Smolensk Lakes National Park

Smolenskoye Poozerie is a national park in the northwest of the Smolensk region. The area got its name because of 35 glacial lakes full of fish. Today’s park is both a nature reserve and a tourist zone with recreation sites, camping, and hotels. The park is visited by hiking and biking enthusiasts, fishermen, connoisseurs of the history of the Great Patriotic War and the culture of the ancient Slavs. In addition, the reserve has all the conditions for observing animals in their natural habitat.

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Video: Smolensk Lakeland

Contents

History of the national park

People have settled on the territory of the Lakeland since time immemorial. Cult red boulders on one of the islands of Lake Dgo, burial mounds of the Balts and Kriviches have been preserved from the ancient pagans. The park was created in 1992 to preserve broad-leaved forests with unique flora and fauna, lakes and the cleanest rivers of the Western Dvina basin. In 2002, the project received international recognition: Smolensk Lakeland was included in the list of UNESCO biosphere reserves. In 2014, the park joined the Belarusian program to restore the bison population in the central part of the country. The infrastructure has slowly but surely developed over these decades, although even now the conditions for recreation on the shores of Smolensk lakes are far from ideal: there are problems with communication, ATMs, medical care and food.

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Lakes of the national park

The main recreational areas of the park are arranged next to glacial lobed lakes. Baklanovskoye Lake is the deepest – up to 28 meters, and the most beautiful – Sapsho: it is often compared to Baikal. There are 6 islands with ancient burials on it. To the western part of the lake adjoined the possessions of the famous traveler Przhevalsky. In the northern part there is a shallow spit where you can walk waist-deep in water for a long time. You can swim in the lake in the middle of summer – from the end of June to the beginning of August, but in other seasons the nature of the Lakeland is quite spectacular. The Crimson Island is especially beautiful in autumn, when deciduous forests turn red. Near Love Island, or Gorokhovy Island, there is a boat station where you can rent boats and catamarans. The most unusual lake in the reserve is the Dead Lake: there are absolutely no fish in the body of water located right in the forest.

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Recreation in the Smolensk Lakes

In the village of Przhevalsky, the administrative center of the park, a sanatorium was built to treat diseases of the stomach, liver, endocrine system on the basis of local mineral waters. In disorders of the nervous system and musculoskeletal apparatus help brines and muds of Lake Mutnoe. Rest, treatment and cosmetology services in Przhevalsky are not too expensive. Guests are accommodated in the building or guest houses, they are provided with meals in the dining room. All the time on the territory of the sanatorium they will have to wear identification bracelets, and guests can be held only for a fee of 100 rubles per person.

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Animal and plant life of the reserve

At the end of March in Smolensk Lakeland the snow melts and vipers crawl out of their hiding places together with frogs. In early April hedgehogs wake up, storks and gray cranes arrive. Full-fledged spring comes to the reserve at the end of April, when the leaves of linden and hazel trees unfold and the first mushrooms – strochki and morels appear. At the same time vigilant tourists need to worry about protection from ticks. You can watch bison all year round. Their enclosure is located near the village of Gorodishche. Four adults were brought from Belarus, and two more bison were born in the reserve. At normal times they avoid people, but they are guaranteed to come to the feeders at 10 and 18 hours.

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Fishing and other entertainment

Until June 10, fishing in the Lakeland is only from the shore with a fishing rod, after that time spearfishing, spinning and fishing from a paddleboat are allowed. Crayfish are caught from July 1, after molting, with crayfish traps. According to the type of catch the lakes are divided into 4 groups. Bream is found in Sapsho, Baklanovskoye, Dgo, crucian carp – in small lakes, only perch – in Strechnoye, perch with roach and pike – in Petrakovskoye. The most diverse aquatic fauna is on Lake Dgo, in it bream, perch and pike are especially well caught. On the lake Rytom there are a lot of bream and redfin. Lake Chistik with clear water is perfectly adapted for underwater hunting. From May to September there is a canoe route on the 4 lakes, on weekends organize diving tours.

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Tourist Information

Weather conditions in Smolensk Lakeland are unstable: in winter you can expect Siberian frosts and hints of thaw. In summer it is either hot or rainy and cool, thunderstorms begin in April, and the wind direction often changes. Ticks are especially abundant from May through July. For most guests parking of personal vehicles is paid, from 150 per day, but if you register on the territory of the reserve, you can leave your car for free. Communication from the country’s leading mobile operators is provided intermittently. Medical help can be found in large villages if a paramedic is on site. The nearest hospital is in the town of Demidovo.

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Tickets to the park

Visiting the park is paid – 100 rubles per person per entrance, a 50% discount is given to residents of Smolensk, pensioners and disabled people of group III. Free of charge are children under 14 years old, disabled people of group I and II with escorts, residents of villages of the nearest region, large families, research scientists. Purchase of a ticket is a mandatory event even for privileged people, they can check it at any time. The ticket offices are located in the village of Przhevalsky in the directorate, in Smolensk in the representative office of the park on Pamfilova Street. Souvenirs made of wood and birch bark are also sold here.

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How to get there

From Smolensk to Przhevalsky, the center of the reserve, is about 120 km. A shuttle bus departs from the local bus station through the town of Demidov 3-4 times a day. For travelers who prefer a private car, it is more convenient to get there via Smolensk and Demidov. The Reserve’s staff warns that guests from Moscow trying to turn to Smolensk for Dukhovshchina risk getting stuck in swamps. The only passable road is through Demidov, located 40 kilometers southwest of Przhevalsky.

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Where to stay

On the shore of Baklanovsky Lake there is a two-storey Environmental Education Center with 3-4-bed rooms and facilities on the floor, designed for 80 guests at a time. The cost of accommodation – 400-500 rubles per day, in a highly demanded double room with toilet and shower – 1000 rubles. Bathhouse is heated for an additional fee. The canteen works only by prior request. At the disposal of guests – rent barbecues, boats, bicycles, skis.

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In the camping summer camp on Baklanovsky you can rent a carriage. Children under 7 years of age stay in the camp for free. In the village of Petrakovo rents a guest house for 10 people for 3000 rubles per day. In Przhevalsky itself there is a hotel “Rodnik” with amenities in the room for 1600 rubles per day with breakfast and free parking. Owners of private houses willingly provide rooms for rent.

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Outdoor recreation

Spontaneous recreation in the recreational area is strictly prohibited, cooking and tenting is allowed only in specially designated areas. The use of picnic grounds with toilets, rain shelters, benches, barbecues and places for garbage collection will cost 150 rubles. The sites are in demand, they are often rented for 1-2 days or several weeks for corporate events, professional camps. Vacationers should familiarize themselves in advance with the rental schedule posted on the park’s website, as outsiders are not allowed to picnic at this time.

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The proximity to the reserve dictates its own rules of recreation. Firewood for the fire is purchased locally, fish are caught at a time limited by law, dogs are walked on a leash. Berries and mushrooms are collected only for themselves, not for sale. It is forbidden to hunt, use motor boats, pass into the protected area.

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Excursions in the Smolensk Lakes

The main type of sports recreation in the reserve – walks on pedestrian eco-trails from 1.5 to 4 km long. The longest route “To the Origins”, telling about the history of the Slavic tribe of Krivichi, starts in the village of Stary Dvor and ends at the observation deck on Sapsho Island. The trails “In the Kingdom of the Brown Bear” and “Visiting Beavers” are devoted to the habits of local animals. The latter trail runs from the village of Boroviki and the “Seagull” campground to the muddy Rotten Lake, where you can see beaver huts and dams. Independent walk along the trails is free, with a guide – from 100 rubles per person. Multi-hour excursions are ordered by organized groups: 5-hour overview of the reserve or 7-hour route “Along the front line” costs from 3-5 thousand rubles. In winter, snowshoe hikes are possible.

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Cultural and sports entertainment in the park and the surrounding area

In addition to fishing and swimming, guests of Smolensk Lakeland will be offered to visit the rope park and equestrian yard in Przhevalsky. Here you can not only ride horses, but also learn how to ride like seasoned riders. In the village of Anosinka a Museum of birch bark was created by local enthusiasts. In mid-July the park hosts a festival of reenactors “Partisan Sloboda”. In Baklanovsky Center for Environmental Education presents an exposition “Wetlands”. The ticket price is 100 rubles.

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