Rolling hills merge with mildly concave lowlands and sloping plains. The greatest variety in relief is found in the North Western part of the country, where high hills meet glacial lowlands and plains formed from ancient sea basins. The South Western part of Belarus, lower and even more uniform in altitude, is occupied by the Polessye Lowland, a vast territory covered with forest and marsh. Although not subject to deforestation, Belarus has relatively few large forests. Forests are scattered all over the country.
Belarusian forests are remarkably diverse.
Pine and fir merge into oak and birch forests and groves populated by ash and cherry trees. These forests represent a unique ecosystem, uniting coniferous forests, typical of Eastern Europe, with deciduous woods of the Western European type. The forests are treasure houses of natural diversity. Blackberries, wild strawberries, blueberries and other berry bushes cover the wooded territories like a thick carpet. Marshlands are rich in cranberries.