In 2010 the Valdaysky national park - the real gem of nature of the Novgorod region – is turning 20. The territory of the park extends to the lands of Okulovka, Valday and Demyansk. The concept of the park has been to preserve the unique landscape of lakes, marshes and forests, glacial relief and numerous monuments of history and culture all over the central part of the Valday Hills. There are about 500 objects in total. In 2004 the park have been added to UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves. According to Nadezhda Litvinova, Cand. Sc., a leading expert in Valdaysky national park, the park is mainly valued not for rare plants, animals, natural resources, but for the unique territory landscape the park has been established on.

The rivers of Baltic and Caspian sea basins originate in here. There 200 lakes with deposited glacial materials, and numerous high bogs in the park complex. There are only 6 drainage divides of that kind all over the world, and one of them is in Novgorod region.

The park territory has been divided into various zones that assists developing both recreational and eco-tourism. There are resort campgrounds built on the Valdayskoe lakeside.

Since recently the staff of the Valdaysky national park have been involved into creating new eco-paths.

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