Famous nature reserves and national parks of Belarus

Belarus is rightfully called one of the greenest countries in Europe. And this is not an exaggeration. In this territory there are unique reserves, sanctuaries, national parks. Belarus has a special concern for animals and plants. Under the protection of the state, currently more than 6% of the country's territory (1.2 million hectares). Below, we will present a list of Belarusian nature reserves and national parks.

Reserves:

• "Berezinsky".
• "Bialowieza Forest".
• "Polessky".

National parks:

• "Pripyatsky".
• "Narochansky".
• "Braslav lakes".

Reserves:

• "Dnepro-Sozh".

National Park "Belovezhskaya Pushcha"

The largest reserve of Belarus, occupying a huge area - 152 242 hectares.

In 1939 the famous reserve "Belovezhskaya Pushcha" was founded. It has been protected by UNESCO since 1979.

On this protected land, 70 species of rare animals live and 82 species of endangered plants grow.

Interesting Facts:

• On a large beast, hunting in the territory of the present reserve was banned in 1409 by the Polish ruler Jagiello.
• Probably, not everyone knows that Belovezhskaya Pushcha is the official residence of Father Frost of Belarus. Every year on New Year's Eve he must contact the border guards of the country and get permission to pass the New Year through the state border.
• The main symbol of not only Belovezhskaya Pushcha, but also Belarus as a whole is a bison - the only artiodactyl, listed in the Red Book of the state. Today, the number of these animals in the reserve is about 415.

Reserve "Berezinsky"

Almost all reserves and national parks of Belarus have a long history. But the oldest of them is Berezinsky. Its area is 85.2 thousand hectares. It was founded in January 1925. The status of the biosphere reserve was received in 1979. On its territory officially registered 114 endangered and rare species of animals and 83 plant species.

It must be said that a reserve was established to protect beavers, but later bears appeared, which today there are just under half of all individuals living on the territory of the country.

More than 60% of the territory of this reserve is occupied by swamps. Probably, therefore, the mythical hero, who attracts tourists to these places, is called Bolotnik.

Reserves, national parks in Belarus are often pioneers in the protection of animals. For example, it was in the Berezinsky Reserve that underground transitions for amphibians first appeared. One of these facilities is located on the M3 highway (122 km).

Polessky Nature Reserve

The nature reserves and national parks of Belarus are all very different. They differ in size, relief, and landscape. For example, Polessky Reserve is a territory of rivers, lakes and impenetrable marshes. Its area is small - 20 thousand hectares. It is located in the interfluve of Bolotnitsa and Uborti.

This area is very similar to the taiga. It is covered with forests that are not found anywhere else in the country. There are many unique plants here. Animals are represented by forest species: lynx, elk, white hare, capercaillie, oraby, owl bearded etc.

Perhaps the main attraction of the reserve is the beekeeping - a special form of beekeeping, which has been preserved in its original form since ancient times.

Reserves of the Republic of Belarus, Polessky in particular, with preliminary approval for a visit, conduct excursions. In its vicinity there are a number of water, hiking and car tourist routes.

Reserves and national parks of Belarus: "Braslav Lakes"

This protected area covers an area of 69 thousand 115 hectares. "Braslav Lakes" is a unique national park, founded in August 1995.

The park is famous for its amazing lakes, which are worn by names that are somewhat unusual for Belarusians - Snudi, Drivyaty, Vojso, Nedrovo and Nespish, Strusto. The reserve zone of the park is located on an area of 3 thousand 452 hectares.

Narochansky National Park

It occupies a much larger area than the Braslav Lakes. It reaches 97.3 thousand hectares. By decree of the President of the country the park was founded in late July 1999.

In this vast territory there are 40 lakes, which make up 17% of its area. The largest of them is the magnificent lake Naroch. The area of the park is 80 square meters. Km. In addition to it, the park includes the Blue Lakes. The most amazing of them are Glublya and Dead. Due to the huge deposits of carbonate, the Water of Glubli has an unusual greenish tinge. The dead lake is interesting for specialists to the complete absence of fish in its waters. And on its marshy banks you can see sundew - a very interesting plant.

Park Pripyatsky

Today we present to you not only reserves. And the national parks of Belarus are of great interest not only for specialists, but also for tourists. Park Pripyatsky occupies a huge area - 188 thousand 841 hectares.

As a landscape and hydrological reserve Pripyatsky was founded in 1969. In 1996 it was transformed into a national park.

In this area there are more than 40 species of rare plants and more than 72 species of mammals and birds. More than 500 hectares of the park are occupied by "plantations" of cranberries.

Dnieper-Sozh reserve

In conclusion, we represent the youngest protected area. It is the Dnieper-Sozh Reserve, established in 2005. It is located between the Sozh and Dnieper rivers in Loevsky district of the Gomel region. Its area is 1455 hectares.

The reserve can be called unique. Vegetation in this territory is represented by meadows, forests, bushes, forest marshes. Here, dry and floodplain oak forests are preserved.

The landscape is diversified by numerous channels, old people, and cracks. A wide variety of herbal, coastal-water, forest and aquatic ecosystems contribute to the richness of fauna and flora.

To rare and endangered species of plants that grow in the wildlife sanctuary, there are 15 species. The fauna of the reserve is represented by 140 species of birds, of which 131 species nest in this region, and 35 species of mammals.