Homilsha Woods National Nature Park
Homilsha Woods National Nature Park () is a national park of Ukraine that covers established forests in the Donets River valley. The site has been a protected area for a very long time, beginning with Peter the Great designating local territory as a 'protected ship grove' for wood to build ships. The site also has high ecological value as forest-steppe land. Administratively, the park is in the Chuhuiv Raion of Kharkiv Oblast, about 50 km south of the regional city of Kharkiv. Topography. The park is composed of a series of protected and recreational areas  along both banks of the middle reaches of the Donets River and the Gomolshy River. The right banks of the river is hilly spurs of the Middle Russian Uplands, ranging up to 100 meters above the river. The left bank is generally flat plain of the East European Plain Included on the grounds are many archaeological sites and monuments of historical importance from all eras of Ukrainian history, from the Bronze Age (second millennium BC) to the time of Kyivan Rus. Climate and ecoregion. The Homilsha Woods area has a "Humid continental climate, warm summer" (Köppen climate classification (Dfb)). This  climate is characterized by large swings in temperature, both diurnally and seasonally, with mild summers and cold, snowy winters. Precipitation in the general region averages 450 mm/yr. The average temperature in August is . Holmosh Woods is in the transition zone between the "East European forest steppe" ecoregion (on the north) and the "Pontic–Caspian steppe" ecoregion (on the south). Flora and fauna. The terrain is one of hills and ravines, with maple-ash-oak forests on the slopes of the right bank, and pine forests on the sandy terraces of the left bank. The forested areas are bordered by  wet and dry meadows, with numerous small lakes. 500 hectares of the forest are 130–150 years old, with some oaks 200–300 years old. There are 850 species of higher plants that have been recorded in the park, with 138 of them listed as rare. 50 species of fish are found in the lakes and streams, 153 species of birds, and 53 species of mammals. Public use. There are five major hiking routes, and guided excursions are available. Shorter hiking routes access historical and cultural monuments. Park management sponsors educational programs, as well as scientific and research projects. There is lodging  at marked points along the river through the park. Swimming is permitted at designated areas.