Nature & Sightseeing

 
Kaunas district occupies 153 000 ha of Southern part of Middle Lithuanian Lowland. Kaunas district is the meeting place of  the ethnic regions of Aukštaitija, Žemaitija and Suvalkija. It is the crossing place of three main rivers: the Nemunas, the Neris and the Nevėžis.

The district is surrounded by two large forests. In the West it borders with Kazlų Rūda forest and in the East with Pravieniškių and Būdos forests. Forests occupies the biggest part of the Western part of the district. In the Northern part of the district Varluvos, Babtų, Padauguvos, and Karalgiris forest lie and in the South Dubrava Forests extend.  Forests cover 30 percent of the district land.

Water covers roughly 5 percent of  the surface. Although there are no lakes, but there is a vast web of winding rivers, streams and dams. Kauno marios (the Kaunas Sea) covers a territory of 6350 ha creating a huge artificial lake. It is  the biggest pond of Lithuania. The valleys of the Nemunas, the Neris, the Nevėžis, the Dubysa and the Jiesia rivers have picturesque, high and steep riversides. All the major swamps such as  Ežerėlis, Novaraisčio upland moors were drained and exploited or are still being in use.  

Agricultural land occupies more than a half of the district territory (53 percent). Most of grasslands and pastures are well managed. Kaunas district is one of the most populous districts in Lithuania. It surrounds the next largest city of Lithuania – Kaunas and its outskirts. A rich variety of wildlife  is found in the Kamša botanical zoological reservation, Jiesia and Dubrava forests. 

About 1000 kinds of herbal plants, 64 kinds and forms of trees and bushes grow in the territory of the district. More than 61 kind is registered in  Lithiuanian Red book. Insect population includes more than 30 species found in Lithuania. 21 of them are rear kinds. 13 reptile and 7 amphibian species live in out-of-the-way places. Two of them are  very rare. A wide variety of birds is found in addition to many resident species, a large number of migratory is observed. 50 very rare species breed in the territory of the district. From 70 species of wild animals whose natural habitat and breeding grounds exist on the territory of the Republic of Lithuania 53 are found in Kaunas district. From them 12 rare and vanishing species of wild animals are registered in Lithiuanian Red book. 35 fish species grow successfully in the rivers and ponds of the district. 4 of which are very rare species.

The biological variety of the district is preserved in three regional parks: the Kaunas Sea, the Dubysa, Panemunių, and 12 reserves:
Eroded valley and landrails are protected in the Reservation of the Nevėžis landscape (Raudondvaris and Užliedžiai subdistrict).
Valuable rock explosures of the Jiesia with kvarter stratums and chalk clods and the rare species of fauna and flora are preserved in the Jiesios landscape reservation (Garliava and Rokai subdistrict).
The lower reaches of the valley are preserved in the Liekės landscape reservation (Zapyškis subdistrict).Philopotamus montanus Don. is protected in the Narėpa entomological reservation (Raudondvaris subdistrict).

Southern populations of moth are preserved in Ringovė entomological reservation (Vilkija subdistrict).
Habitat of rare plants is protected in Paštuva botanical reservation. (Vilkijos neighbourhood subdistrict). Vimba spawing habitats are preserved in the Dubysa ichtiological reservation (Čekiškės and Vilkijos neighbourhood subdistricts).

Trout spawing habitats are preserved in the Karklė ichtiological reservation (Raudondvaris subdistrict).
Deeply eroded valley is preserevd in the Aluona hydrographical reservation (Babtai subdistrict) Ravines of morenic ridge and hilly landscape and rolling landscape are protected in Lapės geomorphological reservation (Lapės subdistrict)

Wildlife is protrected in the Kamša Botanical-Zoological reservation (Ringaudai subdistrict).

Gathering place for migratory crane and other waterbirds is preserved in the Novaraistis ornithological reservation (Zapyškis subdistrict)
The main purpose of Arlaviškės botanical reservation is to protect the unique juniper complex (44,68 ha) on the Kauno marios shore. It belongs to the Kaunas Sea regional park territory (Zapyškis subdistrict).  Rare forest  plant  growing places and upland moor plants community is protected in Dubrava forest reservation. We are proud of three parks Girionys, Raudondvaris and Obeline which are under protection of the government.

The Girionys Park is one of the largest lanscape park in Lithuania (104,45 ha). It was founded in 1961 according to the project of famous landcape architecture A. Tauras on the bank of  the Kaunas Sea in Samylai subdistrict. The rarest introduced kinds of trees and bushes run riot in Girionys park. At present there are 360 kinds and it is planned to raise 500 new kinds of trees and bushes. One can admire 10 kinds of spruce, Balkanic and Siberian pines, various kinds of firs, hemlock firs, junipers, false cypress, thujas. 153 kinds of deciduous trees and bushes are registered: Sessile oaks, Japanese birch and magnolia, beech, burbot, medlar, American elms. This park is of great importance for science and studies. It provides with seeds of rare plants, adorns Kaunas neighbourhood and is an excellent resting-place.

The Raudondvaris park is situated in the city of Raudondvaris on the banks of the Nemunas and the Nevėžis rivers. It occupies a territory of 13 ha. The park was founded by B. Tiškevičius. Though there are left few old trees, new trees and shrubs were planted and new tracks laid out. Oaks, maples, poplars, limes predominate in the park. There also grow elders and elaeagnus.

The Obelynė park was founded in 1920 near Ringaudai village by academician Tadas Ivanauskas. It is known for its rich vegetation. In 1958 the park was announced the Nature Monument. The park collection includes over 300 different species of trees and shrubs, 59 different kinds and forms of conifers including: Grey, Siberian, Silver, Balsam, Caucasian, Japanese fir, 15 kinds of Alien spruce, 6 kinds of larch. Relict plants of the park are European yew and its variety Cuspidate yew. One of the oldest trees in the world - Ginkgo biloba and Meta sequoia (Dawn Redwood) grow in the Obelyne park. 250 kinds and forms of deciduous trees such as: various forms of oaks, birch, beech, 6 kinds of nutwood, mulberry, hydrangea, 6 species of cherry bird, Japanese angelica tree, various  climbers might be found there too. This park is good place for research and students.

In 2005 by the act of the Government of Lithuania The Padauguvos (Vandžiogala subdistrict) and Babtai-Varluva (Babtai subdistrict) forest were qualified as proposed Sites of Community Interest (pSCI). In Babtai-Varluva  pSCI the populations of great spotted woodpecker and white-backed woodpecker are preserved. In Padauguvos pSCI the populations of three-toed woodpecker and white-backed woodpecker are protected.

A row of geological nature monuments is conserved in the territory of subdistricts: Drąseikiai rock exposure in Lapės subdistrict on the right bank of the Neris; Žiegždriai rock exposure and Kalniškiai pudding-stone exposure,  pine twined with oak in Dubrava forest – Twins of Dubrava in Samylai subdistrict; Karalgiris stone is lying on the road to Čekiškė in Babtai subdistrict and  Žiegždriai lime in Samylai subdistrict.

The objects of tourism attraction are Oak tree – giant growing in Bakšiai forest, Twofold oak tree discovered in Dasiūnai village, Limetree – Mother found  in Braziūkai village in Zapyškis subdistrict, Šilagiris pine-tree growing in the deep of the Šilagiris forest, as well as Karveliai oak in Pypliai village in Ringaudai subdistrict, and Milžinkapiai pine-tree recalling the times of Napoleon found in Girininkai village in Alšėnai subdistrict.