Yelnya Swamp (Belarusian: Балота Ельня) is the biggest swamp complex in Belarus. The swamps cover 253.01 square kilometers and considered to be more than 9000 years old. The Landscape Reserve "Yelnya" was founded in 1968.[3]

Yelnya Swamp
Bałota Yelnia
Балота Ельня
Map showing the location of Yelnya Swamp Bałota Yelnia Балота Ельня
Map showing the location of Yelnya Swamp Bałota Yelnia Балота Ельня
Location of Elnya Swamp
LocationVitebsk Oblast, Belarus
Coordinates55°34′33″N 27°51′53″E / 55.5758°N 27.8647°E / 55.5758; 27.8647
Area253.01 sq km[1]
Elevation139
Official nameYelnia
Designated21 October 2002
Reference no.1218[2]

History

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Yelnya Swamp is one of the oldest swamps in Belarus and was formed 12821 – 13114 years ago.[4]

Biodiversity

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Yelnya swamp is a stopping point for birds that migrate from the north through Belarus for wintering in Israel and North Africa. About 50 pairs of cranes stay here for nesting.[5]

More than 405 species of plants grow in the bog, 13 of them are listed as an endangered species. Approximately 150 bird species live and nest here.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Journey to Yelnya bog: a must-see in Belarus". walktofolk.by. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  2. ^ "Yelnia". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  3. ^ "The Landscape Reserve "Yelnya"". vetliva.com. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  4. ^ "Болото Ельня оказалось намного старше, чем предполагали ученые". 34travel.me (in Russian). 19 December 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  5. ^ "Это стоит увидеть! "Космические" пейзажи болота Ельня". belarus.by. Retrieved 25 October 2021.