Krasnoselsky chalk quarries as. Cretaceous quarries belarus - belarusian maldives photos description where are located. Volkovysk chalk quarries: how to get there

Belarus has its own "Maldives" no less beautiful, but more affordable than the original. Cretaceous quarries near Volkovysk create a unique beauty. The place is becoming more and more popular for recreation from year to year, especially in the warm season. Nature lovers set up tents on the beach and spend a weekend or more long time outdoors, enjoying the local beauty.

Volkovysk. Careers.

If you can imagine the area of ​​three hundred football fields, then you can understand the size of the quarries. Once upon a time, chalk was mined in these places. Its remains at the very bottom give the water a fabulous, almost emerald color. Large boulders and individual pieces of silicon, more reminiscent of meteorite debris, are chaotically spread on the white shores. In combination with several meter high cliffs overgrown with trees, this place attracts tourists.

How to get to the chalk quarries near Volkovysk? Cretaceous quarry map:

Nevertheless, the Belarusian attraction is "unbridled", since it is primarily considered a technical object and it should be understood that there are no refined beaches here. At the same time, the number of those who want to relax in such an outlandish place does not decrease from this. The unique landscape and turquoise water undoubtedly attract many travelers and locals alike.

Video chalk quarries near Volkovysk:

except have a nice stay, swimming, barbecuing, playing songs with a guitar and enjoying the clean air, the place is widely used by photographers. These places are popular for photo and video filming of weddings, as well as clips. The nature, playing with different colors, makes the pictures unusually bright and beautiful.

For those who like to fish, this is not a place, but a find. The size of the catch is from "little ones" to several kilograms. Crucian carp, rudd, pike, tench, roach, silver carp can be found in these places. In general, a real fishing lover will appreciate this place.

Cretaceous quarries at night

Divers and extreme people have chosen these careers. Sharp slopes and their considerable depth attract both. But care should be taken to avoid annoying troubles. At one time in one of the quarries was drowned crane, by the way, it can be seen at the bottom in clear sunny weather.

chalk quarries near Volkovysk

If you achieve this miracle of official status tourist place, with camping, beaches, buoys, food outlets, good access roads and parking, then it would undoubtedly become a b business card Not only the region but the whole country.

Everything would be absolutely wonderful, if not one, but an essential BUT that we cannot ignore in any way! OJSC "Krasnoselskstroymaterialy", an enterprise located in close proximity to the chalk quarries, warns:

But, apparently, few people are stopped by these warnings.

The chalk quarries are very reminiscent of the famous Maldives in their beauty and unusually picturesque landscapes; in recent years, they have become very popular place recreation of Belarusians, local divers, photographers and tourists.

The chalk quarries are located in the Krasnoselsky district not far from Volkovysk, 2-3 hours from Minsk, at a distance of 270 km along a good road. There are no signs on the road, but it is difficult to pass if you keep the path from the road to the building materials factory that smokes into the sky, towering among the fields. The road to it is covered with a thin layer of snow-white dust.

As you approach your destination, you can see many cars parked on the shores of the first man-made lake, there are campers' tents. There are chalk man-made lakes and near the village of Lyuban, 120 km from Bobruisk, where the silicate products plant is located. But there are fewer of them here, and they are less popular with vacationers.

Although recreation in all chalk quarries of Belarus is prohibited, many tourists and fishermen ignore these prohibitions, and no one closely monitors its observance of the ban. Annually, the Belarusian Maldives is visited by 100 to 130 thousand tourists a year.

How to get to the quarries?

You can get to the Belarusian azure reservoirs by car along the P-44 highway. GPS coordinates: 53.283386, 24.488854.

By public transport you can get to Volkovysk, where buses run from Baranovichi, which can be reached by train and commuter train.

Further, it is more convenient to cover the distance by bus commuter route to the urban-type settlement Krasnoselsky, but it is closer to get out in advance, before reaching the village of Novoselki. And from him or on foot or by passing car, if you're lucky.

History of quarry formation

The first developments began in the prehistoric period about 5 thousand years ago, when ancient people did not know how to process metal. Tools and weapons, scrapers and knives, arrowheads and axes, spears and clubs were made of chalk and silicon. Scientists have discovered thousands of ancient mines, some of which are mothballed and are a historical monument.

Cretaceous lakes were formed as a result of mining in quarries, which is carried out on an industrial scale for the nearby cement plant since 1914. First, the top fertile layer of the earth is cut off, which forms the mountains overgrown with greenery.

10 km from the village of Klimovichi in the Mogilev region there is a blue reservoir with banks overgrown with vegetation and a large number of fish. Its age is equal to 30 years, when springs were clogged in the chalk quarry left from the development.

There are also man-made chalk lakes in Bereza, where rest is more comfortable because of the flat shore. The spring water in the quarry has a beautiful turquoise hue.

Area, depth

Chalk and silicon are mined in industrial mines at a depth of 10-15 to 50 m. The quarries are stretched for several kilometers in length.

In total, there are more than a hundred different quarries of various ages and sizes, which occupy a huge territory. Many reservoirs have historical cavities and deep depressions at their bottom, which diving enthusiasts are happy to explore.

Fossils of chalk quarries in Belarus

High-quality chalk and silicon rocks have been mined in these places for more than a hundred years. Local minerals are used to make lime, cement and building mixtures, which are produced in huge quantities by the building materials plant.

The composition of the Cretaceous fossils can be divided into the following types:

Why does the water in quarries have a rich color?

After mining, the chalk quarries remain abandoned and are gradually filled with water.

When mixed with chalk residues and sediments, partial dissolution of calcium salts occurs, as a result of which the water-chalk suspension acquires an unusually bright turquoise or emerald hue, which, in combination with snow-white steep banks, creates an unreal landscape of fantastic beauty.

There is an opinion among the people that the shade of the water is provided by the copper sulfate contained in it, but it has not been confirmed by anything.

The azure color of the water is observed only in clear sunny weather. On a cloudy day, the lakes do not look impressive at all. Over time, this effect disappears altogether, and the water gradually becomes a completely normal color.

Quarry water temperature, composition

The great depth of the quarry, the snow-white chalk bottom, the presence of chalk in the water, reflecting the sun's rays, does not allow the lake to warm up well even in extreme heat. The hottest summer months the water temperature rarely exceeds +18 +20 degrees.

The water is clean only in appearance, has high acidity and density due to the mineral particles dissolved in it, and is not safe for humans in terms of its microbiological composition. According to the protocol of the conducted bacteriological study, the composition of the water exceeds the norm for the total number of coliform and thermotolerate bacteria by 60-100 times.

Is it safe to rest in the "Belarusian Maldives"?

The chalk quarries are an industrial area with warning signs and no swimming signs on the way. The shores to reservoirs with rather steep slopes, have slippery surfaces and are prone to collapses. Even accidents were recorded.

Therefore, the rest here cannot be called safe, and according to some reports, they want to close the road and put up checkpoints or completely fill up the quarries. In the meantime, embankments or obstacles in the form of a deep ditch are being dug up on the roads to abandoned mine developments, which little stop those who want to enjoy the extraordinary landscapes.

Pros and cons of recreation in the industrial zone

Despite the beauty of the sky blue of the reservoir and the exoticism of the snow-white chalk steep slopes of these places, which, moreover, are excellent in photographs, rest here has a lot of contraindications:

Nearest estates

Many cozy holiday houses and eco-friendly estates have been built in the area, which offer comfortable, inexpensive accommodation for vacationers with accompanying tourist services in the form of organizing fishing, renting bicycles or conducting excursions.

Agriturismo Pozhary

The estate is located in the village of the same name, house 6 of the Volkovysk district, in a quiet and cozy place on a well-groomed territory. The comfortable wooden house is designed for 12 beds, equipped with a modern bathroom, satellite TV, all the necessary furniture and appliances.

There is a wood-fired sauna. There is an area with a barbecue for cooking barbecue and outdoor furniture, for organizing a feast under open air or in a street gazebo in the garden.

Equipped for children game Zone with sports ground and a trampoline. For guests of the estate, at an additional cost, it is possible to organize a transfer and excursions to the surrounding attractions.

Agriturismo "Quiet Ponds"

In a calm quiet place not far from the village of Iodichi, Berestovitsky district, near numerous ponds, there is a cozy 10-bed manor house made of natural wood. The house is built from environmentally friendly materials, equipped with the latest technology. There is underfloor heating, orthopedic mattresses on the beds, a fireplace room, a wood-fired sauna, a modern bathroom with a shower.

Pike, silver carp, grass carp, carp and even catfish are caught in local waters. You can cook freshly caught fish on a fire or in the house in an equipped kitchen. The surrounding forest is full of berries and mushrooms, where hunting for larger game is allowed during the season.

Agriturismo "At Don Miron"

Interesting and very beautiful place for recreation on the shore of the lake in the village of Berezhki, house 85 A, Zelvensky district. For the guests of the estate, a comfortable 11-bed house with a large fireplace room, a modern bathroom, an equipped kitchen with everything necessary for convenient cooking and drinks is provided.

In the surrounding garden there is a gazebo and barbecue area. This is very comfortable spot for merry gatherings of a large company. Guests can go fishing, ride catamarans, swim in the lake and sunbathe. For those who wish, it is possible to organize an excursion to the Synkovichi church, to the holy spring, to the Zhirovichi monastery.

The Melniki estate

A small cozy manor house for 6 people is located on the banks of the Ross River in the village of the same name in the Volkovysk district on 17 Zarechnaya Street. The house has 2 living rooms with all amenities, an equipped kitchen, gas heating, and a modern bathroom. The guests of the estate are offered a choice of accommodation with organized meals or the opportunity to cook on their own.

The farmstead has a birch-wood sauna with a steam room and brooms. Around the estate there is a large orchard, a vegetable garden with seasonal fresh vegetables and berries. There is a possibility of accommodation in tents for large public events.

Agriturismo "Zvezdnaya"

Guests are invited to stay in a comfortable 2-storey estate in the Volkovysk region. The first floor of the building is occupied by a sauna, a bathroom, a shared kitchen, a living room with a TV, sound system, and karaoke. On the second level there are rooms with 15 sleeping places.

The estate can host organized events, corporate evenings and family celebrations.

Excursions to quarries

The chalk quarries of the Volkovysk region were included in the official list of tourist eco-routes developed by local ethnographers and specialists in regional and ecological tourism. This route is very popular among young people and school groups of all ages, as well as among vacationers in nearby regional sanatoriums.

Most of the tourist route passes through the republican biological reserve, includes an introductory survey of unique archaeological monuments such as ancient mines for the extraction of silicon from the late Neolithic period. Some of them are more than 4.5 thousand years old.

Krasnoselskie chalk man-made reservoirs are included in the tourist program under the name of green lenses. Tourists are shown only reclaimed quarries that have fortified slopes. It is strictly forbidden to go to the water, and even more so to swim during the excursion.

Also, the excursion program includes a visit and inspection:

Excursion programs take 1 or 2 days in time. For a multi-day program, accommodation is provided for the night at a camp site. The maximum length of the route is about 32 km. The entire path must be walked or cycled, there is an option of combining more suitable and convenient combinations.

Hotels near chalk quarries

The closest to the chalk quarries place of civilized location for the night will be the Krasnosiel'skii hotel in the nearby village of Krasnoselsky on Novaya street, house 6. Here you can rent a completely comfortable room with a continental breakfast at a price of 760 to 1.5 thousand rubles. per day.

A shared equipped kitchen is at guests' disposal. All rooms are equipped with a private bathroom, refrigerator and TV.

What makes the chalk quarries unique in Belarus? Interesting Facts

Some interesting facts man-made chalk reservoirs of Belarus:

• total area The industrial area under development is huge, for clarity, it is equal to 300 football fields.
• The slope of the banks of most quarries is about 80 degrees.
• According to the existing legend, at the bottom of one of the lakes, in clear sunny weather, you can see a flooded crane or an excavator at the bottom, which reached the ground water and did not manage to get out of the quarry, when the water began to fill the pit very quickly.
• Belarusian artists shoot colorful clips here, and local photographers have chosen picturesque landscapes for spectacular photo sessions of newlyweds.

Cretaceous man-made reservoirs of Belarus are unusually beautiful and diverse, each picturesque quarry is distinguished by a unique shade of water and the outline of snow-white shores, they look unusually impressive in photographs on a clear sunny day, but they all conceal an unhidden danger wildlife, therefore, it is necessary to think carefully about the consequences before risking visiting these places.

Article design: Mila Friedan

Video about chalk quarries near Volkovysk

Overview of chalk quarries:

Virgin forests, crystal clear lakes and rich fauna - all this is wonderful, which is the true heritage of the state. One of the most beautiful places in the country can be considered the Cretaceous Lakes near Volkovysk, attracting more and more tourists who decided to reunite with the wild nature. Nowadays, these places are popular not only among Belarusians, but also among other peoples, among which Russians and Ukrainians stand out.

History of origin

The Belarusian miracle appeared as a result of chalk mining, the activity of which has been going on for over one century. OJSC "Krasnoselskstroymaterialy" produces mixtures, cement, lime, pipes and all kinds of details. Extraction and further transportation of chalk is carried out here around the clock, but this will not in the least interfere with your rest, because the already formed lakes are located at some distance from the current deposits. Numerous visitors will confirm the splendor of nature and clean air reigning in these places near such a wonderful place as the city of Volkovysk. There are chalk lakes in the Minsk region, but we will tell about them a little later.

"Belarusian Maldives"

In recent years, the Chalk Lakes near Volkovysk have become a real natural. Shrubs and trees are gradually growing along the shores of these man-made reservoirs, and the water acquires a turquoise-emerald hue. Despite the fact that this place is not paved good roads, people are increasingly coming here to enjoy the clean air and water that so beckon ecotourism lovers. It is worth noting that each of the lakes is unique: near the waters of one steep banks, overgrown with young pines, rise, and the other greets visitors with gentle slopes. It was the latter that became favorite place rest of the townspeople. Of course, not all reservoirs are suitable for swimming, although this does not hurt to find a dozen pretty lakes, where water surface akin to heaven itself. These waters are also good for those who like fishing, because the lakes are rich in crucian carp, rudd, pike, roach, silver carp and other types of fish. Nonetheless, the Chalk Lakes are completely "wild" as they are considered a technical facility, so don't expect to find ennobled beaches, bars or recreation centers there. Be that as it may, the unique landscapes and turquoise waters of the lakes constantly attract many travelers, and local residents who have gone to barbecue.

Route

Chalk lakes (or rather, quarries) are located near the city of Volkovysk, Grodno region. From Minsk you will have to drive about 270 km, from Moscow - 1000 km. Let's clarify the fact that it will not be possible to drive up close to the lakes (except by an SUV), and therefore you will have to walk 500-700 meters. Many tourists go to them with tents and barbecues in order to have a great weekend away from the bustle of the city. See the map below.

A warning

Let us finish the story about the Cretaceous Lakes near Volkovysk with one significant "but". The fact is that the aforementioned enterprise OAO Krasnoselskstroymaterialy does not recommend visiting water bodies and swimming in them. This warning is explained by the discrepancy between the sanitary rules and norms of lake waters, which were checked by the Volkovysk Zonal Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology in 2013. According to him, the number of OKB (common and TCB (thermotolerate coliform bacteria) exceeds the norm by 60-100 times. Of course, this is a very big drawback, but it stops few people. Another important fact is the great depth of the lakes (over 10 m) , which is why you need to be especially careful.

Chalk lakes near Soligorsk

A similar situation is observed near another city. This is Soligorsk. The chalk lakes here are also flooded chalk quarries, but the development of minerals is no longer carried out in the vicinity of these reservoirs. Nearest locality- This small town Urechye. Azure water, pine forests and fresh air for grilling kebabs - what else do vacationers need? It is worth noting that in this place there are much fewer reservoirs - there are only 2 of them. Nevertheless, they are huge, and therefore there will be enough places for all vacationers. as we briefly mentioned above, compare with the Maldives. 90% of people are unlikely to be able to afford a trip to the latter, but why go to such measures if you can have a great time in their native lands? Do not forget to take your camera with you, because dozens of beautiful pictures are provided for you.

Travelers, lovers of wildlife and thrills do not ignore the chalk quarries near the Belarusian city of Volkovysk. Why are the latter so attractive, why are they called "Belarusian Maldives", is it worth planning a vacation in this place?

Why Volkovysk quarries are attractive

Volkovysk's chalk quarries have been nicknamed both a paradise for photographers and a Belarusian tourist Mecca. In addition to everything, this attraction is "wild", as recreation here is not only not provided, but even prohibited. But this place continues to attract thousands of campers every year.

The reason for this is an unusual and even fantastic panorama for a Central European area: azure, even bright emerald, rich turquoise water that fills the quarries (thanks to the chalk remaining at their bottom), high snow-white cliff banks covered with young trees, huge boulders of seemingly alien origin ... It is enough to look at the Volkovysk chalk quarries in the photo to make you want to see these places with your own eyes.

The quarries, spread over an area roughly equal to three hundred football fields, are truly a heavenly place for "savages". Travelers admire the surreal nature around them, grill kebabs, sing songs by the fire, sunbathe, swim in turquoise waters, take mesmerizing photographs (some Belarusian music performers have chosen these places to shoot their videos).

In addition, Volkovysk's chalk quarries are interesting:

• divers - local waters are not inferior to the Red Sea or Maldivian;
• extremals - steep boulders, cliffs, rather large length (1-4 km) and depth of quarries (15-40 m - water depth, 40 m - embankment height) attract fans of bungee jumping and without it;
• fishermen - a number of quarries are filled with fish.

Over the course of several years, about a hundred thousand tourists have visited the quarry.

Volkovysk chalk quarries: how to get there

How to get there by your own vehicle? You should go along the P44 highway to the city of Volkovysk, then follow the signs to the village of Krasnoselsky - the quarries are located directly next to it.

For those traveling without a car, the following scheme is useful:

1. Train or commuter train in the direction "Minsk-Baranovichi".
2. Train to Volkovysk.
3. In Volkovysk, change to shuttle bus to pg. Krasnoselsky (ask to stop in front of the village of Novoselki).
4. Then follow the navigator on foot to the destination.

The coordinates of the chalk quarries (Volkovysk) on the map: 53.283386, 24.488854.

History of an amazing area

The quarries so beloved by many are artificially created reservoirs formed as a result of the extraction of a mineral - chalk. It has been going on for more than a hundred years - since 1914. The richness of the lands of Belarus with chalk deposits is a consequence of the fact that once its territory was the bottom of the giant World Ocean.

The attraction of the village of Krasnoselsky is also the amazing silicon mines, which were cut down by our ancestors about 5 thousand years ago for the extraction of rock, which was widely used in the production of tools. However, today they are mothballed, and the plan of the museum dedicated to them has remained just a draft on paper.

Volkovysk careers: scary beautiful

As tourist vacation near the Volkovysk quarries is disorganized, then there are no equipped places for a picnic, as well as dry closets, a source drinking water, lifeguards on the shore. And the trash after some tourists turned some of the beautiful slopes into a natural dump.

When approaching the quarries, the travelers tries to stop the "Dangerous Zone" sign, which they happily ignore. But in vain. According to rescuers, people drown here every year. There is also the likelihood of collapses, because the "walls" of the quarries are not reinforced with anything. Such attractive-looking gentle emerald waters are terrifying with the result of the tests - they contain the volume of E. coli strains, which is a hundred times greater than the permissible amount! And chalk, which is dissolved in the waters of the quarry, not only dries the skin, but, getting into the lungs, settles in them, which can easily provoke asthma.

The Volkovysk chalk quarries are also a technical zone. Tourists' cars interfere with the passage of service equipment of the Krasnoselskstroymaterialy enterprise, which is the owner of these lands. The company's management is determined to make this area closed to travelers.

Volokovysk careers today

Although there were discussions about the redevelopment of the quarry area into a full-fledged recreation area, the "healing" of the waters, the smoothing of the banks, the projects remained only projects. In 2015, the reclamation of the quarries was planned, which is designed to destroy them. beautiful view: Some lenses were smoothed, some were dug up. The main road for tourists was dug with impassable ditches. The purpose of this, according to the authorities, is the prevention of accidents.

As an alternative, there were quarries near Bereza, Lyuban, Slutsk and Soligorsk.

Thus, today you can only admire the remains of the beauty for which Volkovysk's chalk quarries were famous quite recently. Instead of costly beautification of the extraordinary terrain for tourists, the local authorities chose a course to destroy it in the name of the safety of "wild" vacationers.

Do I need to spend half of my annual income and fly an airplane to wonderful paradise islands, when are there such amazing places in the Republic of Belarus? Truly fabulous landscapes, looking at which, you understand that all the colorful pictures from the Internet simply fade, and all this is the creation of human hands. Yes, it is, the chalk quarries, now abandoned, have become popular resort for a huge number of tourists. Many locals we are sure that you can have a good rest in Belarus. No, many people know about the fact that there are many beautiful rivers and lakes, but such places, as if from the Bounty advertisement, are definitely impossible. No, perhaps this is how the chalk quarries appear to admiring gaze today.

Location

Quite recently, almost no one has heard about rest in these places. Then the inquisitive travelers making hiking stumbled upon amazing blue Lakes surrounded by snow-white shores, which are overgrown with fluffy Christmas trees. This is how the chalk quarries began to gain popularity. It grows every year, now only the lazy, it is painfully beautiful here, a real paradise, have not heard about the careers near Volkovysk. We will try to tell you in detail where they are located so that the road is easy and pleasant.

Probably, you need to start with the fact that the Krasnoselsky chalk quarries are a huge territory. That is, these are not one or two lakes, but a huge number of them. There are hundreds of them here, but only those that were dug quite recently are of particular interest to tourists. Their main charm is the stunning azure color of the water. This phenomenon is observed if the quarry has only recently been filled. clean water... Literally next season, it will become completely normal, so you need to seize the moment.

Impression

It is the strongest for those who see chalk quarries for the first time. Everyone wants to take a photo here, and people try to guess the moment so that the sun's rays fall on the surface of the water, this is the best way to capture the stunning blue color against the background of white shores. Reviews usually agree with each other, people see photographs that other tourists put up, but do not believe that this can be very close, in Belarus. When tourists come here for the first time, they understand that this is heaven on earth, and it does not exist at all on exotic islands moreover, it was created by man.

How to get there

Let's talk a little more about where the chalk quarries are. First of all, you need to find Volkovysk on the map and move in the direction of it. The very first quarry is located just along the way, before reaching the building materials plant. However, don't be discouraged if you don't have your own car. You can embark on an exciting adventure. Gather a friendly company and hit the road. The chalk quarries await you. How to get to public transport, we will now consider. You can get from Minsk to Baranovichi by train or train. Next, you need to travel on a diesel engine to Volkovysk. Finally, take a shuttle bus ticket to Krasnoselsky village. Before reaching it, you will need to get off in front of the village of Novoselki. A charming hike awaits you in the distance.

The history of these places

We have already said that this miracle appeared thanks to the efforts of a person. It is here that there are large chalk deposits, which are mined by the industrial giant - OJSC Krasnoselskstroymaterialy. It produces various building mixtures, so chalk is still being mined, thanks to which new quarries appear regularly. In general, it is very difficult to get lost here, the gigantic production can be seen from afar, the entire road to Krasnovelsk follows this landmark. And further, to the very quarries, you will see huge trucks that take out chalk, and the whole road, signs and trees around are covered with chalk dust.

Danger

When tourists enter the chalk quarries, a souvenir photo becomes just an obsession. Everyone is trying to capture not only fantastic nature, but also themselves against its background, and therefore put themselves at risk. Several people die here every year, which is what the authorities are concerned about. Seeming mountain landscapes- this is nothing more than sand, which can easily collapse and bury under itself. The steep banks sometimes reach 40 meters, and this entire wall can collapse overnight. And the depth here is up to 50 meters. In addition, the water warms up no more than 2 meters, therefore, diving, you can experience the consequences sharp drop temperatures. A large number of bacteria in the water is also fraught with a certain danger to humans. So don't forget why the chalk quarries were dug. The field of tourism and the field of industrial chalk mining are very different from each other, and engineers hardly thought about the safety of bathing people.

Pros and cons of local recreation

The nature here is very interesting and unusual. Stunning azure water surface, snow-white shores - all this creates an interesting landscape. However, tourism is not provided here, so vacationers are forced to sunbathe where necessary, on steep banks overgrown with moss and mixed forest. You will need to go down to the water along a steep slope without steps. No beach infrastructure, lifeguards or doctors. In the high season, a lot of tourists rest here, which means a pleasant company, as well as busy places on convenient parts of the coast, a lot of abandoned garbage, muddy water, because a large number of bathers are lifted from the bottom of an admixture of chalk.