Bolshoi Boltsiksky spring.

In the Myadel district, among the hills of the Svir Upland and the forests of the Narochansky National Park, one of the main natural wonders of the Belarusian Lake District is hidden. We are talking about the Bolshoi (Big) Boltsiksky spring, the second largest source in the country and the largest in the region. But finding him is not an easy task, and this makes the journey to him special.

In the wilds, not in plain sight.

Unlike many well-equipped springs, the Bolshoi Boltsiksky Spring does not greet tourists by the road. He hides in a dense forest, and the path to him is a series of descents and ascents, winding between hills and lakes. The landmark for the beginning of the route is the Yatsiny tract (Minsk region, Myadel district). Then - only on foot. You will have to travel about a kilometer along the forest road leading to Bolshoi Boltsik Lake, and then make your way along its southern shore.

Coordinates for the navigator: 54.950836, 26.465258. They will lead you to the right point, but be prepared for the fact that you will have to walk along barely noticeable paths for the last few meters, listening to the sound of water.

A living organism underfoot.

The power of this place is felt immediately. The Bolshoi Boltsiksky spring is not just a trickle of water gushing from the ground. This is a natural complex with an area of about 400 square meters. Five large groups of groundwater outlets create an amazing landscape here - the so-called limnocrens, or spring baths.

The most fascinating sight is hidden in their depths. Sand griffins are beating at the bottom of these natural bowls. The rising streams of water push the sand out with such force that it is constantly in motion. It creates a complete illusion of boiling - it seems that the water is about to boil, but it is scaldingly cold. The depth of some griffins reaches 1.7 meters, and the pulsation of the water increases and then subsides, as if the spring is a living organism that breathes. All this mass of water merges into one powerful stream, which carries its waters into Lake Bolshoi Boltsik.

Living water: myths and reality.

The water here is so clean that the spring is informally called the source of longevity. By its composition, it belongs to the bicarbonate class of the calcium group with very low mineralization. The content of nitrates and nitrites here is below all acceptable standards, and the water tastes soft and fresh. Tourists who get to these places often take it with them, appreciating the opportunity to touch the natural purity in an almost untouched corner of nature.

A local legend is also associated with this purity and beauty, which gave the spring its second name, Golden. It is said that once upon a time the magic crown crumbled to the ground, and its fragments turned into two lakes - Maly (Small) and Bolshoi (Big) Boltsik, and the spring itself arose from the largest stone. There is another, more poetic story: a hunter in these forests spared an elk, and the grateful beast kicked the ground, opening a spring to people. Since then, it has been believed that every sip from the Golden Spring prolongs life and adds strength.

Is it worth going?

The Bolshoi Boltsiksky spring is a place for those who are looking not just for an easy walk, but for real contact with wildlife. People come here not for comfort, but for impressions. To see how the earth "boils" with icy water, to walk through a protected forest to hear the roar of a powerful stream, and to taste the water that holds the secrets of ancient legends - this is the main reward for a traveler.

How to get there (short route):

1. Starting point: The village of Yatsiny (Myadel district).

2. Transportation: Then only on foot.

3. Route: About 1 km along the forest road to Bolshoi Boltsik Lake, then along the southern shore to the spring.

4. Coordinates: 54.950836, 26.465258.