Dubrava Strict Nature Reserve

Here you can see a forest untouched by economic activity since 1968 and a raised bog of stunning beauty. First-time visitors say that coming here felt like travelling back in time and walking through a prehistoric primeval forest. The term "rezervatinė apyrubė" (reserve plot) refers to a small natural or cultural reserve for whose protection and management no separate directorate is established. The Dubrava reserve plot is the only one in Lithuania. It covers 120 ha. For visitors, a 1.9 km nature trail has been laid with information boards and a rest area at the end. At the start of the trail, the size of the trees is striking. Some of them are as much as 150 years old, and the tallest pine reaches 38 metres. The untended dead trees and windfalls create a sense of mystery. Here you can watch how fallen old trees become covered with bracket fungi, lichens and mosses until they gradually "return" to the soil. On windy days, when the wind speed reaches 15 m/s, visiting the Dubrava reserve is prohibited, as dead trees may fall. About a quarter of the area is bog. This is the most picturesque part of the nature trail. In June, when the cotton grass blooms, the bog looks as if it has been dusted with white fluff, so photo shoots are sometimes held here. In the reserve you must not move dead trees or climb on fallen ones, as you could not only harm wildlife but also injure yourself.