Polessky radiation-ecological reserve: the date of foundation, the purpose of education, the area, the regime of protection, photo, description. Where is Polessky State Radiation Ecological Reserve?

In this article we want to talk about the Polessky radiation-ecological reserve. The catastrophe at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in its time had a great influence both on people and on the surrounding lands. As a result of it, this protected area was created in Belarus.

History of the Reserve

Polessky radiation and ecological reserve was organized in the territory most affected by the accident. These are the Khoiniki, Narovlyansky and Braginsky districts of the Gomel region. These are the lands that are part of the thirty-kilometer zone of alienation of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. The Council of Ministers of the BSSR in July 1988 issued an order to create a protected zone in a territory exceeding one hundred and forty-two thousand hectares in area. Function Polessky radiation-ecological reserve (the date of foundation - September 1988) began almost immediately.

And a year later it was renamed and got its current name. In 1992, by decree of the Council of Ministers, land was added to it, extending beyond the radius of the notorious 30-kilometer zone, as these places were contaminated with radiation. So the land increased in size to two hundred and fifteen thousand hectares. And now the Polessky radiation and ecological reserve, the area of which is 216,093 hectares, is functioning and fulfilling the tasks assigned to it. Which ones - we will discuss further. So, we invite you to a virtual walk.

Polessky Radiation-Ecological Reserve: the purpose of education

Let's start with the background. It was created, first of all, in order to prevent the spread of dangerous radionuclides beyond the boundaries of the exclusion zone, to conduct radiobiological studies, to study the state of flora and fauna under the influence of radiation, to monitor the ecological and radiation status of the contamination area. The reserve is now in the department of the Department for overcoming the consequences of the Chernobyl NPP.

In general, the employees face a number of tasks, among them:

1. To prevent the spread of radiation to less affected areas.

2. Protect forests and former agricultural lands from fires.

3. Protect the protected area.

4. Ensure the natural existence of wildlife.

5. Track the level of radioactivity.

6. Conduct scientific research on a number of pressing problems.

7. Perform work on planting forests on those lands that are most prone to water and wind erosion.

8. Develop technologies for the restoration and use of lands contaminated by radiation.

What is there on the territory of the reserve?

Undoubtedly, the territories from which people were resettled underwent significant changes. There was a degradation of former farmland, reclamation systems, roads. The earth is being swamped again. This is due to the maintenance of peatlands in flooded form.

Where Polessky radiation-ecological reserve is located, ideal conditions have been created for restoring the animal and plant world, since there is absolutely no human influence. It contains more than forty species of mammals, seventy species of birds, twenty-five species of fish. Most of the inhabitants of the animal kingdom of those places are either rare specimens or endangered species. And in the conditions of the protected zone, there is a restoration of their numbers.

Now in the Polessky radiation and ecological reserve the fire-prevention arrangement of the territory is completed, which includes the equipment of glades, reservoirs, roads, observation towers.

On the grounds of the reserve there are as many as ninety-two non-residential settlements, in which once lived more than twenty-two thousand people.

Where is the reserve?

The Polessky radiation-ecological reserve is located in the southeast of Belarus. From west to east, its length is about seventy kilometers, and from south to north - forty-eight. All lands belong to the territory of the Gomel region. The southern part of the reserve adjoins the state border of Ukraine.

The center (administrative part) is located in Khoiniki. Exact address: Gomel region, 247618, the city of Khoyniki, Tereshkova street, house 7.

Pollution of the territory of the reserve

Polessky State Radiation Ecological Reserve is characterized by a high level of radiation. Almost thirty percent of cesium 137 concentrated in Belarus, not to mention strontium and transuranium elements.

Despite the fact that many years have passed since the Chernobyl disaster, the reserves of the reserve can not again enter the economic turnover of the country. The fact is that transuranium radionuclides are very persistent, pollution is not neutralized by them in a millennium. Therefore, unfortunately, these lands are almost forever lost. And one of the main goals of the organization of the object under consideration is to protect people from the radiation of contaminated soils.

Polessky radiation-ecological reserve: protection regime, institution structure

The reserve consists of several structural subdivisions. And the territory is divided into three sections and sixteen forest districts.

In general, the Polessky radiation and ecological reserve is a fairly large institution. It employs more than seven hundred people. Undoubtedly, the departments of the forestry and protection are one of the main ones. The forestry division is engaged in forestry, construction, restoration works. He is also charged with the functions of protecting the territories, controlling unauthorized intrusions, as well as combating poaching, regulating the number of harmful animals.

For this purpose Polessky State Radiation Ecological Reserve was created. The security mode for him is a priority. That is why this issue is given much attention. However, the implementation of other goals is in no way hindered.

Scientific building of the reserve

One of the units of the reserve is its, so to speak, scientific part. It began to form in the early nineties. It is located in Babich village and consists of three scientific departments, a laboratory of spectrometry and radiological chemistry. Employees are engaged in the study of the dynamics of the situation in natural complexes in the 30-kilometer exclusion zone. Studies are underway of the processes of accumulation of radioactive substances by both flora and fauna, the state of nature is assessed in conditions of contamination, and mandatory monitoring of radiation occurs.

In 2005, several buildings were reconstructed in Babich village. One of them was occupied by a laboratory, which is equipped with modern instruments. Later, the sanitary and domestic building was put into operation, which facilitated the living conditions of the employees themselves. All of them work in the reserve by the watch method. It turned out that a scientific city was formed with its canteen, a laboratory and even a boiler room.

Lands of Polessky Reserve

Polessky radiation-ecological reserve (photo is presented in the article) occupies vast territories. Basically, these are lowland areas of a heavily swamped plain. Climatic conditions are typical for the temperate-continental type. The air temperature (annual average) is 7.9 degrees Celsius.

From the north-western part of the reserve to the southeast the territory is crossed by the river Pripyat. Its channel is very meandering and has many branches (length - over 120 km). The river has a wide floodplain, in some places reaching nine kilometers, with a lot of old people, as well as floodplain lakes (more than 300).

As for the exclusion zone, it is crossed by several small rivers: Zhelon, Rozhava, Nesvich, Viti, Braginka, as well as the channels Grubchansky, Pogonyansky, Kozhushkovsky. There are also very large swamp arrays, such as the Grubchansky and Radinsko-Nezhikhovsky.

Land reclamation

Polessky radiation-ecological reserve is characterized by significant land reclamation (about 35%). When people lived here, a ramified meliorative system was created. Later, it no longer needed, the entire population was removed, respectively, and the channels were blocked and not maintained in working order. In addition, it was necessary to stop discharging water from contaminated areas. All this led to the fact that the process of bogging began.

The hydrological regime is determined by groundwater and surface water and floods. This contributes to the entry of radionuclides into the aquifers of the soil.

Forest and reserve vegetation

Polessky State Radiation Ecological Reserve is located in the zone of broad-leaved and pine forests. Plantations of trees cover more than fifty percent of the land. These are pine forests, and birch groves, and black alder forests, oak forests. Vegetation of forest-covered lands is very diverse, there are many ferns.

According to the staff of the institution, the flora comprises about 1251 species of plants, and these are two thirds of all the species diversity of the flora of Belarus. Twenty-nine of them are very rare specimens that are recorded in the Red Book. Among them: a steppe steppe, a large nadia, a shady sedge, a shamrock icecot, a water chestnut, a long-leaved pollen head, an amber-shaped carnation, an intermediate sundew, an erucolous ragwort.

There are even such plants that were first found on the territory of Belarus only on protected lands. This crocheting creeping, young Russian, stepovaya tavolga. The diversity of the animal and plant world is due to the fact that the local lands are heavily waterlogged.

Animal World of Protected Areas

The reserve has fifty-four species of mammals and more than one hundred and twenty species of nesting birds. Twenty-five subspecies of fish live in water bodies.

Among all representatives of the fauna forty-three are recorded in the Red Book. They are protected by the International Convention. I would like to draw your attention to the fact that rare animals are inhabited by brown bear, lynx, badger and bison. The first bear was recorded on the territory of the reserve in 1992, and later proved the existence of five more individuals. In general, over eighty bears live on the lands of Belarus.

The world of birds is no less rich and diverse. Among the rare and protected species, it is worth emphasizing the presence of a black stork and golden eagle, the white-tailed eagle (about 15 pairs).

Belarusian scientists are actively working on the resettlement and multiplication of rare species of animals and birds. So, for example, the number of bison from 1996 to 2007 increased from sixteen to fifty-four.

Such successes can only please. Even a museum of fauna was created in the reserve. In its exposition, visitors are presented with stuffed birds that inhabit this territory, a collection of insects and other equally interesting exhibits.

Educational work in the reserve

I would like to note that the reserve, apart from its scientific work, is also engaged in educational activities. It is widely attended by students. In real field conditions, they can get acquainted with flora and fauna, learn in practice to select samples of the surrounding nature, conduct experiments and analyzes of soil contamination level with radionuclides, etc. Such exercises give much more knowledge than the theory taught in classrooms without the formation of practical skills .

Instead of an afterword

The Polessky State Radiation Ecological Reserve (described above) is an amazing corner of Belarus. Be sure, if you have the opportunity, visit this region. Yes, this is a closed territory, but there are safe places where tourists are allowed. Since any activity here is banned, visitors have a truly unique opportunity to contemplate nature in a pristine, untouched by human hand. And this is - imagine only! - In the centre of Europe.