The Yaselda River (description can be read below) flows in the Brest region in the south-west of Belarus, is a left tributary of the Pripyat. It flows through the Dnieper-Bug Canal in the city of Pinsk, connecting with the Mukhavets River. It has two reservoirs. Basically, wetlands prevail here, in some places you can observe steep banks that frame the Yaselda River.
Description of the water flow (briefly)
Yaselda has a right tributary - the Vinets channel. Its length is 50 km. The left includes the Zhegulanka River and the Oginsky Canal. Their length reaches 44 and 46 km, respectively. The source passes through two lakes. In the Oginsky Canal, the river intersects with the Shchar.
The Yaselda River (see photo here) stretches for 250 km. The area of the drainage canal is 7790 km2. The catchment is located in the north-west of Polissya. It encircles the lowlands and plains of the Outskirts.
The river valley is inexpressive, in some places it resembles a trapezoid. On theYaselda is the city of Bereza, as well as towns and villages - Strigin, Vysokoye, Sporovo. The administrative border of the Brest and Grodno regions is located near the source of the river. Near the city of Bereza and the village of Senin, the river is being studied by two hydrological posts.
About 31% of the water flow basin on the territory of Belarus has been reclaimed, an average of 4,200 channels of the regulatory network are in operation. According to its forms, the Yaselda River is winding, flows in zigzags over flat terrain and has mostly steep, steep banks.
Origin of the name
Yaselda - "the river of the gods". That is how its name is translated from Sanskrit. For the first time, the Indo-Europeans who came to its shore saw a full-flowing, wide water stream in front of them, which stretched into numerous tributaries.
Then the Yaselda River became known as Asalda. This was facilitated by the beauty of the surrounding area, which was admired by the locals. "Asami" was the name of the gods at that time. That is how the Belarusian river got its hydronym. The Slavs, on the other hand, came up with a more consonant name, which was pronounced expressively and charmingly - Yaselda.
Legends
People began to think why the river in their native land is called Yaselda, and what is the unusualness of its name. Polissya aborigines composed many traditions and legends. One of these legends speaks of Svyatopolk, a prince from Turov. As if he, spending time hunting, met a girl in these places who sang very beautifully. Her voice enchanted the ruler, and he fell in love with her untilunconsciousness, forgetting about state affairs, as well as about his own family. The girl's name was Yasha. The people surrounding Svyatopolk were dissatisfied with the love of the ruler: some wanted to kill the girl, others wanted to take away power from Svyatopolk. Worried about her beloved, Yasya threw herself into the river that flowed in her native land, right on the bank where she first met the prince. Upon learning of her death, Svyatopolk could not come to his senses for a long time and grieved heavily. Later, the ruler decided to name the stream in honor of his departed lover. This is how, according to the legend, the Yaselda River appeared. It is very interesting that in the Ivanovsky district there is a village called Svyatopolka, through which a watercourse flows.
Near those places, in Motol, there is still a legend about Yas and Alda, a Belarusian young man and a Jewish girl who drowned in the river to save their love.
Current
The width of the valley is in different places from 4 to 8 km. At the beginning of the channel, where the Yaselda is canalized, a current of 1 km/h prevails. According to the experience of tourists who visited the river, the water speed can sometimes reach 2.5 km / h. In general, the characteristics of the Yaselda River are described in two words: calm and slow.
Plant world
The flora in the Yaselda valley is represented by alders, oaks, pines, birches. In the South-East and North-West, the expanses are deforested, and the rest of the territory is mostly swampy. In general, the forest cover is about 30%. Most of the space is covered by grass swamps in the lowlands. The river belongs to the plainsstreams, and therefore the vegetation characteristic of the plains prevails here.
Rest on the Yaselda River
Mostly people visit the shores of Yaselda for ecological tourism or fishing. The list of active types of recreation includes activities such as water and cycling tourism. For many, the Yaselda River becomes a treasure trove of unique photographs. Scientists and ordinary people come here to enjoy photo hunting for animals and birds.
In the city of Bereza there is a biological reserve "Sporovsky", where the population of aquatic warbler has taken refuge. The administration of the Berezovsky district strongly advises guests to visit Bezdezh, a village in the Drogichinsky district, which boasts a rich folklore and ethnographic identity.
If we talk about fishing, then the main predator in the waters of Yaselda is the pike. In addition to it, carp, ruff, roach, tench are found in the river. Since sometimes trout, catfish and sturgeon, bred at the local fish factory of the Seltsovoye Reservoir, accidentally get into the stream, fishermen may be lucky enough to catch these types of fish.
