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Coordinates: 52°40′N 23°50′E / 52.667°N 23.833°E / 52.667; 23.833
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Białowieża National Park
Białowieski Park Narodowy
European bison in the natural habitat
LocationPodlaskie Voivodeship in Poland
Coordinates52°40′N 23°50′E / 52.667°N 23.833°E / 52.667; 23.833
Area152.2 km2 (58.8 sq mi)
Established1932
Governing bodyMinistry of the Environment
Narew NP is located in Podlaskie Voivodeship
Narew NP
Narew NP
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Location in Podlaskie Voivodeship, Poland

Białowieża National Park (Polish: Białowieski Park Narodowy) is a National Park in Podlaskie Voivodeship, north-eastern Poland, traversed by the Narew River. The total area of the Park is 73.5 square kilometres (28.4 sq mi), of which only 20.57 km² is state-owned. Narew National Park was created in 1996.

The park covers the Upper Narew Valley, a swampy area between the towns of Suraz and Rzedziany. Around 90% of Park’s area are either swamps or waters with the Narew as the main river but also numerous smaller rivers, such as Liza, Szeroka Struga, Awissa, Kurówka, Kowalówka, Turośnianka and Czaplinianka.

The Park’s landscape is predominantly made up by many varieties of rushes, and there are also meadows and forests. The Narew Valley is a haven for birds - there are 179 species of them, including those unique for the area. Mammals are represented by around 40 species, among them some elk and otter as well as numerous beavers - around 260 of them. The Park’s waters are full of fish - 22 species - as well as amphibians. The Park is a wetland site protected under the Ramsar convention.

Cultural attractions of the Park are mostly represented by buildings such as numerous traditional village huts, ancient crosses by the roads and windmills. One of the Park’s attractions is a private archaeological museum, owned by Władysław Litwinczuk. The Park also includes an antique manor house at Kurów.

The Park has its headquarters in the village of Kurowo. Its buffer zone includes a less strictly protected area called Narew Landscape Park.

External links[edit]


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Location of national parks in Podlaskie Voivodeship


  1. Łomża Landscape Park (data utworzenia: 1994; powierzchnia: 7354 ha)
  2. Knyszyń Forest Landscape Park (data utworzenia: 1988; powierzchnia: 74 447 ha)
  3. Suwałki Landscape Park (data utworzenia: 1976; powierzchnia: 6284 ha)



Reserves[edit]

There are currently ten such reserves in Poland, including trans-boundary reserves shared between Poland and neighboring countries.[1]

The reserve is located on the border with Slovakia in the Western Beskidy Mountains. Babia Góra is the second highest massif (1,725 m (5,659 ft)) in Poland and forms part of the watershed boundary between the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea basins. There are four environments that occur as the altitude increases. The forest belt is divided into a lower belt (up to 1,150 m (3,770 ft)), comprised of forests of European Beech (Latin: Fagus sylvatica), Silver Fir (Latin: Abies alba) and Carpathian Spruce (Latin: Picea Abies), and the upper belt (up to 1,390 m (4,560 ft)) comprised of Carpathian Spruce forest. Above the forest is the subalpine belt (up to 1,650 m (5,410 ft)) with dwarf Mountain pine (Latin: Pinetum mughi) and low-growth European blueberry (Latin: Vaccinium myrtillus). At the highest slopes is the alpine grassland belt (up to 1,725 m (5,659 ft)) comprised of lichen-covered siliceous bedrock with tussock-based grasses like (Latin: Festuca supina) and (Latin: Avenella flexuosa).[1][2]

The reserve, in northeastern Poland, lies adjacent to the Belovezhskaya Pushcha Biosphere Reserve in Belarus. The forest complex, the last and largest remaining mixed deciduous primeval forest on the North European Plain, is situated in the transition between the Hemiboreal and continental climate areas. The forest is composed of a mosaic of diverse communities, principally composed of Grey Willow (Latin: Salix cinerea), European hornbeam (Latin: Carpinus betulus), Arctic Dwarf Birch (Latin: Betula humilis) English oak (Latin: Quercus robur), Small-leaved lime (Latin: Tilia cordata), Scots pine (Latin: Pinus sylvestris), Norway spruce (Latin: Picea abies), which reaches its southern limits in the northern hemisphere here, and Sessile Oak (Latin: Quercus petraea), which reaches its northeastern limit here.[1]

The reserve is a glacial lake typical of those located in the Masurian Lake District with an area of 6.8 square kilometres (2.6 sq mi), and a maximum depth of 3 metres (9.8 ft). The lake is connected with nearby Sniardwy Lake by a channel. The site is a breeding ground for water birds such as Grebe, Water Rail (Latin: Rallus aquaticus), Moorhen, Grey Heron (Latin: Ardea cinerea), Bearded Reedling (Latin: Panurus biarmicus), White-tailed Eagle (Latin: Haliaeetus albicilla), Osprey (Latin: Pandion haliaetus), rust-coloured Kite, Cormorant and Black Tern (Latin: Chlidonias niger). The lake has been a protected location since 1937 as a habitat of the Mute Swan (Latin: Cygnus olor), every year there are a dozen to tens of dozen of nesting pairs, and during Moulting they arrive in numbers reaching up to 2,000 birds.[3][4][5][1]

The reserve consists of set of dunes, brackish lakes, bogs, and wetland forests on the southern Baltic Sea coast between Leba and Rowy, Poland.[5] The coastal aeolian processes have produced some of the most extensive and active mobile sand dunes, which can reach 30 m (98 ft) high, on the Baltic Sea. Coastal erosion and other geological processes lead to the creation of sand-bars, forming brackish lakes and bogs. The area consists of a series of vegetation zones going from the sand communities of the coastline towards the forests of the mainland. The forest includes Beech (Latin: Fagus sylvatica), Birch (Latin: Betula pubescens), Alder (Latin: Alnus glutinosa), Pine and Oak. It is an important way station for migrating waderbirds and waterbirds such as geese, ducks and swans. The White-tailed Eagle (Latin: Haliaeetus albicilla) and other birds nest at the site.[3][4][1]

The reserve is located in the Bieszczady Mountains on the border with Slovakia and Ukraine. There are four distinct altitude-dependant vegetation ecosystems in the mountains starting with Beech forest (Latin: Fagetum sylvaticae), followed by mixed forests of Beech and Silver Fir (Latin: Abies alba), forested areas of Green alder (Latin: Alnetum viridis), and finally a belt of treeless ‘poloniny’, a subalpine meadows dominated by grasses. Over 100 species of birds live in the area such as the Black stork (Latin: Ciconia nigra) and the Golden eagle (Latin: Aquila chrysaetos).[2] [1]

The reserve is located on the North European Plain, north-east of Warsaw, parallel to the Vistula River and is characterized by a high diversity of lowland habitats with dune belts separated by swamp areas and a mixture of forest types. The forests are principally composed of a mixture of Grey Willow (Latin: Salix cinerea), European hornbeam (Latin: Carpinus betulus), Arctic Dwarf Birch (Latin: Betula humilis) English oak (Latin: Quercus robur), Small-leaved lime (Latin: Tilia cordata) and Scots pine (Latin: Pinus sylvestris).[5][1]

The reserve is part of the Western Sudetes mountains stretching from south-central Poland along the northern border of the Czech Republic to eastern Germany. The mountains are located at the watershed dividing the Baltic Sea and North Sea basins.[5] The area is known for its high biodiversity in four altitudinal vegetation belts, from submontane to alpine. The river valleys and lower layers form the sub-montane zone comprised of forests of European Beech (Latin: Fagus sylvatica), Silver Fir (Latin: Abies alba) and Carpathian Spruce (Latin: Picea Abies). The higher parts form the montane vegetation zone characterized by forested areas of Carpathian Spruce (Latin: Picea Abies). Above 1,250 to 1,350 m (4,100 to 4,430 ft) is the subalpine zone, which is marked by dwarf Mountain pine (Latin: Pinus mugo), mat-grass meadows and subarctic highmoors. There are three [[subalpine zone}subapline]] bogs that support an extensive algal community important for migratory birds and raptors.[4] The alpine vegetation zone, is characterized by large rocky deserts with herbaceous perennials such as Latin: Carici (rigidae)-Nardetum and Latin: Festucetum supinae.[5][1][2]

The reserve covers areas on each side of the border between Poland and Slovakia. There area contains a number of natural features such as a dwarf pine belt, alpine meadows, lakes and rocky peaks. The area consists of temperate broadleaf forests or woodlands comprised of mixed Beech (Latin: Fagus sylvatica) forest with Fir (Latin: Abies alba) and Sycamore (Latin: Acer pseudoplatanus). Higher up in the mountains this transitions to forests of Silver Fir (Latin: Abies alba) and Carpathian Spruce (Latin: Picea Abies) until the timber line (1,500 to 1,550 m (4,920 to 5,090 ft)). Above the forest is the subalpine zone (1,550 to 1,850 m (5,090 to 6,070 ft)) with dwarf Mountain pine (Latin: Pinetum mughi), Sorbus aucuparia and Betula carpatica. The alpine zone consists of grasses and low-growth herbaceous groundcover.[2][1]

The reserve comprises a vast open lowland landscape with a mosaic of swamps, moors, lakes, rivers and forests located between the basins of the Bug and Wieprz rivers. The site is part of the European Ecological Corridor of the Bug River.[5] The location supports bird species including raptors such as Lesser Spotted Eagle (Latin: Aquila pomarina), Hen Harrier (Latin: Circus cyaneus) and Montagu's Harrier (Latin: Circus pygargus) and birds such as Aquatic warbler (Latin: Acrocephalus paludicola), Marsh Sandpiper (Latin: Tringa stagnatilis) and Eurasian Cranes (Latin: Grus grus). The area is considered to be an important crossingpoint for migratory birds. The north-south flyways and east-west flyways of birds meet in the region. The areas consists of boreal Scots pine (Latin: Pinus sylvestris) forests, Black Alder (Latin: Alnus glutinosa) wetland forests, meadows and peatbog (high moors, transitional moors and low moors) ecosystems.[1][4][3]

The reserve covers one of the largest forests in Poland, comprised mainly of Scots pine (Latin: Pinus sylvestris). The landforms of the area were sculpted by a glacier that retreated at the end of the last glacial age creating characteristically-long ribbon lakes. Additionally there are large clusters of inland sand dunes. There are extensive areas of peat bogs formed as a result of the overgrowing of the shallower lakes. A number of species of birds live in the area such as the Black stork (Latin: Ciconia nigra), Black Grouse (Latin: Tetrao tetrix), Wood Grouse (Latin: Tetrao urogallus) and Peregrine Falcon (Latin: Falco peregrinus).[1][6]

Reference[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "UNESCO biosphere reserves directory for Poland". UNESCO. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d Chytrý, Milan. "Vegetation of the Czech Republic". Masaryk University, Brno, CZ. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  3. ^ a b c (in Polish) Ludwik Tomiałojć, Tadeusz Stawarczyk: Awifauna Polski. Rozmieszczenie, liczebność i zmiany. Wrocław: PTPP "pro Natura", 2003, pp. 157–297. ISBN 83-919626-1-X
  4. ^ a b c d "Ramsar Briefing Notes - Poland". Ramsar.org. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Sienkiewicz, Jadwiga (2008). Ramsar sites in Poland. Warsaw: Institute of Environmental Protection. p. 70. ISBN 8360312850.
  6. ^ "Tuchola Forest Biosphere Reserve". Retrieved 13 November 2013.

Provinces[edit]

Voivodeship after 1569 Capital Province Year established Number of powiats (counties) Area (km²)
Bełz Voivodeship Bełz Lesser 1462 4 powiats 9,000
Bracław Voivodeship Bracław Lesser 1569 2 powiats 31,500
Brześć Kujawski Voivodeship Brześć Kujawski ? 14th century 5 powiats 3,000
Czernihów Voivodeship Chernihiv Lesser 1635 2 powiats
Gniezno Voivodeship Gniezno Greater 1768 3 powiats 7,500
Kalisz Voivodeship Kalisz Greater 1314 6 powiats 15,000
Kiev Voivodeship Kiev Lesser 1471 3 powiats 200,000
Kraków Voivodeship Kraków Lesser 14th century 4 powiats 17,500
Lublin Voivodeship Lublin Lesser 1474 3 powiats 10,000
Łęczyca Voivodeship Łęczyca Greater 1772 3 powiats 4,000
Malbork Voivodeship Malbork Greater 1466 4 powiats 2,000
Masovian Voivodeship Warsaw Greater 1526 23 powiats 23,000
Podole Voivodeship Kamianets-Podilskyi Lesser 1434 3 powiats 17,750
Poznań Voivodeship Poznań Greater 14th century 4 powiats 15,500
Płock Voivodeship Płock Greater 1495 8 powiats 3,500
Podlaskie Voivodeship Drohiczyn Lesser 1513 3 powiats
Rawa Voivodeship Rawa Mazowiecka Greater 1462 6 powiats 6,000
Ruthenian Voivodeship Lviv Lesser 1434 13 powiats 83,000
Sandomierz Voivodeship Sandomierz Lesser 14th century 6 powiats 24,000
Sieradz Voivodeship Sieradz Greater 1339 4 powiats 10,000
Volhynian Voivodeship Lutsk Lesser 1569 3 powiats 38,000
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