Krekenava Regional Park () is regional park in central Lithuania, mostly in the southern part of PanevÃÂà ¾ys District Municipality (a small part in KÃÂdainiai District Municipality). It was established in 1992 and covers .
Krekenava Regional Park encompasses the NevÃÂà ¾is river middle course and various culture and nature monuments amongst Krekenava, Ramygala and Survilià ¡kis towns.
43% of the territory is covered by forests (the main forested area is Paà ¡iliai Forest). There are some old oak groves. 1019 plant species are detected in the park, 31 of them are protected. The NevÃÂà ¾is and its tributaries' valleys are significant nature area because of natural meadows. There Campanula bononiensis, Corydalis cava, Pedicularis sceptrum-carolinum, brown galingale, Orchis militaris, Teucrium scordium grow.
There are 846 animal species in the park, among them are the Eurasian otter, common pipistrelle, white hare, natterjack toad, northern crested newt. Paà ¡iliai wisent stall (established in 1969) was the first place in Lithuania, where this animal was reintroduced. Now, part of the herd roams freely, while some are kept in the stall. There are roe deer, wild boar, red deer, fallow deer, Eurasian beaver aplenty.
160 species of birds nest in Krekenava Regional Park. From the rarer species the black stork, lesser spotted eagle, grey-headed woodpecker, European green woodpecker, northern goshawk, goosander, northern shoveler could be mentioned.
Rare insect species as the clouded Apollo, tufted skipper, hermit beetle, European stag beetle, Ergates faber live in the park.
There are some nature monuments:
There are many cultural monuments in the park, such as historical Bakainiai hillfort in Bakainiai village, on the bank of the LiaudÃÂ river, UpytÃÂ hillfort, famous as the former estate place where semi-legendary nobleman ÃÂiÃÂinskas lived, Burveliai village with an ancient offering hill (alkakalnis) and mythological stone, also BarinÃÂ ancient burial place.
Rodai II village hosts a chapel-mausoleum (build in 1861) of the Szwojnicki noblemen family. There are relics of former water mill, distillery and copper foundry in LinkaviÃÂiai (former Slabada estate). Ustronàvillage hosts an old barn (from the 19th century) where the unique Book smuggling museum have been established by Juozas Tumas-Vaià ¾gantas. There is Stultià ¡kiai windmill (build in 1880) with a flax industry exposition. Krekenava town is famous of historicist Assumption church (build in 1902), also Upytàtown and VadaktÃÂliai village have wooden churches. Famous cross maker Vincas Svirskis lived in Survilià ¡kis surroundings. His wooden crosses' relics still remain in Icià «nai and MuÃÂià «nai villages, also one is preserved in the Krekenava church.