What are the natural wonders of Belarus. Belarus is a landlocked country located in Eastern Europe. Over 40% of the country is forested provided an excellent opportunity for nature lovers to get outside and explore. The Belarus wonders of nature can be explored below.
Belavezhskaya Puscha
As a natural wonder of Belarus, Belavezhskaya Pushcha is located on the watershed between the Black and the Baltic Seas. It has relatively immense, undisturbed forest of deciduous broad-leaved and evergreen trees. It is considered as Europe’s last large prime temperate forest. Different rare species of mammals inhabit here, including the elk, wolf, otter, and lynx, plus 300 reintroduced, endangered European Bison species. The forest basically lies between the west of Belarus, which is nearly 60 km north-northwest of Brest, and the east of Poland, which is about 62 km southeast of Bialystok.
Belavezhskaya Pushcha can be described as a flat to rolling lowland plain, forming a mosaic of stream, peat bogs, and river valleys. Glacial formations cover the forest, along with deposits of deep sands covering loams and clay, including podsols and bog soils beyond the Cretaceous bedrock. The soils of the forest are mainly acidic.
Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve
As wonder of nature for Belarus, Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve is located 100 kilometers northeast of Minsk, which is situated on the edge between the Black and the Baltic Seas. This biosphere represents the European taiga zone. It is a combination of broad-leafed forests, water-courses, lakes, flood plains, and marshlands. Wolves, bison, and bears inhabit the area, while its rich bird life enchants many scientists. Berezinsky is likewise known for historic sites such as the ancient trade ways, Slavic tombs, waterworks and battlegrounds between the French and Russian in 1812.
This boreal coniferous forest is characterized by spruce, pine, black-alder, and birch, in association with ash, oak, and lime. Water bodies, flood-land meadows, mires, broadleaf forest, and anthropogenic landscape cover the land area, totaling to 113,929 hectares. Overall, its biodiversity consists of fauna, plants, forest systems, and endangered, threatened, and rare species.
Braslavskiy Ozera National Park
A natural wonder of Belarus established in 1995, the Braslavskiye Ozera National Park is among Belarus’ spectacular lakes, situated in the Vitebsk region. The entire park measures more than 69,000 hectares, and hosts over 800 plant species, 20 of which are nearly extinct. The park is also a home to 45 species of mammals, 30 fish species, 189 bird species, 6 species of reptiles, and 10 species of amphibians.
Aside from its rich biodiversity, the park also cradles Braslav, an ancient town that is scenically located in the middle of the park. The history of Braslav can be dated back to the eleventh century.
Narachansky National Park
As one of Belarus’s natural wonders, the Narachansky National Park was established in 1999, and situated in Belarus’ Minsk region. The total land area of the park measures at 94,000 hectares, of which over a third of the area is home to most of the country’s pine trees. It is a recreational reserve with huge, well-stocked lakes. It is also known for its natural springs, along with 18 sanatoria and recuperation centers.
Located in the north-west of Belarus, it is also a part of the famous Belarusian Lake District. Today, the park’s territory covers over 87,000 hectares, including the economic and a sanatorium zone. It stretches 34 kilometers north to south, and 59 kilometers west to east.
The park offers more than 30 activities for tourists such as water trips, multi-day hiking, and biking. More than 16 campsites are also located along the shores of 9 lakes. During summer, helicopter trips are made available, ideal for those who want to capture a “bird’s-eye-view” of its scenic spots. There are also fishing and hunting tours, plus underwater fishing activities. The park has also organized diving itineraries for diving enthusiasts.
Pripyatsky National Park
A true Belarus Wonder of Nature, the Pripyatsky National Park continually enchants tourists from across the globe. As Belarus’ additional scenic spot, this park lies within the Gomel region, 250 kilometers from Minsk. It is exactly situated between Ubort, Stviga, and Pripyat rivers. Since 1969, there had been a reserve on Pripyat River’s flood plains, and today, it covers over 85,000 hectares. The Pripyat River’s valley is a pristine nature that boasts unique swamps, rich natural resources, and inundated oak woods, which represent Polesie, a fascinating land incomparable within Europe and in other countries across the globe.
The European bison was introduced to the national park in 1987, although the park also cradles 51 species of mammals, 11 species of amphibians, 7 reptile species, 37 species of fish, and 246 species of birds.