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Meshchyorsky National Park covers extensive wetlands 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. The area is associated with the medieval Meshchera tribe, from which the area takes its name. "Meshchersky" National Park is not to be confused with "Meshchyora" 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 , and associated wetlands and forests. About 54% of the park territory is used and managed for agricultural purposes by local communities.Meshcheyorsk National Park forms a portion of the "Oka and Pra River Floodplains" wetland site under the Ramsar Convention, as a wetland of international importance.TopographyMeshchyora is located in a flat, ancient alluvial valley formed during the Quaternary Period as the Oka and Dnieper glaciers (and the Moscow glacier on the northwest edge of the park), receded and left a glaciofluvial cover. The Pra River watershed contains small rivers (including the Buzh and the Pol), streams, and a 48 km chain of lakes interconnected by channels. The lakes are shallow (under 1.1 meters at low water), with marshland along the shores. The largest lakes are Lake Velikoye, which has an open water area of 20.7 km2, Lake Dubovoye (12.2 km2) and Lake Martynovo (2.46 km2). At the confluence of the Pra and Oka rivers, the floodplain is 10 km wide.
