Brand of Verkhnedvinsk district

The island on Lake Osveyskoye is the largest in our country. It covers 480 hectares and is located closer to the western shore. It is separated from the urban-type settlement of Osveya by a three-kilometer stretch of water.

The island looks impressive from afar. Moraine hills, separated by ditches, are piled up on it. Bare slopes in the south drop steeply to the water. Boulders are scattered on the tops, slopes, and at the foot of the hills, near the water and in the water by the shore. They emphasize the impression of wise grandeur and harmony of wide landscapes.

The central part of the eastern half of the island is occupied by the Vereten swamp, framed by deciduous and coniferous forest. This natural complex occupies a quarter of the island's area. It is a favorite spot for mushroom pickers in Osveya.

The southern part of the island is suitable for recreation at any time of the year. There are attractive spots for swimming here – with stony and sandy beaches. By the end of May, strawberries ripen on the sunny slopes.

Among the hills of the southern coast, closer to the eastern edge, one of them stands out with its perfectly flat surface and symmetrical slopes. This is an ancient settlement with its own name, Gorodok. The second settlement, Perunovka, is located in the northwestern sector of the island. According to unconfirmed information (Y. Tatarinov's version), a white-stone church once stood there, in the highest place on the island.

The island has been inhabited since ancient times. Near the southwestern shore, opposite the "mainland" village of Sukoli, there was a village called Ostrov. Before the war, there were 65 households united in the collective farm "Ozerny". After the war, the village existed until 1970. Unfortunately, at that time, the authorities did not take care of the preservation of this peculiar settlement, unique for Belarus. Now, remnants of the past are individual fruit trees of old gardens, remains of house foundations, and in the western part of the island, under the shade of trees, a cemetery huddles.

The island in Lake Osvyazh can be considered a specialized botanical reserve for the conservation of rare relict species populations, for the study and demonstration of post-anthropogenic dynamics of vegetation cover. Previously, a village was located on the island, and a small collective farm was organized. The territory was used for cattle grazing, a livestock complex (cattle farm) was built, and it was partially plowed. The collective farm was liquidated in the early 1970s, and the village was resettled at the same time. Thus, the island's ecosystems have been in a state of recovery for 30 years. Until 2008, summer self-grazing of a small number of cows and horses continued on the island. Since the island occupies a rather large area and has a large stock of herbage, the fodder resources were sufficient, and no areas with overgrazing or other negative consequences were identified. In 2008, no animals were brought to the island.

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