guide along wooden paths over the wetland floor, and a possibility to sweep the horizons of the high marshes from review towers as well as to listen to the birds’ squawking.

 

Lithuania’s reserves are diverse in size, protected values and visiting possibilities. Any recreational activity that can have a negative impact upon protected sites is restricted, and during certain periods even forbidden. There are 254 state reserves and over 100 municipal reserves in Lithuania (2.5 percent of the country’s territory). Landscape, geomorphological, geological reserves that were established for the protection and representation of the most characteristic and valuable country’s landscapes, the diversity of relief forms, exposures, accumulations of boulder, and failures are quite well known and visited. These are the Apuolė, Germantas, Raigardas, Šventoji, and Ūla landscape reserves, and the Juozapinė, Dvarčionys, Linkuva, Nevaišiai, Pratkūnai, and Skersabaliai geomorphological reserves, and the Nemunėlis-Apaščia, and Pelyša geological reserves.

 
Hydrographical reserves are designated to preserve the structure of rivers and spring valleys and lake banks; they are also frequented and publicly known. These are the Lietava, Širvinta, Visinčia, Virvytė, Vilnia, and Glėbas reserves. There is a group of reserves that does not interest tourists at all. Among them are the reserves intended for the protection of soil, or the ones, where visiting is limited or pointless without a guiding person (teriological reserves protecting bats, entomological reserves protecting butterflies and other insects, and herpetological reserves protecting turtles). Ornithological reserves will appeal to bird-spotters; the great attraction of tourists and the cleanest rivers of Žeimena, Šventoji, Dubysa, and Jūra earned the status of ichthyological reserves (for the protection of fish resources). Even 39 great wetland complexes that are not included in the list of state reserves or state parks bear the status of telmological reserves. These would only attract the interest of true naturalists. While visiting telmological preserves without an experienced guide tourists might wander off or even be exposed to danger. It should not be forgotten that visits to telmological and ornithological reserves are banned from April until September, during the time of birds’ brooding, breeding and hatch raising.

Separate and clustered features of nature as well as immovable cultural values represent the objects of heritage (nature and cultural) that are preserved due to their scientific, cultural, sightseeing or any other value. Lithuania boasts 414 natural heritage features (trees, springs, stones, relief forms, etc.) and 3719 cultural heritage objects (manors, churches, barrows, etc.) of state significance. 161 most valuable features among them were awarded the status of the monument of nature; nearly 1000 features were declared the monuments of culture.

 

National and regional parks comprise the biggest part of the protected area system. Here, values of nature and cultural heritage, landscape as well as biological diversity are protected. In addition, conditions to learn about this heritage are created, and recreational activities, first of all the sightseeing and rural tourism, are developed. This is the golden fund of the nature tourism of Lithuania. Tourism infrastructure and information system are constantly improved, visitor centres are created, and an increasing number of rural tourism farmsteads are built. However, one should remember that the above-mentioned areas bear the exceptional status of protected areas; therefore, please, when travelling or camping, avoid making noise, do not break park visiting rules, and park your car only at designated places. Below are several comments for those who wish to visit the state parks:

• In these parks, the priority is given to the encouragement of sightseeing and eco tourism; and youth and schoolchildren groups are gladly welcome;
• Please try to book excursions and sites for camping in advance;
• The best thing is to start your tour in parks from a visitors’ centre; local guides will provide you with deeper knowledge about the parks;
• Camping is allowed only at designated places;
• Visiting schedule and camping possibilities differ depending on a park area (e.g., visiting of park reserves is forbidden all year round, visiting of zoological preserves is forbidden from April until September, visits to other areas are unrestricted).

 

National and regional parks of our country provide recreational and travelling facilities, and everyone, wishing to know the Lithuanian cultural and nature heritage or seeking harmony and inspiration from nature is welcome here.