Belarus. Anthropogenic Landscapes Guide

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Dolomite quarry "Gralevo"

Near Vitebsk, in the village of Ruba, is the largest in Belarus dolomite deposit. It is used as a fertilizer, as a material for construction. For more than 70 years of history there are real mountains, canyons and serpentine, were formed in this place.

Location: Ruba village, Vitebsk district, Vitebsk region.

Salihorsk slagheaps

One of the most unusual places in our country. The piles are located near Soligorsk, but the landscape is very similar to Mars. Slagheaps (salt dump) – is a mixture of clay, gypsum and rock salt. These wastes can be called Belarusian attraction, which’s made by Soligorsk "Belaruskali". There are more than 500 thousand tons of slagheaps near Soligorsk, and they are placed on the 10 square kilometers. The height of the piles is about 120 meters. At the distance slagheaps look like real mountains! Unfortunately, Belarusian attraction – it’s just an industrial waste, so you can not see slagheaps at close distance. The heaps are surrounded by moats with salt water and have clay bottom. However, you can admire the alien’s beauty at the distance.

Location: Villages Chepeli, Pivashi, Chizhevichi, Soligorsk district, Minsk region.

Ballast quarry "Radoshkovichi"

Sand and gravel for the construction of railways is extracted in the village of. In addition to the height difference, which is very small in Belarus, you can see the mining industry. In the center - the glacial conglomerate, which was brought there hundreds of thousands of years ago from Scandinavia.

Location: Podsnezhniki village, Molodechno district, Minsk region. 

The abandoned barges on the lake Sergeevskoe

Feel like a hero of the anti-utopia is possible on this lake. In the 80s there was sapropel extracting (helpful mud),  but after the deposit has been abandoned - there were only barges and concrete grounds for the mechanisms. The place allures to be alone and think about life, and to enjoy the untouched nature, of course. 

Location: Pravdinskiy village, Pukhovichi district, Minsk region.

Aqueducts of Vileika-Minsk water system

In Belarus, towards Vileyka, you can see aqueducts. Be sure to see at least the most important things: the first pumping station near the Vileika reservoir, a pumping station number 2, where the water rises 90 meters up, cozy Udranskoe reservoir and, of course, a dam near Kupala's house in Vyazynka village.

Location: Vileyka, Zaslavl, Vyazynka.

Sanatorium "Isloch"

When we speak of the Chernobyl catastrophe, always remember the Pripyat and the south of Belarus. However, radioactive substances have  locally contaminated northwest part of the country. Even near Minsk there is a small "exclusion zone" - there is a large abandoned sanatorium "Lesnoe". You can climb the tower of the resort to look at Naliboki Forest. Be sure to walk through the building itself - in the rooms, there are numerous artifacts from the 80's, personal items and even furniture.

Location: Islochevka village, Volozhin district, Minsk region.

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