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Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park

Brest, Belarus

Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park is one of the most famous places in Belarus and plays a very important role in the ecology of Belarus.

The park is located 340km to the south-west of Minsk in the Brest region of Belarus It is one of 4 National Parks in Belarus  and the largest forest in the lowlands of central Europe.

The first records of the Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park date back to the year 983. The name comes from a white tower in the vicinity (Belaya Vezha) erected 700 years ago, and the name Pushcha is mentioned in both Lithuanian and Polish historical documents dating back to the 15th century.

Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park has been a battleground throughout the ages. The Napoleonic War and world wars have all taken their toll on the forest.

In 1939 the land was declared a state reserve and in 1944 part of the reserve was given to neighbouring Poland.

Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992. In 1993 it was granted UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status.

The park is famous for its ancient named oak trees dating back more than 500 years. In all there are almost 900 species of trees and flowers . It  is also home to more than 250 animal and bird species, including the largest population of the rare European bison

As well as the forest, Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park also boats a zoo, library and a museum, and supports wood processing, handicrafts and various local industries.  

The national park Belovezhskaya Pushcha is about 60km to the north of Brest and 20km from the nearest town of Kamenets.

 

 

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