Meteliai Regional Park was set up to preserve the unique landscape of southern Lithuania with lakes Dusia, Metelys and Obelija, and the environs containing smaller lakes and wetlands. The lakes, which cover as many as 36% of the park’s area, provide a lasting habitat for the largest flock of migratory birds in Dzūkija, and boast a rich fish stock.

Nature

The main features are the ravines of lakes Dusia, Metelys and Obelija, the landscape of the park’s western part with the ridges and hills of Teizai, Verstaminai and Kalniškė shaped by the last glacier, the flora typical of this landscape, and the rich world of insects. The deciduous forests with rare hornbeam tracts and the only sessile oak grove in Lithuania are also interesting. By the Meteliai-Seirijai road grows the Širvintas oak, a monument of nature. The pond turtle, one of the rarest animal species in Lithuania, can still be found in the smaller water bodies.

Cultural heritage

The park has eight interesting mounds mostly situated on lakeshores. The mound at Prelomciškė is the heritage of the Jotvingiai tribe. The Chapel of Crosses, a site worshiped by Catholics, is a relic from the period of the wars with Sweden. The graves of the 1863 rebels, the 1945 Kalniškė battlefield and the graceful church in Meteliai are also noteworthy. The large one-street villages that have survived the valakas (land unit of about 20 ha) reform are of great cultural value.

Recreation

Southern Lithuania does not have another place equally attractive to a great number of people: several thousand holidaymakers gather on the shores of lakes Dusia and Metelys on summer weekends. Lake Dusia, the largest in Dzūkija, has a shallow and wide sandbar that reaches up to 200 m in width, and extremely clear and clean water. The southern and southeastern shores of the lake are best suited for recreation. Places for tents and bonfires are marked here. The pine forests at Lake Dusia, and Statiškė Forest are also part of the recreation area.

The park’s nature can be explored by taking two walking trails of the total length of 7.3 km, and two bicycle trails of 57.7 km. Horses can be hired for a ride in Seirijai.

The landscape of the park can be best viewed from the top of a hill in Žagariai Geomorphological Reserve, by the Meteliai-Seirijai road. The mound of Prelomciškė affords the finest panorama of Lake Dusia.

Visitors can also see moufflons living in an enclosure in Kalniškė Forest, and have a vacation on rural tourism farmsteads by the lakes.

The forests are rich in berries and mushrooms, and the lakes abound in fish. The park is the Mecca of fishermen both in summer and winter. Commercial hunting is organised in Trakas and Rinkotas Forests.