Wielkopolski National Park
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| Wielkopolski National Park | |
|---|---|
| IUCN Category II (National Park) | |
| Location: | Greater Poland Voivodeship, Poland |
| Area: | 75,84 km² |
| Established: | 1957 |
| Governing body: | Ministry of the Environment |
Wielkopolski National Park (Polish: Wielkopolski Park Narodowy) is a national park in Greater Poland Voivodeship, Poland.
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[edit] Location
A Polish National Park, located in Mid-Western part of the country, in Greater Poland Voivodeship, 15 kilometers south of Poznań. It covers (together with protective layer) part ofPojezierze Poznanskie (Poznan Lakeland) and small fragments of Poznan’s Warta Gorge (Poznański Przełom Warty).
[edit] History
Created in 1957 on the area of 52.44 km², now bigger - 75.84 km², of which about a half - 46.17 km² is forested. Waters (mainly small lakes) cover 4.62 km², other types of land - 25.05 km². In the park, there are 18 strictly protected areas.
The idea of creating a preserve here was first authored by professor A. Wodziczko in 1922. After 10 years of efforts, in 1932, two preserves were created. First - at Puszczykowo (initial area - 2.39 km²), second - around the Kociolek lake (area - 1.89 km²). In 1933 on the Osowa Hill a symbolic opening of Wielkopolski National Park took place, however official creation did not take place until 1957.
[edit] Landscape
The landscape of the Park was strongly influenced by a glacier, which covered this area 70-10 thousand years ago (Baltic Glacier). It is mainly flat - its highest hill - Osowa Góra, reaches only 132 meters above sea level. The Park is split by several tunnel-valley lakes, which were created by the glacier. Among them there is one regarded as the most beautiful - Góreckie Lake, with two islands.
Of other interesting land formations, one must emphasize numerous, round hills as well as long, narrow hills which resemble rail mounds. Also, there are huge rocks, the biggest of which - Głaz Leśników, is regarded as a nature’s monument and as such is protected.
[edit] Plants
The main element of Park’s flora are species of Euro-Syberian kind, like pine (making up 70% of Park’s forests) as well as other forest plants. Soil here is of poor quality, only around waters it is better which enables plant life there to be more heterogeneous. Unique in its character is Skrzynka Lake, which is partly covered by a thick layer of peat-bogs.
[edit] Animals
Park’s fauna is characterized by richness of kinds, the best represented are insects with more than 3 thousand species. Forests are full of beets, also very rich is the world of spiders. In lakes, there are several fish - trout, pike and eel. In Park thrive all kinds of amphibians which can be met on Polish plains and 5 species of reptiles, including lizards and grass-snake. Also, there are around 190 species of birds, with black woodpecker and buzzard. Mammals are represented by 40 species, with numerous kinds of bats.
[edit] Human life
Among most precious monuments there are: a wooden church in Łódź (17th century), churches in Puszczykowo, Steszewo and Wiry. At Szreniawa and at Trzebaw there are 19th century manor houses. Interesting relic are ruins of a castle built in 1827 by Tytus Dzialynski on the Zamkowa Island on Gorecki Lake.
Park is visited by more than a million tourists a year. It is crossed by 5 tourist trails and the richness of its fauna and flora is presented in Osrodek Muzealno-Dydaktyczny Wielkopolskiego Parku Narodowego (Museum and Educational Center of Wielkopolski Park Narodowy) in Jeziory.
Management address:
Jeziory 62-050 Mosina
