Four national parks of Belarus are well known to both local and foreign travelers. Each of them offers a variety of opportunities for active recreation and has a developed tourist infrastructure.
Briefly about each
Three national parks of the Republic of Belarus were formed in the 90s of the last century, and the oldest - Belovezhskaya Pushcha - has been known as a nature conservation area since 1409:
- The Braslav Lakes Park in the Vitebsk region was created to preserve the standard of the natural landscape typical of the Belarusian Poozerie.
- Narochansky Park consists of three groups of lakes and untouched forests, where rare species of animals live.
- The Pripyat National Park of Belarus, 250 km south of Minsk, is a real nature reserve in Polesie.
- The vast territory of Belovezhskaya Pushcha is a remnant of a relict forest formed in prehistoric primitive times.
In the lists of UNESCO
The Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park officially appeared on the map of the republic in 1992, but at the beginning of the 15th century, the Polish king Jagiello issued a decree banning hunting for big game in these forests. Today, not only animals are protected in the park, but also the relic forest itself, which, thanks to the efforts of scientists and enthusiasts from among the local residents, managed to be preserved on the territory of Belarus and Poland.
The average age of trees in Belovezhskaya Pushcha is more than 80 years, and some specimens appeared here two or three centuries ago. The diameter of individual pines, firs and oaks exceeds one and a half meters, and there are giants in the Pushcha that have proper names - Tsar Oak, for example.
In terms of the number of plant and animal species, this national park of Belarus has no equal in Europe, but its main pride is the largest population of bison on the planet. It is these representatives of the local fauna that adorn the coat of arms of the Grodno region.
The easiest way to get to the park is by trains or minibuses from Brest or by car along the M1 highway from Minsk, and guests are invited to stay overnight in hotels in the city of Kamenets or in the Kamenyuki complex on the territory of Belovezhskaya Pushcha itself.
Bird kingdom
The ornithological diversity of the Pripyatsky National Park is the main reason for the influx of tourists here during the seasonal migration of birds. In addition to observing birds, visitors are offered boat tours along the river, walks along ecological health paths, fishing and picnics in nature, acquaintance with the traditional folk crafts of local residents.
Eco-tours are especially popular among lovers of wildlife, during which guests get acquainted with the amazing diversity of the animal world. They last 7-10 days and travelers have time to see up to 120 species of the park's feathered inhabitants.
Details about the operation of the facility and prices for accommodation on the website - www.npp.by. All questions can be asked by phone +375 (29) 125 00 95.
