Top 7 Most Beautiful Nature Reserves in Belarus

Each region of our country is represented by a unique complex, which has its own characteristics and unforgettable color.  

Nationwide nature reserve "Vygonoshchanskoye"

Brest region

National Landscape Reserve “Vygonoshchanskoye” was created over 50 years ago. The first shipping canal in Belarus, Oginsky, passed through the largest lake, which gave the reserve its name, in the second half of the 18th century. It connected two seas – the Black and Baltic. And during the First World War, the front line ran along the entire length of the canal.

Small sand dunes along the floodplain lake and near the Neman River are surrounded by forests, which occupy most of the reserve. Rare representatives of the animal and plant world live here.

On the ecological trail "Nadlivska Ridge", in the middle of a wild, untouched forest, nestles the "Poleshuk Estate", where you can spend the night and gain strength.

Tourist routes on the territory of the reserve

National Landscape Reserve "Yelnya"

Vitebsk region

Of all the raised swamps, “Yelnya” is the largest and oldest, about 13,000. It is unique in that it absorbs carbon dioxide and releases more oxygen than pine forests. The swamp contains 118 lakes of varying sizes. The largest are: Yelnya, Chernoye, Yazhginya, Berezh, Beloye and Ploskoye.

The landscape reserve more resembles tundra than the mid-continental zone. Cranberries and northern cloudberries grow here, and white ptarmigans are found. Of the more than 120 bird species that inhabit the reserve, 24 feathered representatives are included in the Red Book.

Unique routes of varying difficulty are available on the reserve's territory. The most unforgettable will be a tour of the territory in swamp shoes. Traditionally, a large-scale festival "Cranes and Cranberries of Miory Land" takes place in autumn. It is no coincidence that this colorful festival is held at the end of September (this year - September 21). During this period, more than four thousand gray cranes stop in "Yelnya", which can be seen in all their glory.

Tourist routes on the territory of the reserve

State Landscape Reserve "Mozyr Ravines"

Gomel region

The most arduous mountains of Polesie are located in Nature Reserve “Mozyr Ravines”. The highest point reaches 220.7 meters, which is certainly an unrivaled record. And in combination with deep ravines, where the descent is 40-60 meters, the territory of the reserve is called the "Belarusian Alps", and Mozyr claims the right to become Belarusian Switzerland, competing with Logoisk.

A huge variety of plants grow on the territory of the reserve, including rare and medicinal ones, of which there are more than a hundred species. Among them is the wood anemone, popularly known as the "forest narcissus", a unique ornamental plant included in the Red Book of the Republic of Belarus.

Along this forest wealth, the ecological trail "Mozyr Alps" stretches for 6 kilometers. It introduces the unusual relief, the richness of flora and fauna. It will take about four hours to complete the route.

Tourist routes on the territory of the reserve

National Landscape Reserve "Lipichanskaya Pushcha"

Grodno region

The history of the forest reserve's origin goes back to the Stone Age. Having changed many owners, from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth to the noble Radziwills and Chetvertinskys, and having expanded its borders, in 2006 Lipichanskaya Pushcha received the status of a national landscape reserve.

Many trees are up to five centuries. And some, like the black birch, listed in the Red Book, are associated with legends and secrets. The flora of the reserve includes hundreds of plants, including rare and endangered ones.

The fauna of the reserve is rich in cloven-hoofed, fur-bearing and mammal species. “Lipichanskaya Pushcha” is home to many insects, fish and rare arthropods.

Historically significant places on the territory of Lipichanskaya Pushcha are the following facilities: Holy Trinity Shary spring, an old tar pit, Museum-dugout near Shimki village and Stukaly oak grove.

Tourist routes on the territory of the reserve

National Landscape Reserve "Naliboksky"

Minsk region

The vast expanses of the forest reserve, in which the Naliboksky nature reserve is located, are spread across four districts of two regions of Belarus. This nature conservation complex has the status of a key botanical and ornithological territory and is one of the largest complexes in the country.

The passion for hunting and the extermination of wild animals in the lands of the noble Tyshkevich family at the beginning of the last century gave rise to the creation of the Vyaloe Park on this territory, which later received the status of a national landscape reserve.

Here, swamps give way to continental dunes, and pine forests give way to broad-leaved forests. This creates the impression of taiga expanses. The reserve is home to bison, bears, wolves and lynxes. You can also see rare species of plants and birds.

The reserve serves as a starting point for such rivers as the Western Berezina, Isloch, Volka, Usa (there are more than 20 of them in total). And Lake Kroman is the deepest in the forest, its depth reaches 26 meters.

Tourist routes on the territory of the reserve

National Hydrological Reserve "Duleby Islands"

Mogilev region

The reserve is located between the Drut and Olsa rivers and received its name from the ancient tribes that lived here more than ten centuries ago – the Dulebs, as evidenced by the numerous burial mounds.

The hydrological reserve consists of two large wetland complexes – Dulebskoe and Velikoe, and gives rise to a large number of rivers and several lakes. The bulk of the forests of the “Duleba Islands” are pine, birch plantations and a few areas of black alder.  

More than 700 species of plants grow on the territory of the reserve, some of them are listed in the Red Book, about 170 species of animals live there, including brown bear and lynx, and 119 representatives of feathereds. Among them are such rare birds as short-toed eagle, common crane and lesser spotted eagle.

Tourist routes on the territory of the reserve

National Biological Reserve "Stiklevo"

Minsk

An unusual reserve resembling taiga expanses is located within the city. Most of the plants growing here are conifers, junipers and spruces. In addition, there are unusual representatives of birds - the crossbill and the nutcracker.

The reserve is home to priceless bird species: the kestrel, which is on the verge of extinction, and the rarest bird in Belarus, the northern warbler.

The flora of “Stiklevo” is represented by a large number of plants - almost 370 species. Among them are many medicinal, decorative and listed in the Red Book.

In addition to excursions, a new direction is actively developing in the reserve – plogging – jogging with the collection of garbage along the way.

Tourist routes on the territory of the reserve