Lepel district. Lake Nekoloch.

Lake Nekoloch is one of those reservoirs in the Lepel region where nature retains its pristine character. It is located 15 kilometers northeast of Lepel, between the village of Bor and the Mazniki tract. The mirror has an area of 0.55 km2, a length of about 1.4 km, and a maximum depth of 10.5 meters. Despite its small size, the lake is characterized by a complex bottom relief, wide shallow waters and expressive shores, which make it attractive for recreation, fishing and walking.

The shores of the Nekoloch are mostly low, sandy or sandy‑clay, sometimes overgrown with shrubs. In the northeast, the forest approaches the water, and the southern part of the lake forms a separate bay, separated by a large peninsula. The surrounding area is mountainous, with alternating hills and hollows, which creates an interesting landscape: somewhere the coast slopes steeply down, and somewhere it turns into a swampy floodplain. The shallow water stretches for 15-25 meters from the shore, the bottom is sandy and convenient for swimming. The silt layer begins deeper, and a third of the lake area is overgrown with aquatic vegetation to a depth of 4 meters.

Nekoloch is the upper lake of a chain of reservoirs connected by channels: Volosno, Mukhno, Ukleino, Bobritsa and Lyukshino. Through them, the water flows into the Berezovka River, a tributary of the Ulla. Due to this, the lake is part of a complex hydrological system, and its water is of good quality. Three streams flow into Nekoloch, which supports natural water exchange.

Fishing on the Nekoloch has a long history. The lake is home to perch, roach, pike, bream, tench, crucian carp, rudd and other fish species. Commercial fishing is underway, as well as paid amateur fishing. Underwater hunters note that the situation has changed over the years: once the lake was famous for its abundance of pike and large tench, but later there were fewer fish ‑ according to locals, because of poaching nets. Nevertheless, individual trophies are still found here: tench weighing up to a kilogram, pike up to 1.5 kg, and sometimes even larger. In clear years, visibility underwater reaches 2-3 meters, which makes the lake interesting for underwater observation.

The surroundings of Nekoloch are rich in berries and mushrooms: raspberries, strawberries, lingonberries, blueberries grow in the forests around the lake, and in autumn there are horseradish, blackberries and butterflyfish. This makes the lake attractive not only for fishermen, but also for those who like quiet walks in the woods. Beaver tracks can be found on the shores, and gulls, herons and other birds typical of forest lakes can be seen in the sky.

Local folklore adds an interesting page to the history of the lake. One of the local history blogs describes the "hunting for the Nekoloch Dragon (Tsmock)", a mythical creature that supposedly lives in the depths of the lake. The author humorously talks about hiking along the shores, about impenetrable thickets, about old fishermen's camps and about strange footprints that can be mistaken for "the work of a Tsmock" This artistic story highlights the atmosphere of Nekoloch: the lake does look a bit mysterious, especially on a foggy morning or a quiet evening.

Despite its natural beauty, Nekoloch remains a place without a developed tourist infrastructure. There are no large recreation centers here, and most of the visitors are locals, fishermen and lovers of quiet recreation. The village of Bor is gradually turning into a holiday village, but most of the coastline remains wild. This makes the lake attractive to those who seek solitude and tranquility.

Lake Nekoloch is a combination of forest landscapes, clear water, interesting underwater life and light "mysticism" that surrounds such places. Here you can spend the day fishing, have a picnic on the shore, walk along the forest trails or just enjoy the silence. For the Lepel district, this is one of those lakes where nature remains the main value, and man is only a guest.