Meshchyorsky National Park information

Meshchyorsky National Park
Мещерский, Meshchersky
IUCN category II (national park)
Meshchyorsky National Park
Location in Russia
Location	Ryazan Oblast
Nearest city	Ryazan
Coordinates	55°08′N 40°10′E / 55.133°N 40.167°E / 55.133; 40.167
Area	6,621 hectares (16,361 acres; 66 km2; 26 sq mi)
Established	1992 (1992)
Governing body	FGBU "Meshchyorsky"
Website	http://sovka.narod.ru/7.html

Meshchyorsky National Park (Russian: Национальный парк «Мещерский») covers extensive wetlands (swamps, peat bogs, rivers and lakes) and pine/birch woodlands in the Meshchera Lowlands on the East European Plain in the northern section of Ryazan Oblast, Russia, about 120 km east of Moscow. The wetland habitat provides for extremely rich biodiversity among the plants and animals.^[1] "Meshchersky" (Мещёрский) National Park is not to be confused with "Meshchyora" (Мещёра) National Park, which is just to the north, over the border in Vladimir Oblast. The park protects a section of the Pra River, Lake Beloye ("White Lake"), and associated wetlands and forests. About 54% of the park territory is used and managed for agricultural purposes by local communities.^[1]

Meshcheyorsk National Park forms a portion of the "Oka and Pra River Floodplains" wetland site under the Ramsar Convention (Ramsar ID #167), as a wetland of international importance.^[2]