Belarus’ nature: “Birds’ Paradise” of Belarusian Poozerye

Belarusian Poozerye is a beautiful natural spot featuring hundreds of picturesque water bodies on an unusual terrain, a so-called “heritage” of the Ice Age. A number of rivers and more than 3,000 lakes make this area unique. Among Belarus’ natural hydrological monuments, Yelnya is one of Europe’s biggest territories of ancient wetlands and glacial lakes.

These Ramsar wetlands of international importance have the international status of the key ornithological and botanical area. The 9-year-old bog with the total area of 20,000 hectares is sometimes called the “birds’ paradise”. Thousands of cranes and geese gather in Yelnya in autumn. This place is also well-known for its cranberry harvests which are celebrated with the annual ecological festival Cranes and Cranberries of Miory Land.

Apart from bogs, the place is home to 118 lakes, with the largest, Yelno and Chernoye, being connected by a channel. Visitors are offered to explore Belarus’ widest and longest eco-path and wetlands, take a ride on an off-roader and try their hands in ornithology.  

The landscape reserve Yelnya, a pearl of Belarus’ eco-tourism, in pictures