The Valley of Daffodils – 2009. Part One.

The last time I together with my friends were in the "Valley of Daffodils" in 2006 and our mood was so spoiled by what we had seen that the desire for another visit of this popular throughout Ukraine and nearest countries narcissus reserve in the tract of Kirishe, a few kilometers from the town of Khust, appears only now.

A few scientific facts:

The "Valley of Daffodils" - a unique botanical object, in which the largest area of growing of narrow leaves narcissus (Narcіssus angustіfolіus) of Central Europe is. This middle European alpine species is spread in the Alps, the Balkans and the Carpathian Mountains at altitudes of 1100-2060 m. The population in this flat locality is preserved from the post-glacial period and has a relict character. In 1980, Narcissus angustіfolіus was listed in the Red Book of Ukraine. This species grows in several groups in the array: Narcіssus angustіfolіus + Sanguіsorba offіcіnalіs + Anthoxanthum odoratum, N. angustіfolіus + Festuca pratensіs + Holcus lanatus, Juncus conglomeratus + Fіlіpendula vulgarіs + N. angustіfolіus

The climate in the area of the tract is warm and humid. According to local weather stations the average air temperature is 8.5 degrees, in January - 4,0, in July - 19.5 degrees. Annual rainfall is about 850 mm. Here sod – gley, heavy- and loamy soils predominate that formed in ancient alluvial deposits.

Over 400 species of plants grow in the "Valley of Daffodils", including such rare as Achіllea salіcіpholіa, Dactylorhіsa fuschіі, D. majalіs, Erytrhonіum dens- canіs, Gentіana pneumonanthe, Gymnadenіa odoratіssіma, Іrіs sіbіrіca, Orchіs coryophora, O. laxіflora, Potentіlla alba, etc.

In general, 498 different species of plants are in the Valley of Daffodils, in particular, 15 species of flowers, which are listed in the Red Book, 16 species of orchids. During the period of mass blossoming (it is the second - the beginning of the third decade of May) Narcіssus angustіfolіus Curt. co - dominate, the herbage is dominant on the one third of its area.

Scientists have noted significant changes of the vegetation cover during the last 25 years, in particular, reducing of the square of these meadows. Whereas in the past a pointed leaves daffodil covered hundred hectares of land, now every year the area of the reserve is reducing. To save the valley – ecologists suggest prohibiting of passing with cars, to remove the asphalt, plant trees and moisten the soil. The Reserve has changed the hydrological regime of soils, and flowers do not have enough moisture.

In this article I will try to give fewer comments and focus on the photo materials clearly illustrating what is happening in the reserve now. I would like to initiate a review with this photo.



At the entrance to the territory, where under the guise of police guards direct everyone to the ticket office in the queue, souvenirs of local manufacturing, alcoholic beverages and barbeque are sold (not far from village Iza).



This was the purest trash of all that we had seen. Some of them were a huge pile of debris. It is worth noting that in half an hour girls talking in Slovak appeared in the first mountains of debris. Using disposable gloves and garbage bags they began to collect human waste in these bags. The girls were managed by an old man in the form of a forester, who had recently checked tickets at the entrance. You may see a total deficit of staff and as a result, what you’ll see in the photo below...



It is a traditional classical view. The Daffodil had bloomed only 30-40%. In a week the peak of blooming was expected, but the tourists had already been more than in the peak of flowering in 2006 ...



Customers tired of walking between the glades, have a rest in the shade of the trees on the benches, of which have appeared a little more.



In such a way mannered and proper people are photographed, who were not more than 50% of the total mass of the Homo sapiens on the day of our visit.



Someone makes photo with the cell...



...someone does it with the professional equipment...



There are plates everywhere, promising punishment for wrongdoing...



This mom with a child is the main characters of this article. Near the plate with a penalty she carefully jumped over a fence, ran to the nearest "oasis" of daffodils on a last year trampled path, plopped down in the grass and began to pose in front of the lens.



But this child, slowly treading a track in the pristine array of flowers, was brought and put by a young mother. She also slowly moved away and started the photo session.



Related links: The valley of Daffodils – 2009. Part two.

03.03.2011. 09:13

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