Spot on the map: Journey to the Pripyatsky National Park

The National Park «Pripyatsky» is a unique region in the south of Belarus in terms of natural biodiversity, where natural biocomplexes and habitats of rare animals, unique in Europe, have been preserved until now.

The National Park is located in the valley of the Pripyat River in the center of the Polesskaya Lowland. After the retreat of the glacier, the Pripyat Polesie was a huge water basin filled with glacial melt water, which later received the name "Pripyat Sea", and during the Middle Ages numerous marshes of Polesie were designated as "Herodotus' Sea". Gradually, as the reservoir shallowed, extensive peat bogs were formed in its place, some of which have survived to this day.

The history of the formation of the Pripyat National Park dates back to the 20-30s. In June 1969, the Pripyat State Landscape and Hydrological Reserve was organized, which was transformed into the Pripyat National Park in 1996. In June 1969 the Pripyat State Landscape and Hydrological Reserve were organized, which in 1996 were transformed into the National Park "Pripyatsky". In 1995 an experimental forest hunting farm "Lyaskovichi" appeared in the reserve. And in 1998 the first in Belarus Museum of Nature was opened in the park.

Territorially the national park is located within the Belarusian Polesie - in the interfluve of the Pripyat, Stviga and Uborti rivers. Administratively, the park is located on the territory of Zhitkovichi, Lelchitsy and Petrikov districts of Gomel region with the administrative center in the agro-town Lyaskovichi.
The National Park «Pripyatsky» impresses with its boundless and virtually untouched expanses of wetlands - 188 thousand hectares, of which about 35% is occupied by the protected zone. This region is called the "Belarusian Amazon", because it is here that extensive wetlands, wide floodplains of the Pripyat River and its tributaries, oak and broad-leaved forests are located, which are unique in structure and floristic composition for the entire Eastern European Plain.


Scientists believe that the national park is a hydrologically closed area. About 38 species of fish inhabit its territory. The flora of the national park includes more than 1000 species of higher plants, 47 of which are included in the Red Book of the Republic of Belarus.

The animal world of the national park is rich and diverse, characterized by a significant number of rare species, which are not found anywhere else in Belarus. Among the large ungulate animals there are numerous elk, wild boar, roe deer; predators - lynx, wolf, fox, ferret, weasel, forest marten - are widespread. Reacclimatization of bison, raccoon dog, muskrat is successfully carried out in the territory of the park.


The National Park Pripyatsky has the international status of a key ornithological territory. It is home to 256 species of birds, which is 79% of the bird fauna of the whole country. Of these, 65 species are listed in the Red Book of Belarus. The Pripyat floodplain is the largest migration channel of migratory birds in Europe.

Today the National Park Pripyatsky is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Belarus. Wildlife lovers come for fascinating photo safaris, because here you can see a really impressive number of animals in their natural habitat. And also to admire the beauty of pristine nature.

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