Posted: 05.12.2024 13:32:11

Protected forests of Belarus

Belarus is rightly considered one of the greenest countries — forests cover 40.2 percent of its territory. There is almost a hectare of emerald land for every resident. What secrets do they hold? 

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Returning to the past

The Belovezhskaya Pushcha is the largest area of relic lowland forest in Europe. It is there that you can find five-hundred-year-old oaks and three-hundred-year-old pines, while the height of the fluffy spruces reaches 50 metres. For comparison: the New Year tree in the Kremlin is half that height. During car, electric scooter, and walking tours, there is a high chance of encountering a graceful deer or a playful raccoon. For the most impatient tourists, enclosures have been set up where they can meet all the inhabitants of the ancient forest — from majestic bison to handsome capercaillies. 
The winter season in the Belovezhskaya Pushcha will begin on December 7th with the arrival of the country’s main wizard — Belarusian Ded Moroz [Father Frost]. Before that time, you can still enjoy the silence and tranquillity without the throngs of tourists. You will feel a special atmosphere in the open-air archaeological museum that not only features a primaeval forest but also provides a complete immersion into the life of primitive man showcasing raw-hide tents, two-thousand-year-old pottery, and pre-Christian idols.

Tarpans (wild horses) in Nalibokskaya Pushcha, Minsk Region, Volozhin District          Aleksey Stolyarov 

Feeding wild horses  

The favourite eco-route of Minsk residents runs through the Nalibokskaya Pushcha nature reserve, located 60 kilometres from the capital. The length of the Syabrynsky Crossroads eco-trail is only 960 metres, yet it passes through a forest, a meadow, and a swamp. Marvel!  
However, the main attraction of the site is the wild horses, also known as tarpan horses. They are unmistakable compared to domestic ones, and stand out for being stockier, having a mane without a forelock, and growing thick fur for winter. Other distinctive features include a dark stripe running along the back, and stripes on their legs like those of a zebra. Their gastronomic preferences are quite ordinary, though — they never refuse a juicy apple.  
In the vicinity of the Nalibokskaya Pushcha, there are a lot of farmsteads, where tourists can enjoy a bathhouse, sleep on a stove, and taste real homemade game sausages.  

Comb coral mushroom in Pripyatsky National Park

Admiring corals on land  

Scientists compare the Pripyatsky National Park in the south of the country to the Red Sea. It impresses with a variety of unusual bright plants and mushrooms of bizarre shapes. They do not even need water, and grow directly on fallen trees. In autumn, the coral tooth fungus, also known as the comb coral mushroom, appears in all its glory. Some think it resembles corals, while others stubbornly see a resemblance to a sea urchin. One thing is clear: it looks magical! Touching the comb coral mushroom is strictly prohibited — it is included in Belarus’ Red Data Book — whereas admiring and photographing it is perfectly fine. In the Pripyatsky National Park, this exotic mushroom can be found along the Khlupinskaya Buda eco-trail.

Exploring the bear’s habitat

The Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve is renowned for being home to Europe’s Big Five of large mammals: the bison, bear, moose, wolf, and lynx. All these animals can be seen at once in the forest zoo. However, the truly exclusive experience is an outing into the wild to observe bears. The likelihood of encountering a brown bear in its natural habitat there is very high: about a third of the entire Belarusian population of brown bears lives in the reserve and its surroundings.
Entertaining programmes with the grey-haired Swamp Spirit are organised for children. As the reserve’s staff jokingly admit, this character from Belarusian mythology — that was once a mischievous spirit, but now legally delights and teaches the little ones to protect nature — is the rarest Red Data Book species.

Bison is the symbol of Belarus. Belovezhskaya Pushcha                       Aleksey Stolyarov      

Wandering the giants’ trail  

If Russia is associated with bears in the animal kingdom, then Belarus is associated with the bison. These mighty giants nearly became extinct in the early 20th century due to thoughtless hunting. Luckily, they have survived! Today, we have the largest population of bison. Moreover, they are mainly found grazing freely; during the cold season, they can even be spotted in fields along the highways. There is no need to be afraid — they are peaceful if left undisturbed.  
In the Pripyatsky National Park, tourists are offered not just to admire the symbol of the country, but to study it in detail by following bison traces through oak groves and swamps, collecting and examining the clues they leave behind, and deciphering secret signs. The park’s staff promise that the experience will feel as if you have found yourself at the centre of a wildlife documentary. 

By Sofia Arsenyeva