If we apply the definition of professions to the riverhuman, the Western Bug is a warrior and a border guard. Almost throughout its length, which is 772 kilometers, water divides the borders of three states - Ukraine, Belarus and Poland. During its long history, the ancient shores saw the soldiers of Boleslav the Brave, the crossing of the Mongol-Tatars and the march of Napoleon's troops. Two world wars were deposited by large boulders on the banks. The small sand grains of border conflicts the water washed away from its banks. Only the sky is reflected in a clear current, and each new day begins with a clean slate. Because in one river you can not step twice.
General information
Podolsk upland Western Ukraine.Here begins the Western Bug. A meandering channel with a width at the source of 5–10 meters. Further, gaining strength and flow, the width of the water surface reaches 60–70 meters, and in some places reaches 300 meters. The drainage basin has an area of more than 70 thousand km2. Ice weather on the Western Bug lasts from the secondmid-December to late March. Over the entire length of the river, a flood level of 3 to 6 meters is recorded. The tributaries of the Western Bug - Mukhavets, Poltva, Rata, and others - have a dense flat channel network. They are an important element of land reclamation.
Flora and fauna
The flat character of the area wherethe river flows, determined the characteristics of the flora of its banks. It is dominated by mixed deciduous and coniferous forests. The banks of the Western Bug have become an ideal place for organizing natural reserves and wildlife reserves, which preserve the original beauty of these places.
On the territory of Ukraine - landscape reserveBistryaki and the Bug zoological reserve. A special place in the preservation of the flora and fauna of the bugs is the Republic of Belarus. The Western Bug and its tributary, the Mukhavets, in the western section closely adjoin the territory of the unique natural complex of Belarusian Polesye. The natural significance of this place is such that it can significantly affect the ecological situation in the whole of Europe.
Migratory waterbird routes fromEurope to the north of Russia for centuries passed through these places. Since ancient times, geese, sviyazi, turukhtany chose the primorskoe Polesie for rest during long-haul flights. A natural biosphere reserve has been created here, in which favorable conditions for the preservation of rare species of animals and birds are organized. The Rollers and the Serpent Eater, the European Mink and the Lynx — all these species of animals that are disappearing in the central part of Europe have found habitats on lands adjacent to the Western Bug.
Over 500 kilometers of river flows through the territoryOf Poland. It has become a natural border separating Poland from Ukraine and Belarus. The city of Zosin, located on the shore (Zosin), is the most remote Polish settlement to the south-east.
Due to the large length of the river in PolandIts shores are organized many natural reserves. Especially Nadbużański Park Krajobrazowy can be distinguished. Its area is 139 thousand hectares, and together with the conservation area - more than 222 thousand hectares. This is the largest landscape park in Poland.
In the reserve grows more than 1300 speciesamong which there are rare protected plants. Roe deer, deer, wild boars, otters and beavers inhabit the park. The banks of the Western Bug look especially attractive for birds, among which protected Red Book species are often found. Although infrequently, but here you can meet an ordinary carp, a small spotted eagle, a kestrel or a sparrowhawk.
Drainage basin and geography
Бассейн реки Западный Буг – это трансграничная water area, which belongs to the inflow of the Baltic Sea and accommodates approximately 20% of the Vistula drainage basin. Geographically located in three states. The largest part of the basin's surface is located in four provinces of Poland (47%) - Lublin, Mazovian, Podlaskie and Subcarpathian. The remaining territory was divided into almost equal shares by the Lviv and Volyn regions of Ukraine (27%) and the Brest region of Belarus (26%).
On the territory of Ukraine, the source of the Western Bug haslength of 185 km and is located in a mountainous area. On the middle course, water over a length of 363 km serves as a natural border between the Republic of Poland on the one hand, and Ukraine and Belarus on the other. The final section (224 km) is located in Poland and ends in the area of the Zagzhinsky reservoir and the Narev River, where the Western Bug flows.
The course of the central part is accompanied bythe formation of a large group of lakes. On the Polish side, this is the Lenchinsko-Wlodawa lake system. In the Belarusian and Ukrainian territories there is a Shatsk group of lakes. The largest of them are the Orekhovskoe and Oltushskoe lakes, which are located in Belarus.
Geographically, the river basin is located on a vast territory, which includes the Ukrainian Plateau, the Brest Polissya and the Pribugskaya Plain. The mouth of the river is located on the Old European Plain.
Coastal life
Lands adjacent to the Western Bug are intendedmainly for farming. Almost 45% of the territory is occupied in the agricultural sector of production, forests occupy 27%, and meadows and pastures - 18%. Industry and construction materials are developed on the Polish coast, Belarus produces agricultural products and develops the processing industry. Ukraine is the energy, light and coal mining industry.
In total, about 3 million people live on the lands adjacent to the Bug basin. The largest cities: Lviv (Ukraine) - more than 700 thousand, Brest (Belarus) - 340 thousand, Chelm (Poland) - about 70 thousand inhabitants.
Recreation
Western Bug River, its tributaries, lakes andartificial reservoirs are very attractive for tourism and recreation. Transparent air, immaculate ecology and accessibility attract here both lovers of quiet rural pastime and supporters of active actions. Water recreation - boats and kayaks - the most popular form of leisure among holidaymakers. Equestrian and cycling tourism is developing throughout the entire territory. Fishing lovers have long liked these places. The abundance of different types of fish allows even a novice fisherman to feel like a champion of quiet fishing.
The most visited recreation places are on the Lenchinsko-Vlodavsky and Shatsky lakes. In Belarus, the popular direction is the tributaries of the Western Bug and Mukhavets Forest.
Interesting cities on the banks of the Western Bug
Busk, Ukraine. "Galician Venice" - this name stuck with the city, located at the source of many kilometers of the Western Bug.
Completely destroyed in 1241Mongol-Tatars, thanks to the successful location at the beginning of a large river, Busk became a developed center of crafts and trade. Magdeburg Law was given to him among the first in Galicia. The Western Bug and the forests along its shores became a source of raw materials for the paper industry, which developed rapidly in the 15th – 16th centuries. On paper, made in Busk by Ivan Fedorov, the first edition of the Ostrog Bible (1581) was published.
Brest, Belarus.At the mention of this place, the memory of the stasis is pushed to the surface by only one name - the Brest Fortress. Built around the Western Bug and its tributary Mukhavts, it was the first to receive the blow of the Nazi troops. The defense of the Brest Fortress is a page of unparalleled courage in the annals of the beginning of the war. Every year thousands of people visit the memorial complex in the Brest Fortress.
Брок (Brok), Польша.The first mention of Brock dates back to 1203. The settlement that emerged on the site of the modern city in the Early Middle Ages, developed thanks to its favorable location on the bank of the Western Bug River. It was the main trade route through which goods from Europe were delivered to Kievan Rus. The ancient city in our time attracts the attention of lovers of good rest reigning in it the atmosphere of antiquity.
The ancient course sedately carries its waters.It keeps in memory the various periods of life of the inhabitants of its shores. A peaceful life and melodic songs came to replace wars and the clanging of weapons. Generations were replaced, and traces of new people appeared on the sand. Every day starts with a clean slate. Because in one river it is impossible to enter twice.
