Belarus is a country with a wealth of natural attractions, including countless rivers, lakes, swamps, flora, and fauna. It is often called blue-eyed because of the large number of lakes on its territory, which number over 10,000. These lakes, along with the country's diverse ecosystems, make Belarus an ideal destination for eco-tourism. The northern part of the country, known as the Belarusian Lake District, features glacial relief, hills, and ridges, and is home to some of the largest lakes in the country. The Braslav Lake District, also known as the blue necklace, is a particularly famous tourist destination, boasting over 300 lakes of various sizes, forms, depths, compositions, and water transparencies.
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Belarus has almost 11,000 lakes
Belarus is a country of natural beauty, with a wealth of rivers, lakes, swamps, flora and fauna. It has earned the nickname of 'Blue-eyed' or 'The Country of Lakes' due to its impressive number of lakes—almost 11,000 in total. The northern part of the country is known as the Belarusian Lake District, and it's here that you'll find the biggest lakes. These were formed around 15,000 to 20,000 years ago when the Valdai glacier melted, leaving behind a landscape of glacial relief, hills and ridges.
The Braslav Lake District, known as 'the blue necklace', is a particularly stunning area. Here, you'll find hundreds of lakes of all shapes and sizes, surrounded by pine forests and hills. The Braslav Lakes National Park alone boasts 74 lakes, covering 12,590 hectares, or 17% of the park's territory. The biggest lakes in the region are Drivyaty and Snudy, while the deepest are South Voloso, North Voloso, Uklya and Strusto.
The largest lake in Belarus is Naroch, which is also the source of the river Naroch. This river flows in the Myadel district of the Minsk region and is known for its clear water and interesting landscapes. Another notable lake is Dead Lake, which, as its name suggests, is a pit filled with underground water. According to legend, Vikings were buried here. The lake has a unique structure, with its upper 24 metres consisting of fresh water, while the lower layer, at 300 metres deep, contains hydrogen sulphide.
With its abundance of lakes, Belarus is a haven for eco-tourism. Visitors can hike along lake shores, explore national parks, and enjoy the clean air and beautiful scenery. The country's many lakes also provide a habitat for a diverse range of flora and fauna, including relict invertebrates and numerous bird species.
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The country is called 'Blue-eyed' or 'The Country of Lakes'
Belarus is aptly nicknamed "The Country of Lakes" or "Blue-eyed" due to the sheer number of lakes it boasts. There are almost 11,000 lakes in this eastern European country, which make up part of its impressive natural landscape. The northern part of Belarus, known as the Belarusian Lake District, features glacial relief, hills and ridges. This region is home to the Braslav Lake District, also known as "the blue necklace", which contains hundreds of picturesque lakes. The Braslav Lakes National Park alone has 74 lakes, covering 17% of its territory.
The largest lake in Belarus is Naroch, which is situated in the Myadel district of the Minsk region. It is famed for its clear waters and interesting landscapes. The river Naroch flows into the delta of the river Vilia, and has its source in the lake of the same name. The area surrounding the lake is known for its pine forests, which clean the air, and its abundance of sunny days. It is a popular destination for those seeking respite from the everyday routine.
The Braslav Lake District, formed by the melting of the Valdai glacier nearly 15,000 to 20,000 years ago, is another notable area. Here, one can find lakes of various sizes, forms, depths, compositions, water transparencies, flora and fauna. The biggest lakes in this district are Drivyaty and Snudy, while the deepest are South Voloso, North Voloso, Uklya and Strusto. The Braslav Lakes are also home to relict invertebrates and over 30 species of fish, as well as about 35% of all bird species nesting in Belarus.
The Blue Lakes, a hilly lake preserve in the north-western part of the country, is another natural wonder. This complex includes 15 lakes, such as Dead Lake, Glublya and Glubelka, which are known for their turquoise-tinted waters and high mineralisation. The Dead Lake, in particular, has a unique composition, with its upper layer of fresh water and lower layer containing hydrogen sulphide.
With its abundance of lakes, Belarus offers numerous opportunities for eco-tourism and outdoor recreation. Visitors can explore national parks, nature reserves, and wildlife sanctuaries, as well as enjoy hiking, fishing, and sailing. The country's diverse ecosystems, including forests, lakes, meadows, and bogs, support a rich variety of flora and fauna, making Belarus a nature lover's paradise.
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The biggest lake is Naroch
Belarus is home to almost 11,000 lakes, giving it the nicknames "Blue-eyed" and "The Country of Lakes". The biggest lake in the country is Naroch, which spans 79.6 square kilometres and is located in the northwest of Belarus in the Myadzel District of the Minsk Region. The lake is part of the Narach lake group, which also includes Miastra, Batoryn, and Blednaje.
Naroch is a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors from all over the world with its picturesque scenery, clear lakes, and healing mineral springs. The lake is surrounded by pine forests, which clean the air, and the climate boasts many more sunny days than rainy ones. The area is also known for its natural diversity and special landscape, which were formed during the retreat of the Valdai glacier about 15,000 to 20,000 years ago.
The lake is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna. The shores and islets of Naroch provide nesting sites for birds such as the mute swan, fish hawk, tarrock, and dabchick. The lake itself is inhabited by 25 species of fish, including eel, pike, and burbot. The surrounding forests are home to European red deer, wild boar, elk, roe deer, raccoon dog, badger, marten, mink, otter, beaver, and muskrat, among others.
The Naroch Lake area has a rich history, with evidence of human settlement dating back about 10,000 years. The lands around the lake have long attracted hunters, fishers, explorers, and adventurers. In the early 20th century, private villas, a restaurant, a yacht club, and a marina were built on the banks of the lake. The area became a popular resort and tourism site in the 1950s, and today it is the largest resort region in Belarus. The Narochanski National Park was established in 1999 to preserve the landscapes, biodiversity, and genetic fund of flora and fauna in the region.
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The deepest lake is Dolgoye
Belarus is home to almost 11,000 lakes, giving it the nickname "Blue-eyed" or "The Country of Lakes". The deepest of these lakes is Dolgoye, which reaches a depth of 53.6 metres. The lake is situated in the northern part of the country, in the Braslav Lake District, which is also known as "the blue necklace". This area was formed around 15,000-20,000 years ago when the Valdai glacier melted, leaving behind a landscape of hills, ridges, and lakes.
The Braslav Lake District features about 300 lakes of various sizes, forms, depths, compositions, water transparencies, flora, and fauna. The deepest of these, after Dolgoye, are South Voloso (40.4 metres deep), North Voloso (29.2 metres), Uklya (25 metres), and Strusto (23 metres). The biggest lakes in the region are Drivyaty (36 square kilometres) and Snudy (22 square kilometres).
The Braslav Lakes National Park, established in 1995, covers about 70,000 hectares and includes 74 lakes, which make up 17% of its territory. The park offers eco-paths for hikers and backpackers, such as the Belmont Park trail, which features an architectural and landscaping monument from the 18th and 19th centuries. Tourists can also enjoy cruises on Drivyaty Lake and fishing and hunting tours, with the opportunity to participate in international fishing tournaments like Pike's Luck and Braslav Spinning.
The lakes of Belarus are a significant natural attraction, with clear waters and interesting landscapes. The country's wealth of natural sites, including its countless rivers, lakes, and swamps, makes it an ideal destination for eco-tourism. The Drissa River, for example, offers a great hiking experience, while the Naroch River, which flows from the largest lake in Belarus, is known for its clear water and pleasant climate.
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The Braslav Lakes National Park has 74 lakes
Belarus is known as the "Country of Lakes" and the "Blue-eyed" country, and it's not hard to see why. There are almost 11,000 lakes in this eastern European nation, and the Braslav Lakes National Park is home to 74 of them. That's 17% of the park's territory.
The Braslav Lakes National Park was established in 1995 in the Vitebsk Oblast, and its headquarters are in the ancient town of Braslav. The park spans 55km from north to south and 9 to 29km from west to east. It covers a total area of about 70,000 hectares.
The Braslav Lakes are known as "the blue necklace" of Belarus. They were formed around 15,000 to 20,000 years ago when the Valdai glacier melted, leaving behind an array of unusual landscapes and terrain. The lakes vary in size, form, depth, composition, water transparency, flora, and fauna. Some of the deepest lakes in the park include South Voloso (40.4 meters deep) and Uklya (25 meters deep). The biggest lakes are Drivyaty (36 square kilometers) and Snudy (22 square kilometers).
The Braslav Lakes are known for their sophisticated form, with bluffy banks, peninsulas, bays, and gulfs. The area is also a land of islands, with over 100 of them scattered across the lakes. One of the most notable islands is Chaichin on Lake Strusto, which is Belarus's second-biggest island at 1.6 square kilometers. It even has its own internal lake.
The Braslav Lakes National Park is a haven for biodiversity. It is home to over 1,900 species of plants, and forests cover about 67% of the territory. The animal world is equally diverse, with 312 species of vertebrate animals, including 216 species of birds, 45 species of mammals, 34 species of fish, 12 species of amphibians, and 5 species of reptiles.
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Frequently asked questions
There are almost 11,000 lakes in Belarus.
The largest lake in Belarus is Naroch.
The deepest lakes in Belarus include Dolgoye, South Voloso, North Voloso, Uklya, and Strusto. Dolgoye is the deepest at 53.6m. South Voloso is 40.4m deep, North Voloso is 29.2m deep, Uklya is 25m deep, and Strusto is 23m deep.
The biggest lakes in the north of Belarus are collectively known as "the blue necklace". They include Drivyaty and Snudy.
Dead Lake has two layers of water. The upper layer is 24m of freshwater, and the lower layer is 300m deep and contains hydrogen sulphide.