What is Belovezhskaya Pushcha? First of all, it is the largest remnant of the primeval relict forest on the flat terrain. According to the ideas prevailing among modern scientists, this forest in prehistoric times was located on the territory of Europe, but over time it was partially cut down. In its more or less original form, it has been preserved only as a large massif on the territory of the Belovezhskaya region, which, in turn, is located on the lands of Poland and Belarus.
Geography of the forest
Belovezhskaya Pushcha is a place through which the border between two states - the Republic of Belarus and the Republic of Poland - runs. Next to this virgin prehistoric forest is the famous watershed of the Black and B altic Seas. The flora and fauna in this geographical area is unique. To preserve it, four protection regimes have been created in Belovezhskaya Pushcha:
- protected area;
- recreational area;
- regulated area;
- economic zone.
Moreover, an artificial buffer zone has been created around the reserve itself. Forest,located on the lands of Belarus and Poland, is truly unique and the largest massif among all prehistoric forests still preserved on our planet. Pine forests (mossy and blueberry) dominate here, and the average age of each tree is at least 80 years.
A bit of history
This reserve as a unique protected area was already known in 1409. Then a king named Jagiello sat on the Polish throne. This forest was in his private property. It was he who at one time issued a royal decree, according to which, any hunting for large animals inhabiting the territory of the relic forest was strictly prohibited. The "Belovezhskaya Treasure" was part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since 1413, and in 1795 Pushcha joined Russia.
Children of your bison…
What do you think connects the word "bison" with the word "forest"? These are already the most real words-synonyms. Remember how the famous song says: "Your bison children do not want to die out." And it's not by chance. Emperor Alexander I in 1802 by his decree completely forbade hunting bison inhabiting the territory of Belovezhskaya Pushcha.
All in the same 1802, this territory became part of the Grodno province, the official coat of arms of which was recognized bison. But not only bison sheltered this famous reserve. Its territory is inhabited by a huge number of different animals and plants. Let's talk about the flora and fauna of the Pushcha.
Belovezhskaya Pushcha. Animals andplants
By the number of plant and animal species inhabiting this territory, Belovezhskaya Pushcha is unrivaled in all of Europe! Just think: almost 1000 species of seed plants and vascular spores grow here. 260 species of various mosses, 570 species of fungi and 300 species of lichens have been recorded here. The National Park "Belovezhskaya Pushcha" is not only a hotbed of flora, but also a real natural "zoo".
The list of fauna of this reserve includes 60 species of various mammals, 230 species of birds, 11 species of amphibians (amphibians), 8 species of reptiles (reptiles), 25 species of fish and a huge number of invertebrates - more than 11,000. It is worth noting that the largest population of bison lives on the territory of Belovezhskaya Pushcha.
Here you can meet such large herbivores as red deer, roe deer, elk, wild boars. Predatory animals in the forest are represented by wolves, foxes, badgers, lynxes, otters, martens, etc. Zoologists, namely entomologists, argue that very rare and unique communities of invertebrates have been preserved in Belovezhskaya Pushcha. These include insects that live in rotten or dead wood, in mulberries, as well as invertebrates that prefer lowland and raised bogs.
Once upon a time, the territory of this reserve was inhabited by a large ungulate animal - a tour. Unfortunately, its population is now completely extinct. Tours disappeared from the face of the Earth in the 17th century. Zoologists-historians say that thesehoofed animals were much larger than the current "Bialowieza" giants - bison. To be honest, bison are also on the verge of extinction… They, like many other animals living in this reserve, are listed in the International Red Book.
World Heritage
The national park called "Belovezhskaya Pushcha" in 1992 was included in the so-called World Heritage List of mankind. This decision belonged to UNESCO. Moreover, exactly one year later, the park was given the status of a so-called biosphere reserve. In 1997, a diploma of the Council of Europe, an international organization that promotes cooperation between all European countries, was awarded to this reserve.
One of the most important events in the history of this truly unique place happened relatively recently - in 2014. According to the decision of the session of the World Heritage Committee, adopted on June 23, 2014, the park-reserve "Belovezhskaya Pushcha" with its Belarusian and Polish territories became a single UNESCO World Heritage Site. Be sure to visit this beautiful place!
