The "Osvyeysky" reserve intends to receive about Br20 million from tourism activities in 2011.

January 17, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. The republican significance reserve "Osvyeysky" (Verkhnedvinsk district) intends to earn about Br20 million from tourism in 2011. This was announced today at a meeting of the Vitebsk Regional Committee for Natural Resources and Environmental Protection by the director of the state environmental institution "Osvyeysky" Igor Romanyuk, BELTA correspondent reports. Thanks to the large number of birds and animals, including those listed in the Red Book of Belarus, the interesting landscape, and large natural water bodies, both domestic and foreign scientists and ordinary nature lovers are interested in the reserve. A water route along Lake Osvyeyskoye and a hiking route on an island in this lake have been developed on the territory of the reserve. Together with the Sebezh National Park (Russia), the first cross-border water ecological trail "Novinsky Merchant's Trade Route" in Belarus and Russia has been developed. The route runs through adjacent territories and is designed for three days. A promo tour of the new Belarusian-Russian tourist route took place last year. In 2010, the reserve obtained a license for tourism activities, conducted 20 excursions, and earned Br1.3 million. The "Osvyeysky" reserve is a large complex of lakes, forests, transitional and raised bogs. Its area is over 27.7 thousand hectares. Since 2002, the reserve has been granted the status of a wetland of international importance (Ramsar site). Within the boundaries of the reserve, 164 species of nesting birds have been registered (36 species are listed in the Red Book of Belarus). The lake and surrounding areas are a place of constant concentration of wetland bird species during the spring-autumn migration. The reserve is also home to 3 species of mammals (brown bear, badger, lynx) and 16 species of plants listed in the Red Book of the republic. Among rare plants, botanists highlight hybrid forms of black alder and grey alder, tall forms of Karelian birch, a large population of yellow pond-lily, and the rare relict insectivorous plant waterwheel plant. -0-