In the Polessye region, between the rivers Pripyat, Uborg, Stviga, there is the Pripyat National Park of Belarus. Its area is over 1,800 km2. Specially protected zone - 850 km2. The park is located on the territory of Lelchitsky, Zhitkovichsky and Petrikov regions (Gomel region). The administrative center of this unique park is located in the agricultural town of Lyaskovychi.
History
In 1969, this part of the Polissia of Belarus was declared a protected area. The national park on this land appeared in 1996, by order of the President of Belarus. It was created on the basis of the reserve that existed since 1969.
The area of the national park has been significantly increased in the process of reorganization. The national park is an Important Bird Area.
Purpose of the park
For the first time, the Polish academician W. Shafer thought about creating a reserve on this territory. In the thirties XXcentury, he proposed to use for these purposes one of the largest in Europe, the Olman massif, which is located between the rivers Stviga and Goryn. Around the same time, the swamp expert S. Kulchinsky (Poland) explored the swamps located in the western part of Polissya. He published the results of his work in his monograph, which was called "Peatlands of Polesye".
In the early 40s, a scientific base was prepared for the organization of the reserve. In 1958, Academician N. V. Smolsky, who at that time held the post of director of the Central Botanical Garden of the Academy of Sciences of Belarus, instructed the bog specialist L. P. Smolyak to document the need to create such a reserve. This work was completed in 1961
In June 1969, on an area of 615 km2, the Pripyat State Reserve was organized. In 1994, it was transferred to the Commission under the President of Belarus. A year later (1995) the forest hunting enterprise "Lyaskovichi" was created here.
A year later (1996) the reserve was reorganized into the Pripyatsky National Park. The purpose of education is to preserve the unique landscape of Polissya and study its changes after the land has been drained. In 1998, the Museum of Nature began to work on the territory.
Pripyatsky National Park - regime of protection and nature management
Most of the park is a protected area. Its area is more than 30 thousand hectares, which is about 35% of the entire territory. Anyeconomic activity. A little more than 11% is allocated to economic and recreational areas. The main part of the park's land belongs to the zone of regulated nature use - approximately 48 thousand hectares (54% of the territory). Such a zoning structure, in which more than 30,000 hectares are occupied by a protected area and only 11% is allocated to areas in which active economic or recreational activities are carried out, is quite rational.
Rivers
Pripyat National Park has the main water artery - the Pripyat River. This is the most abundant and largest tributary of the Dnieper. During high water, the floodplain of the river is flooded and expands up to 30 km.
In the upper reaches of the Pripyat, there are numerous canals, then it winds, forms oxbow lakes, meanders, bays, there are many sandy and viscous islands. The river is distinguished by a long spring flood, a short-term summer low water, which is disturbed by rain floods and annual rises in the water level in autumn. The lowest water level is observed in September-October. Pripyat freezes over almost its entire length at the very beginning of December, the river opens in March. The water temperature in summer does not fall below +21°, the maximum temperature in July is +28°С.
Pripyat National Park, the photo of which you see in our article, is limited by the tributaries of the Pripyat: from the northwest - by the Stviga River, from the east - by the Ubortya River. In this regard, according to scientists, the national park is a closed hydrological region, and therefore it practically does notexperiencing the impact of land reclamation in neighboring areas. This is very important for the reference area of the park.
Small rivers and lakes
A unique network of small rivers - Svinovod, Staraya Ubort, Utvokha, Krushinnaya, Rov - and a reclamation system with a length of about 280 kilometers. There are more than 300 floodplain lakes here. Almost all types of fish are found in the rivers flowing through the park. In the middle of summer, catfish, tench, perch and rudd bite better than others. Pike, bream, roach, sabrefish, and ide spawn in the shallow waters of forests and water meadows.
Vegetation
More recently, less than a century ago, these lands were wetlands. Land reclamation was carried out at the end of the 19th century. Channels have been created. Their length reached more than 300 kilometers. As a result of land reclamation, dense forests appeared on large areas of drained swamps. At present, the canals have actually lost their useful effect, and the previously drained territory is swamping again.
Today, forest swamps occupy a third of the territory and, according to all scientific indicators, are recognized as the standard of swamps of the Belarusian Polissya.
The park has long and rather warm summers, mild and snowy winters, nutritious soils, plenty of rainfall and moisture contribute to the growth of shrubs, woody and herbaceous plants. Protected and rare plant species grow here: black arnica, water chestnut, floating salvinia, sea naiad, yellow rhododendron, curly lily and others.
Forests
Pripyat NationalThe park is famous for its main we alth - forests. They cover more than 85% of the protected area. On sandy islands and ridges, on raised bogs, pine dominates, which occupies 52% of the area. Black alder and birch forests dominate on the transitional and lowland soils of the swamps.
The pearl of the forests of the Pripyat Park are floodplain and upland oak forests, but hornbeam oak forests, broad-leaved forests consisting of mighty lindens, oaks, ash, hornbeam and maple, amaze with their grandeur.
The park's flora includes 943 plant species, including 38 specially protected species, 196 moss species and 321 algae species. Relic species should be singled out: mountain arnica, large horsetail, common sheep. Endangered species include curly lily, boletus boletus, floating salvinia, corydalis hollow, white water lily, two-leaved love, sleep-grass and others.
Animal world
Pripyat National Park is known for its diversity, high abundance of rare species of animals that are no longer found in Belarus. More than 51 species of mammals, 7 species of reptiles, 37 species of fish, 11 species of amphibians have been officially registered here.
Ungulates here are wild boar, elk, roe deer. Since 1987 bison and red deer have been living in the park. The number of bison exceeds 90 individuals. The number of red deer is growing very rapidly, and today it exceeds 300 individuals.
The balance of the fauna of the park is supported by predators:fox, wolf, lynx, pine marten, raccoon dog, mink. There are also American mink and muskrat imported from other regions. They have taken root well and today take their place in the park.
Numerous colonies of coastal and semi-aquatic bird species are especially valuable for scientific research: little and great egrets, red and gray herons, various types of waders, swans, ducks, night herons and many others. Birds of prey also live in the park: osprey, white-tailed eagle owl, honey buzzard, black kite, golden eagle and many others.
Rest in the park "Pripyatsky"
You can take a boat ride along Pripyat, visit the city of Turov.
Anglers love to spend their free time in the park. A wide variety of fish species attracts not only Belarusian fishermen, but also guests from neighboring countries.
For lovers of hunting, hunting grounds have been created here. For everyone who wants to relax in the park, guest houses and tourist complexes are offered.
Visitor reviews
As already mentioned, today everyone can visit the Pripyat National Park. Reviews of those who have already had a chance to rest here are enthusiastic. Tourists liked not only the magnificent nature, but also the well-organized work of the staff, interesting excursions conducted by experienced staff who can tell a lot of interesting things abouthis "farm".
Many tourists note excellent conditions for living. There is a small comfortable hotel here, you can stay in a hunting lodge with a guarded parking lot. Some travelers are attracted to hiking trails. On the banks of the Pripyat there are convenient rest stops.
