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LOCATION
Žemaitija Nacional Park is located in western Lithuania, in Plungė district, about 70 km from the Baltic Sea. Total area 21 754 ha: forests – 10515 ha (44,6%). (Visitors center coordination: 56.042586, 21.815143 (WGS)
Park was established in 1991 having a goal to preserve the natural and cultural heritage, to guarantee proper use and regeneration of natural resources, to create conditions to cognitive tourism. All life in Žemaitija National Park revolves around Lake Plateliai. This Lake is the largest and deepest, and the most beautiful in all Žemaitija, together with the landscape of areas around the Lake – valuable shores, islands and nice forests. The biggest part of Park takes by quite high (150-190) hills. Park is full of unique valuables showing the cultural heritage of this land dating back to the Stone Age. Samogitians who have preserved their dialect, customs, features of character, buildings and original small- scale architecture live there. More than 200 of valuables of cultural heritage are taken care of. The old cultural heritage are mounds, old sacred places, grave- yards, places of the settlements and small architectural values (Samogitian crosses, chapels). Cross symbolism are included in the UNESCO representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Wildlife: In the National park grows dense, shady fir trees, western taiga called natural old coniferous and mixed forests. They are protected in all Europe. Swamps are rich in different species of organisms. There are many exclusive trees in the National Park – natural heritage objects, the most impressive – Witch‘s Ash – tree. It‘s the thickest ash in Lithuania. Bird species protected in Europe put eggs in the National park (Hazel Grouse, Corn Crake, Whooper Swan) also there are relics of the ice age plant – beats. Park territory, except for recreational and other functional zones (residential purpose priority), has been granted the status of an important site for protection of Bird and habitats – NATURA 2000. In 2008, The Žemaitija National Park and Plateliai, famous for Shrovetide celebration, became the most attractive Europe’s tourism destination (EDEN). In 2013, Park became a member of the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas.
ATTRACTIONS
It is offered for visitors to try Šeirė (4,1km) and Paplatelė (2,3km) Walking trail, to try Cycling Path (24km) around Lake Plateliai. Visitors can watch the birds in the observation towers, to sail by boats, water bikes, windsurfers and yachts or have other activities: diving, fishing, swimming and have camping, to have excursions around the Park and surroundings. It is offered to climb to Siberia viewing tower, it overlooks Beržoras surroundings, the Siberia Marsh, Lake Plateliai and etc. Visiting the museum: 1. The Cold War exposition. It is the only one in all Europe. It‘s located in the former Soviet Union‘s complex of ballistic missile silo launch. 2. Expositions of Žemaitija National park and Shrove Tuesday. Here visitors can see ethnography of this region. In the traditional craft center, visitors are offered to taste traditional Samogitian dishes and to participate in educational activities. It is recommended to visit Žemaičių Kalvarija, this is one of the most visited Lithuanian sacral areas and it is included in the pilgrimage of Pope John Paul II.
INFORMATION SOURCES
Heritage Class: [ N ] Natural Heritage
Subclass [NP] : National Parks and Other Protected Areas
WEB PAGES
http://zemaitijosnp.lt/isskirtine-verte/
https://www.visitplunge.lt/pramogos-ka-veikti/sakralinis-marsrutas/
