Republican landscape reserve «Yelnya» | Miory District Executive Committee

Republican Landscape Reserve Elnya

In the center of the Miory district lies one of the region's most important attractions – the Elnya swamp. In order to preserve the natural state of the flora and fauna of the swamp massif, which is among the rarest in Europe, a hydrological reserve of republican significance "Elnya" was established in 1968, and in 2007 it received the status of the Republican Landscape Reserve "Elnya".

Elnya is the largest raised bog in Belarus and one of the largest lake-bog complexes in Europe. The total area of the reserve is 25,301 hectares, of which the Elnya swamp occupies an area of 18,794 hectares.

In the central part of the swamp, there is the Bolshoi Elensky Island, which unites a group of rather large islands. Five rivers originate in Elnya: Yelnyanka, Berezhya, Volta, Vyanuzhka, and Grafsky stream. There are over 100 lakes of amazing beauty on the territory of the swamp. The central part of the swamp with the lakes within it rises 7 meters above the peripheral areas and 130-145 meters above sea level.

The "Yelnya" reserve is home to about 405 species of vascular plants, 13 of which are listed in the Red Book. Additionally, 8 Red Book insect species have been registered within the reserve. Approximately 150 bird species have been observed in the reserve, with 24 of them listed in the Red Book. Among mammals, the badger is listed in the Red Book.

The high significance of the "Yelnya" lake-bog complex for preserving landscape and biological diversity is confirmed by its conservation statuses:

Important Bird Area (since 2000)
Ramsar Wetland (since 2002)
Key Botanical Territory (since 2005)

WHAT IS YELNYA AND WHY IS IT WORTH VISITING:

The largest raised bog in Belarus, one of the largest in Europe (200 sq. km)
118 large and small lakes
The largest cranberry harvests in the country
Plants and animals found only in the tundra
Over 30,000 cranes during migration
An amazing world of harmony and silence

THIS IS A PLACE WHERE:

Tons of cranberries are harvested
Dwarf birch, cloudberry grow, and the willow ptarmigan and black-throated diver nest
You can drink water from the lakes
Tens of thousands of birds stop during migration

ONLY HERE:

The longest and widest ecological trail across a raised bog
Excursions on bogshoes
The opportunity to observe thousands of cranes
Wool souvenirs

Contacts

State Environmental Institution "Yelnya"

211287 Vitebsk region, Miory, Kirova Street, 4 A

Tel/Fax: +375 2152 5 24 77

E-mail: elnia-miory112008@miory.vitebsk-region.gov.by

Working hours of the state environmental institution "Yelnya": Monday-Friday 08:00-17:00, break from 13:00 to 14:00.

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