Bieszczady National Park

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bieszczady National Park
IUCN Category II (National Park)
Location:	Subcarpathian Voivodship, Poland
Area:	292,02 km²
Established:	1973
Governing body:	Ministry of the Environment

Bieszczady National Park (Polish: Bieszczadzki Park Narodowy) (BdPN)

The third largest National Park in Poland, located in the very south-east corner of the country, along the borders with Slovakia and the Ukraine, in the Subcarpathian Voivodship.

The Park was created in 1973. At the time it covered only 59.55 km². As such, it protected a little part of precious wildlife areas, but throughout the years it was enlarged four times. The last enlargements took place in 1996 and 1999, when the Park incorporated the former villages of Bukowiec, Beniowa, Carynskie in 1996, and in 1999 the former villages of Dzwiniacz, Tarnawa and Sokoliki.

Currently it occupies an area of 292,02 km², covering the highest part of Polish part of the Bieszczady Mountains. In 1992 the Park became part of the UNESCO East Carpathian Biosphere Preserve which has a total area of 2.132,11 km². The Preserve consists of three parts:

1. Polish (Bieszczady National Park and the two Landscape Parks that surround it - Wetlinski and the San Valley)

2. Slovak (National Park Poloniny with adjacent areas)

3. Ukrainian (Uzansky National Park and the San-area Landscape Park).

Forests cover about 80% of BdPN area. The woods are mainly natural and in some cases it can be said that they have preserved their pristine character. The highest peak in the park - Tarnica - is 1346 meters above sea level. Animal life is abundant with several species of endangered animals thriving in the area. Among them - bear, wolf, wild boar, beaver and lynx as well as deer and Polish bison (around 100 specimen live in the Bieszczady Mountains). What’s more, the Park is home to the biggest Polish population of Eskulap’s snake. The Park is regarded as a paradise for bird lovers too. Among many species, one can find here eagle and owl.

The park is sparsely populated (less than 1 person per km²) which means that the animals mentioned above can roam freely. Obviously, BdPN is very popular among tourists, but there are not many tourist facilities in the area. Around 70% of the Park’s area is regarded as strict preserve which means that the use of trails is restricted. The Park’s authorities promote walking trips.

Management address: 38-714 Ustrzyki Gorne 19, Poland