Lake Naroch

Lake Naroch is the largest freshwater body of water in Belarus, which has a unique ecosystem. The lake is located in the northwest of the country, in Myadel district of Minsk region, 150 kilometers from the capital of the country. Naroch is the pearl of the Belarusian lake region. To protect the natural phenomenon, the entire region where the lake is located is included in the vast Naroch National Park. This natural reserve attracts thousands of tourists. People come here to admire the untouched nature, to fish and hunt, to relax and improve their health in the coastal sanatoriums.

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Video: Lake Naroch

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Highlights

The favorable climate and picturesque landscapes have made it possible to create popular resorts on Lake Naroch. Recreation areas are located on the western, southwestern and northwestern shores. The center of the resort region is the village of Naroch. Here a hotel complex is built, restaurants and cafes work, there is a private entertainment center. In other locations near the lake there are sanatoriums, hotels, tourist centers, summer camps for schoolchildren. There are comfortable beaches on the shores of Lake Naroch. In winter, there are organized skiing, sledding, pour skating rinks for skaters.

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The lake is surrounded by several villages, where fans of “green” tourism will find shelter and a table. In season, the surrounding forests are full of mushrooms and berries, in the forest thickets of hunters await shelters of local forestry, for lovers of fishing near the shores built cottages. You can get to Lake Naroch from Minsk by shuttle bus or by car.

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History of Lake Naroch

In the Middle Ages, Lake Naroch was part of the possessions of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Polish kings. At the end of the 18th century, this territory was ceded to the Russian Empire. By the beginning of the last century on the shores of the vast body of water built cottages, private villas, restaurant, moorings for pleasure boats and sailboats.

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During World War I, in March 1916, a major battle between Russian and German troops took place on the shores of Lake Naroch. This battle is known to military historians as the Naroch Operation. After the war, the lake ended up on the territory of revived Poland. In the early 30s, the Polish government nationalized Lake Naroch and the surrounding lands. The lake was leased from the state by the landowner Yablonski, who hired many boats and people who fished tons of fish every day. The landowner sent the catch to the markets of the nearest towns. The inhabitants of the lakeside villages were forbidden to fish in Narochi and were offered to work for the lake tenant. Peasants, despite the bans, continued to fish in the waters of the lake, because this occupation for many was the main means of subsistence.

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In the summer of 1935 there was a conflict that became a bright event in the history of the region. To stop illegal fishing, the landowner called a police boat. In the waters of the lake, the police detained several fishing boats, and the patrol boat took them in tow. But as soon as the procession approached the shore, the desperate fishermen’s wives rushed into the water and in a friendly effort overturned the police motorboat. The most active rebels were tried, but since then the police have not dared to take the fishermen “on board”. Following the example of the Narachan fishermen, residents of the entire lake region demanded the lifting of the ban on fishing. The unrest turned into many thousands of peasants, the confrontation lasted until 1939. Several Soviet Belarusian artists dedicated paintings to the uprising of fishermen on Lake Naroch. Back in 1937, the prominent Belarusian poet Maxim Tank described the events in the poem “Naroch”, but the Polish censorship did not allow its publication, and readers became acquainted with the revolutionary work only after the annexation of this territory to the BSSR.

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In 1946, mineral water springs were discovered in the forests of the region, and sapropel – bottom sediments rich in useful substances – was found in several lakes surrounding Naroch. These discoveries made it possible to establish a balneological treatment center here. In the 50s-60s, tourist resorts and vacation homes were built near Lake Naroch. The region gained fame of the best Belarusian climatic and balneotherapeutic resort. Today, nine health resorts operate on the shores of the lake.

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In 1999, a national park was created here to preserve landscapes and diversity of flora and fauna.

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Geography and climate

Lake Naroch is of glacial origin. About 15,000 years ago, as the melting glacier moved northward, rocky moraines – gentle hills – appeared on the surface of the land, making up the marvelous lakeside landscape. There are numerous groundwater outlets, springs and streams on the coast. The surroundings of Lake Naroch are covered with pine forests and deciduous groves, and there are many small bodies of water around.

The southern shores are mostly low-lying, there are comfortable sandy and gravel beaches. In the southeast there are peat bogs and swamps. In the north and northeast, the banks are steep, precipitous, cut by scour holes and ground shifts, and there are rocky areas. Coastal cliffs are 4-5 m high near the village of Gatovichi and up to 8-12 m high near the village of Cherevki. The western shore is mostly gentle, but even here some areas rise to a height of 8-10 meters above the lake surface.

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The bottom of the lake has a slight slope, the depth in most of the water area is from 2 to 5 meters. In the center and in the east of the reservoir the bottom is uneven, here close to the surface approach loamy shoals, there are extensive pools up to 15-20 meters deep. Opposite the village of Gatovichi there are pools up to 24 meters deep, here they are called “Gatovskie Pits”. On the northeastern shore the glacier left a picturesque islet of 6.2 hectares, its territory is inhabited by rare animals and birds. A nature reserve operates here.

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The waters of Lake Naroch are replenished by precipitation, streams and benthic keys. Seasonal fluctuations in water level are 35-40 cm. Circulation ensures good oxygen saturation of water. There are 25 species of fish, among them whitefish, bleak, carp and carp. The desired trophies of fishermen are tench, eel, burbot and pike. In the coastal reeds and reeds nest a lot of waterfowl birds – swans, various species of ducks.

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The only river flowing south from the lake is the winding Naroch. At its source its width is 10-12 meters. After 75 kilometers, on the border with the Grodno region, the Naroch flows into the Vilija River. The area of 6.2 thousand hectares from the source of the Naroch to the south is declared a state hydrological reserve “Cheremshice”, included in the Naroch National Park, which is spread over 97 000 hectares. There are a total of 43 lakes in the park.

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Lake Naroch is located in the belt of temperate continental climate. In January, the air temperature rarely drops below -8…-6 ° C. The surface of the reservoir freezes in the first decade of December, the thickness of the ice cover is 60-80 cm. The ice melts in the middle of April, but even in May the ice flakes in the coastal pebbles crunch under your feet. In June the water in Narochi is still too cold for bathing, its temperature reaches only +16…+17 ° C, but sunbathing on the beaches is quite comfortable, the air warms up to +19…+22 ° C. Bathing season opens in early July, when the thermometer, immersed in the water, fixes +18 … +20 °С. At the turn of July and August, the water in the lake heats up to +22 ° C.

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Beaches

Excellent sandy beach you will find opposite the hotel “Naroch” in the resort village of the same name. There are awnings, sun beds, changing cabins, showers, toilets. The bottom is gentle, the depth near the shore is small, so it is safe for children to splash here. From the shore to a sufficient depth for swimming leads a long plastic pontoon. There are boat and catamaran rentals and sports equipment on the beach. The sandy coast stretches for hundreds of meters, there are sports grounds, children’s attractions, beach cafes. About two kilometers away is a well-equipped beach sanatorium “Narochanka.”

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The total length of comfortable beaches on the shores of Lake Naroch – 8.5 kilometers. Bathing season lasts about 80 days a year, from the end of June to early September.

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Entertainment on Lake Naroch

Administration of the National Park “Narochansky” (resort village of Naroch, Leninskaya Street, 6), offers tourists 3-4-hour bus tours through the picturesque surrounding areas. The cost of the trip is 6.45-9.65 Belarusian rubles. A visit to the dendrological garden located here will cost 4 rubles, entrance ticket to the Museum of Nature – 2 rubles. For children 6-16 years old – 50% discount, for kids under 6 years old – admission to the dendrosad and the museum is free.

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Everyone can go to the neighboring National Park “Braslav Lakes”. Such an 8-hour excursion will cost 20 rubles. From here you can go and to see the sights of Minsk, Brest, Grodno, Vitebsk and other cities, visit the memorial “Khatyn”, travel to the holy places of Belarus.

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Here are also organized individual and group hunting tours for wetland, forest and field game. From May 15 to September 30 you can hunt roe deer, from August 20 to September 30 the hunting season for elk and wild boar is open, from September 1 to March 31 beaver hunting is allowed. Applications should be submitted 20 days before the desired date of arrival.

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Fishing enthusiasts have at their disposal dozens of reservoirs and rivers within the National Park. There are places where you can cast a rod for free (lakes Barsuki, Kozie, Glubelka, Shestakovo, Chertok and some others). But at most of the reservoirs fishing is paid. On lakes Volchino and Rudakovo divers have the opportunity to arrange underwater hunting, a daily license costs 25 rubles per person. If you bring your own equipment for windsurfing or kiting, you will be provided with a launching pad for 10 rubles per day. Fishing and swimming are prohibited on several water bodies that are part of the Narochanska group of lakes.

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You can buy fishing licenses (permits) and get acquainted with the rules of staying in the National Park in the administration building every day from 08:00 to 17:00. If you will be traveling to Lake Naroch from Minsk, you can also apply for fishing licenses in the capital of Belarus at the address: 125/2, Timiryazeva Street, shopping center “Zhdanovichi”, pavilion “Veles”. The cost of a one-time daily license to catch fish – 5 rubles, a permit for three-day fishing will cost 7 rubles, and if you decide to stay on fishing up to 10 days, you need to buy a license for 12 rubles.

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You will definitely not be left without a weighty catch, buying for 45 rubles daily fishing tour to the ponds of the nursery “Narochansky”, just teeming with fish. There is a rental shop for necessary equipment. You can rent fishing rods and spinning rods for 1.6-2.4 rubles, a folding stool – for 1.6 rubles, and also sell packages with baits and lures.

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Where to stay

In the resort village of Naroch on the shore of the lake there is a hotel complex “Naroch” 3* (Leninskaya Street, 8). Not far away are stores and supermarket “Euroopt”, there is also a market.

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Rooms are located in a five-story hotel building. A single room will cost 47.5 Belarusian rubles per day, a double room – in 85 rubles. The cost of a daily stay in two-room “suites” – 100-165 rubles.

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The hotel has a restaurant, bar, billiard room. From 08:00 to 23:00 at the disposal of guests well-equipped gym and lobby bar with a wide selection of cocktails and juices. The complex has an entertainment center “Vega”, where concert shows, parties, fashion shows are held. The center is open daily from 16:00 to 02:00, on Friday and Saturday – until 04:00.

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The resort hotel complex also includes an auto-camping hotel. The cost of daily accommodation in a double room – 17 Belarusian rubles per person, in a 3-4-bed room – 14-15 rubles.

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In the village there is a sanatorium “Narochanka”. At the guests’ disposal – restaurant, bar, indoor pool, children’s playground. All rooms are equipped with TVs and modern furniture. A family room can be rented for 76.5 Belarusian rubles. The payment includes three meals a day.

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In the center of the village of Naroch, in a pine forest, you can stay in a 6-bed guest house. There is an equipped kitchen, dining room with a fireplace, three bedrooms with separate bathrooms and two living rooms. In the yard you can use a barbecue and a wood stove. The daily rent of the cottage in summer will cost 190 rubles, in the cold months – 220 rubles (with heating).

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Several guest cottages are erected on the shores of Lake Naroch in the distance from the resort center. One and a half kilometers away, near the beach area, there is an equipped 4-bed cottage with two bedrooms. The cost of rent – 150 Belarusian rubles per day.

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In 13 km from the village of Naroch, near the children’s health center “Zubrenok”, built 4-bed guest houses autocamping “Naroch” with parking. The cost of renting a cottage is 150 rubles. Not far away is the guest house “Pronki”. There are three double rooms and one two-room “suite”. The bedrooms are located on the second floor, and the ground floor has a kitchen, dining room, living room with billiards and sauna. This eight-bed guest house is rented for 270 rubles per day. For a three-hour session in the sauna an additional payment of 90 rubles is required.

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In the village of Antonisberg, which is 3 km from the village of Naroch, there are guest cottages, each of them is designed for four guests. The cost of rent is 140 Belarusian rubles.

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At Lake Naroch there are a dozen and a half tourist parking lots, designed for setting up tents. There are toilets, places for campfires, garbage is removed daily. At the parking lots “Antonisberg”, “Beloe”, “Kochergi” you can spend the night for 6 rubles, there are gazebos with braziers. Parking lots “Strugolapy”, “Rossokhi”, “Mill”, “Shiroky moat” and others are not equipped with gazebos, but accommodation here is cheaper – 4 rubles per day.

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Where to eat

On the first floor of the hotel “Naroch” is a restaurant with three rooms. There is no smoking here. Opening hours: 07:30-00:00, break from 18:00 to 20:00.

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Hotel autocamping has its own cafe, located in the forest. It offers inexpensive breakfasts and dinners (8-10 rubles per person). The cost of a hearty lunch is 12-16 rubles. Specialties of the local chef – stuffed pike, white amur baked under sour cream, eel soup, rasstegai with pikeperch fillet. Participants of hunting and fishing tours can bring their prey to the kitchen, and cooks will prepare tasty dishes from fish and game.

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How to get there

From the Central Bus Station of Minsk to the village of Naroch there are daily shuttle buses and minibuses. In addition, passing buses of the routes Minsk – Zhuravushka and Minsk – Svir stop in Naroch. A ticket will cost 9-11 Belarusian rubles.

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By car, leave Minsk on the highway P28, leading to the northwest. Travel time is 2 hours.

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