A new national park to be created in the Kaliningrad region

The press service of the Government of the Russian Federation reported that another specially protected natural area of federal significance, the Vishtynetsky National Park, will appear in the Kaliningrad Region. It will be located on the territories of the Nesterovsky and Ozersk municipal districts. The total area of the protected area will be more than 27.6 thousand hectares.

"The creation of the national park will allow preserving a unique natural complex with forest landscapes and water bodies, including Lake Vishtynetskoye and several large rivers belonging to the Baltic Sea basin," the message says.

According to the Wildlife of Russia portal, the national park includes a transboundary forest area known by the historical names "Red Forest" and "Romintenskaya Pushcha", and Lake Vishtynetskoye – the largest natural freshwater reservoir in the region. 

On the territory of the national park, the most common trees are oak, aspen, holly maple, common ash, hornbeam, alder, European spruce and common pine. Pine-spruce forests aged 100-150 years and up to 50 meters high have been preserved as part of the stands of the forest area.

The protected area has the presence of 13 species of plants and animals listed in the Red Book of Russia, as well as nine species of fungi, four species of lichens, 16 species of vascular plants and 22 species of animals listed in the Red Book of the Kaliningrad region. 

In total, 11 species of amphibians, 6 species of reptiles, 214 species of birds, 50 species of mammals live here. An indigenous population of red deer, unique in terms of genetic characteristics, is preserved on the territory of the national park.

The waters of Lake Vishtynets are home to 22 species of fish, including European whitefish, burbot, grouse, tench, eel, as well as at least 150 species of invertebrates.