Birthday
HydrangeasSome places were shaped by nature over millennia into something no landscape designer could replicate: turquoise cascading lakes, coral gardens thousands of kilometres long, geysers and wetlands where jaguars hunt alongside caimans. Here are five of the world's most impressive nature reserves, what makes each unique and when to visit, plus a Ukrainian reserve that rivals them.
Where they are and when to go
Most of these areas are protected by UNESCO, and visits are regulated: some require booking tickets in advance, others allow walking only on trails or with a guide. Following the rules is not a formality but a way to preserve these places for future generations.
1. The Pantanal, South America
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The world's largest tropical wetland stretches across Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay, covering some 150,000–200,000 square kilometres. In the rainy season the plain becomes a vast shallow lake; in the dry season animals gather at the remaining waterholes and are easy to spot: jaguars, capybaras, caimans and hyacinth macaws. From July to September ipê trees bloom, their pink and yellow crowns visible from afar. Part of the Pantanal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
2. Ebro Delta, Spain
This natural park in Catalonia, created in 1983, is one of the most important wetlands in the western Mediterranean. Rice fields, lagoons and sand spits are home to hundreds of bird species, including flamingos. The best times to visit are spring, when the flooded fields mirror the sky, and autumn, when migrating birds arrive.
3. Great Barrier Reef, Australia
The world's largest coral reef system runs about 2,300 kilometres along Australia's north-east coast and consists of nearly 3,000 individual reefs; it is visible even from space. It hosts hundreds of coral species, thousands of fish species, turtles and dugongs, and has been on the UNESCO list since 1981. The main threat is mass coral bleaching caused by ocean heating, so visitors are asked to use reef-safe sunscreen and never touch the coral.
4. Plitvice Lakes, Croatia
Sixteen lakes linked by waterfalls cascade down a valley, separated by natural travertine barriers that are still growing. The water shifts from turquoise to emerald depending on minerals and light. The national park was founded in 1949 and in 1979 became one of the first UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Swimming is forbidden, and visitors walk along wooden boardwalks.
5. Yellowstone, USA
The world's first national park was established in 1872. It sits on a giant volcanic caldera and holds roughly half of the planet's geothermal features: Old Faithful geyser, the rainbow-coloured Grand Prismatic Spring and bubbling mud pots. Bison, elk and grizzly bears live here, and wolves were reintroduced in 1995. In June and July the meadows fill with wildflowers.
Protected Ukraine
Ukraine has world-class natural treasures too. The primeval beech forests of the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve are part of the UNESCO site "Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe". The Shatsk Lakes in Volyn, the Dniester Canyon and the Granite-Steppe Buh area are all worth visiting when it is safe. The famous Askania-Nova reserve has been under occupation since 2022. About protected plants, see the Red Data Book of Ukraine.
How to visit reserves responsibly
- Stay on marked trails and do not pick plants.
- Do not feed wild animals and keep a safe distance.
- Take all your litter with you.
- Book tickets in advance, as many parks limit visitor numbers.
If you love natural landscapes, see flower fields of the world and the most beautiful landscapes.
Frequently asked questions
Which national park is the oldest?
Yellowstone in the USA, founded in 1872.
Can you swim in the Plitvice Lakes?
No, swimming is banned to protect the travertine barriers and water quality.
When is the best time to visit the Pantanal?
In the dry season, July to October, when animals are easier to see.
Does Ukraine have UNESCO natural heritage sites?
Yes, the Carpathian beech forests are part of the transnational "Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests" site.
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Author: Maria Svitlovir
Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.
