Smolenskoye Poozerye National Park
Smolenskoye Poozerye is a national park located in the Smolensk region of Demidovsky and Dukhovshchinsky districts and covers 1,462 km2, of which most is woodland, and the rest is agricultural land, lakes and swamps. It was founded in 1992 with the aim of saving pristine, unique natural complexes, as well as to fulfill a scientific and cultural mission. Since 2002, it has been a member of the national network of biosphere reserves.
This area is often called the edge of the blue lakes, as there are about 35 reservoirs on the territory, among which there is a group of lakes located very close to each other and separated by massive ridges of lake beds. All of them are charming and unique in their own way, for example, the lake named Chistik, with an area of 57 hectares, is distinguished by its transparency and purity of water, due to the fact that it is fed exclusively by groundwater. Lake Sapsho attracts tourists with its amazing beauty. This is the largest lake in the Smolensk region – 304 hectares. The deepest lake is Baklanovskoye, in some places the depth is 29 m. Lake Bukino is located far from roads and is considered shallow, and in the summer it is overgrown with lilies. The lakes are home to fish such as perch, pike, bream, roach, rudd, which greatly lures lovers of fishing and spearfishing. Tourists rush to swim in the crystal waters of Chistik.
Smolenskoe Lake is also famous for its historical sites. There is a so-called "Holy Spring" here, which is a spring of water that simply springs out of the ground. Everyone who passes by him must wash, get drunk and take with them this miraculous water, which is believed to help with all ailments.
In the village of Pokrovskoye, the remains of the Prince Potemkin-Tavrichesky palace and park complex attract the attention of both tourists and archaeologists. It is here that behind thickets of acacia and spiraea lie piles of legendary bricks, as well as the remains of a stone foundation. In 1787, when Catherine II decided to look at her renovated possessions, Prince Grigory Alexandrovich Potemkin decided to please her with a beautiful Tauride-style palace, and chose the village of Pokrovskoye for this, as he learned that her path lay through the river. Later, the palace passed from owner to owner, after the revolution it was nationalized, and eventually burned down in a fire, the remains were dismantled by the peasants.
The Smolenskoye Poozerye Nature Reserve area includes the oldest complex of immemorial Verzhavsk. The significance of this site lies in the fact that it is an exceptional, complete archaeological complex in the park, containing traces of the city, as well as cemeteries of distant Slavs.
Nowadays, the state park also houses the Przhevalsky House Museum, the Pavilion of Partisan Glory, and services are held at the Church of the Ascension of the Lord.
The flora and fauna of the Smolensk Lake district is very diverse. Forests are represented by firs, oaks, and many plants are listed in the Red Book of the Smolensk Region, and some in the Red Book of Russia (a perennial collection). There are about 36 species of fish that thrive in the waters of the park (the basis is the carp family, but there are also rare species - brook trout). The fauna is represented by more than 2,000 species of invertebrates, some of which are considered national treasures. Amphibians are also found here. There are 228 species of birds living in the park, 19 of which are included in the Red Book of Russia. From the most common species (wolf, fox, hare) to the endangered, mammals can be found.
Smolenskoye Poozerye National Park is very popular among tourists. There are walking and educational trails for travelers, where you can not only enjoy the natural riches of the area, but also plunge into the history of the state. Many people come here for the purpose of health improvement. The Forest Republic children's camp also operates on the territory of the reserve.
