Photo-reporting: A bicycle-tour on August 11 – 14, 2006

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On August 11, four groups of the bicycle-tourists went out from the south, west, north and east of Belovezhskaya Pushcha and, on August 12, they plan to meet in the centre of Pushcha, in the Polish village of Bialowieza. Along the line to the state border (15 kms), stumps and cutting sports were the objects permanently visible for the Belarusian team on the Belarusian side of Belovezhskaya Pushcha. The Belarusian bicycle-tourists sometimes meet stacks of timber lying along a tourist route.
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The "western" team of the tourists departed from the town of Hajnowka to come to the village of Masievo. Along the line of the route they visited a small Orthodox Church (1846) location in the forest at the sacred place "Krinichka" ("Small Spring").
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Especially protected natural areas of Belovezhskaya Pushcha are called "Reserves of Nature". Beavers habitat some of the rivers of Pushcha.
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A bridge across the small river Lutownia. There was raining all day, night and morning. The participants of the bicycle-tour being under raining make the "tent-city", where they passed the night, empty.
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Under a canopy, being hidden from rain water, one can talk how to conserve Belovezhskaya Pushcha. On August 12, the participants of the bicycle-tour are waiting for departure from Masievo to Bialowieza.
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On August 12, the participants of the bicycle-tour are waiting for departure from Masievo to Bialowieza. A forest officer will accompany the bicycle-tourists within the territory of the forestry.
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A "wood" train at one of the tourist routes. Fallen trees sometimes blocked a road. To continue the way was possible after previously operating with a chain saw.
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One of the stops near an interesting object. An ancient burial mound in the forest.
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A sites out of the borders of the National Park which is naturally regenerating after felling of the wood. At a stopping-place in the area of Old Bialowieza.
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An oak of 450 years of age. Ready for making "a final spurt" to Bialowieza.
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In Bialowieza. The cheerful Polish tourist pending of supper. Supper for the Belarusian team in a cafe out of doors.
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A concert by the local folklore group "Czeremszyna". The Polish organizer of the bicycle-tour Stefan Jakimiuk (WWF, Poland) and the local activist for protection of Belovezhskaya Pushcha Janusz Korbel (on the right).
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On August 13, the Belarusian team is before excursion to the National Park. The director of a Museum is personally guiding the excursion.
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On a path to the National Park. A story about Belovezhskaya Pushcha. The strictly protected zone of the National Park is ahead.
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At an entrance of the Bialowieza National Park. A stone, set at the entrance to the strictly protected zone, in memory of Professor Janusz Falinski, outstanding scientist and figure for protection of Belovezhskaya Pushcha.
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A tourist hiking trail in the strictly protected zone allows learning wild nature avoiding its disturbance. The Belarusian tourists by listening to a next story about life of the reserved wood.
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The Belarusian participants Tatiana and Heorhi Kazulka are in a reserved wood. The Belarusian and Polish tourists on an ecological trail.
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Surprising shapes of the wild wood of Belovezhskaya Pushcha - an old uprooted spruce tree. The tourists under a broken tree.
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A fungi on an old hornbeam tree. Old lime trees of the age of over 300 years are a phenomenon not rare in the reserved Polish Pushcha.
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Staying near remnants of a the King Jagiello's famous oak tree. Biodiversity of Belovezhskaya Pushcha Primeval Forest - an aspen wood beetle.
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Millipedes are important soil-forming animals in a reserved wood. A mushroom on a rotten trunk of the tree.
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The tourists being offered by horse excursion's service. An interesting story about an international public campaign to protect the Polish part of Belovezhskaya Pushcha told by Janusz Korbel.
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In a Museum of Nature of the Polish Belovezhskaya Pushcha. In a Museum of Nature of the Polish Belovezhskaya Pushcha.
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In a Museum of Nature of the Polish Belovezhskaya Pushcha. Thanks to development of tourism the village of Bialowieza changed much its view for the last ten years.
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Thanks to development of tourism the village of Bialowieza changed much its view for the last ten years. Thanks to development of tourism the village of Bialowieza changed much its view for the last ten years.
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A tourist camping-site in the village of Grudki. The Belarusian bicycle-tourists Svyatoslav Volosyuk (on the right) and Sergei Sidoruk (Brest city) give interview to a Polish TV.
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The ending of the bicycle-tour. An evening "fire meeting" comes to the end with the traditional for the Poles frying sausages at an open fire. The map of Polish part of Bialowieza Forest (1,21 Mb).

Photos made by Heorhi Kazulka (11 – 14th August 2006)