Kaniv Natural Reserve is one of the oldest reserves in Ukraine. The area despite of being located in the densely populated center of Ukraine has retained the uniqueness of the relief, the beauty of the landscape, the immense richness of biodiversity. The area here is full of archeological monuments dating far back to the Stone Age. Since the late XIX – early XX century the place has drawn attention of scientists: biologists, geologists, archeologists, investigators of local lore.

Since 1832 it was noticed that geological layers here are distorted. From then started the study of the famous Kanivski geological dislocations.

Inbetween 1875 and 1876 professor A.Rogovitch collected unique palaeozoological data and in this way draw attention to the enormous concentration here of fossils of diverse origin.

Excavations on one of the hills of the reserve (Knyazha) carried out by academician M.F.Bilyashivski in 1892 revealed the remains of the noted in chronicles town of Roden, one of the first established settlements of Eastern Slavs. Later settlements were found belonging to Scythians and the slavic tribe of Polyan.

An important reason for establishing a reserve here was to protect Tarasova (Chernecha) Hill from erosion by stopping human activities and preserving the remains of forest and steppe vegetation.

Because of the partitioning of the relief a great variety of microclimatic conditions, soils and vegetation types, rich fauna are found within the reserve. Together this promoted the declaration here far back in 1923 of the Kanivski Nature Reserve. Its status and area since then has been changed several times. Today the reserve occupies an area of 2027 ha. It includes the so-called top-hill area on the right bank of the Dnipro covered by forest (1415 ha), 2 floodplain islands in the Dnipro Valley – Kruhlyk (92 ha) and Shelestiv (394 ha), and Zmiyini Islands (116 ha) in the Kanivski Reservoir (remnants of the left bank terrace).

The main function of the reserve is to protect standard and unique natural complexes of the Forest-Steppe Zone of Ukraine, protect biodiversity, and monitor the dynamics of natural processes.

Not so far back Kaniv's "mountains" were a forted area. Feathergrass-herb steppe vegetation occupied then only the tops of the hills and slopes cause of intensive cuttings in the early XX century forests significantly diminished in size. Oak was replaced by hornbeam. The extirpation of forest vegetation led to increased soil erosion, so nowadays ravines and gullies occupy almost one third of the area of the reserve. The depth of some of them – Sukhiy Potik, Malanchyn Potik, Komashynny Yar – reaches 30-40 m. The reserve includes branches of Khmilyanski Yar – one of the largest ravines in Europe.

Forest stands consist mainly of hornbeam with a mix of oak (Quercus robur), maple (Acer platanoides and A. campestre), linden (Tilia cordata), birch (Betula verrucosa), ash.

The hornbeam-oak forest of the reserve is located at the eastern edge of the range of such forests. So here are located the most northern and eastern sites for certain rare European plant species: the snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis), scopolia (Scopolia carniolica), ramson (Allium ursinum), and figwort (Scrophularia vernalis). Shaded northern slopes and depressions house relic plants which have survived here since the Ice Age: Christmas fern (Polystichium braunii and P.aculeatum), Gymnocarpium dryopteris, schin-leaf (Pyrola minor). Well exposed to the sun slopes harbour relics of the much warmer interglacial periods: vetchling (Lathyrus venetus), scullcap (Scutellaria altissima) etc. All together there are 22 vascular plant species found in the reserve which are listed in the Ukrainian Red Data Book.

Of importance to science are the ecosystems of the floodplain islands. Precisely these may be considered as standard. After the damming of the Dnipro such islands hardly exist any more.

Of exclusive beauty are the Zmiyini Islands. Much of them are occupied by century-old oak and pine trees with a rich underbrush and grass cover. Here in one place it is possible to meet the pasque-flower, reed and lily-of-the-valley. This is due to the underflooding by water from the reservoir. Typical vegetation types are being invaded by marsh species.

The last inventory revealed in the reserve 974 vascular plant species (20% of the national flora). Records have been made of 1120 fungi species, 170 lichens, and 138 mosses.

Without exaggeration it may be said that Kanivski Reserve is one of the best studied reserves in Ukraine.

Thousands of visitors from many countries of the world come to Kaniv to see Taras Shevchenko Memorial Museum, perched on top of the Taras Hill, high above the Dnipro River. The Museum's 10 halls acquaint the visitor with the life and work of Taras Shevchenko, the great poet of the Ukrainian people. Among the exhibits – the ground plan of the hut designed by the poet himself, self-portrait and different editions of Shevchenko's poetical works. The Museum is a very popular place to visit. Chestnuts and oaks, planted in honour of the poet, add charm to the place.

A majestic waterfall, called "the Source of Taras' Inspiration", a beautiful fountain and the Assumption Cathedral attract a lot of visitors as wellKanivski Nature Reserve gives the chance to each visitor to get close to nature and perceive by mind and heart the beauty and good will of this unique world.

The reserve partially acts as a national park. Several nature trails have been designed by reserve staff. Of special interest to tourists is the Nature Museum of the reserve which is accommodated in the memorial house of academician M.F.Bilyashivski. The museum consists of 7 sections (devoted to archaeology, paleontology, forestry, botany, zoology, general ecology, an exhibition commemorating the first head of Kiev University, professor M.Maksimovitch) and two memorial rooms devoted to academician M.F.Bilyashivski. All the items of the museum come from the reserve area. Of special interest may be stone women statues of the Stone Age, stone tools, pottery of the Trypillya Culture, adornment dating back to the early Slavic Period.