„Extremely rich flora and fauna of Žuvintas Lake and its surroundings, have no alike example in Lithuania, thus it is worth to be conserved.“

Tadas IVANAUSKAS

Žuvintas Biosphere Reserve was established, the regulations and the Zoning plan of the Biosphere Reserve and its Functional Priority Zones were approved by the the Government of the Republic of Lithuania on 2002. Žuvintas Biosphere Reserve stretches on the territories of Alytus region (6954 ha), Lazdijai region (1180 ha) and Marijampolė region Marijampolė municipality (10361 ha). It is the first Reserve of this type in Lithuania.

Nature

Žuvintas Biosphere Reserve is situated in the South of the middle Lithuania lowlands, on the border of Nemunas middle-reaches and Neris lower-reaches plain, on the borderline of the south-eastern physical-geographic district. It comprises a complex of Žuvintas and Amalvas wetlands, wet Bukta forest and Žaltytis Lake together with its marshy coastal territories, situated to the west of Žuvintas Lake.

Culture

The most important and significant cultural archaeological record is the mound Varnupiai together with ancient settlement, which findings belong to Yotvings culture, dated of I thousand – XIII-th century.

More objects of cultural heritage, i.e. ancient burial-grounds of medieval villages or historical sites, I-st World War graves of German soldiers and some others are scattered throughout the territory of Biosphere Reserve.