Magurski National Park

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Magurski National Park (Magurski Park Narodowy) is located in the South-East of Poland, by the border with Slovakia, on the boundary of two Voivodships - Lesser Poland and Subcarpathian. It covers main part of the river-head of the Wisloka. When the Park was created in 1995 it covered 199.62 km², although it is now a bit smaller, occupying 194.39 km². The Park is mostly forested - woods occupy 185.31 km².

[edit] The landscape

Magurski National Park’s landscape is typical of the Beskid Niski ridge and consists mainly of heavily forested low and medium peaks. Among geological curiosities the most important are: “Diabli Kamien” (“Devil’s Stone”) and the “Kornuty” preserve. The main part of the park consists of Magura Watkowska ridge with its highest peak - Watkowa (847 meters above sea level). Other significant hills are: Nad Tysowym (713 m) and Wielka Gora (719).

The Wisloka river and its river-head are some of the most important elements of the park. The Wisloka is a typical mountain river, which creates picturesque ravines and frequently changes its flow direction.

[edit] Flora and fauna

Plant life is of a transitional character and reflects park’s location - between Eastern and Western Carpathians. The majority of the Park is forest. It must be emphasized that spruce is not frequent here, which means that woodland is for most part natural.

Animal life is very rich in the Park - there are 137 species of birds, including several endangered such as the eagle and eagle-owl as well as the stork. There are also 35 engagered mammal species including the brown bear (they roam back and forth between Poland and Slovakia), lynx, wildcat, wolf and otter. Also, in park’s streams and rivers there are several fish. One can also find snakes, salamanders and numerous insects. It is estimated that on park’s area there are 200 species of endangered animals.

[edit] Human settlement

The oldest trace of human settlement in this area are remains of a stronghold at Brzezowa, on the Walik mountain. It was part of the system of strongholds built by the Wislanie tribe in the 9th century on the Southern border of their lands. Also, one can find small, wooden Orthodox churches, which were built by the Ukrainian-speaking Lemks. Unfortunately, some of these buildings are in ruin. In one of the farmers’ huts, at the village of Kolonia Olchowiec, there is a small, private museum of Lemko culture.

One should also pay attention to numerous cemeteries from World War I, as this area was for a long time a battleground between the Russian and Austro-German armies. A tragic reminder of World War II is the cemetery of 1250 Jews, who were killed by the Nazis in 1942 at the Halbow pass.

Management address: 38-232 Krempna 59, POLAND