Słowiński National Park
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| Słowiński National Park | |
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| IUCN Category II (National Park) | |
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| Location: | Pomeranian Voivodship, Poland |
| Area: | 186,18 km² |
| Established: | 1967 |
| Governing body: | Ministry of the Environment |
Słowiński National Park (Polish: Słowiński Park Narodowy) is a national park in northern Poland, Pomeranian Voivodship.
A Polish National Park, situated on Baltic Coast, between the towns of Łeba and Rowy in Pomeranian Voivodship. Northern boundary of the park is made by seashore, on the length of 32.5 kilometers.
First idea of creating a preserve here came out in 1946, at a conference in Łeba with scientists from Poznan and Gdansk. The park however was created 21 years later - in 1967, on the area of 180.69 km². Today it is slightly larger, covering 186.18 km² of which more than half - 102.13 km² - are waters and 45.99 km² - forests. Strictly preserved are 56.19 km², and in 1977 UNESCO added the Park to its Man and Biosphere Programme (MaB).
In the past, Park’s area was a Baltic Sea bay. Sea’s activity, however, created sand dunes which in the course of time separated the bay from the Baltic Sea. Dunes in the area are “on the move” - waves and wind carry sand which goes towards the land and thus dunes slowly move - with speed of 3 to 10 meters a year. Some dunes are quite high - up to 30 meters. The biggest peak of the Park - Rowokol (115 meters above sea level) is also an excellent observation point “Moving dunes” are regarded as a curiosity of nature on European scale.
Waters, which occupy 55% of Park’s area, are made up of lakes - Łebsko (71.40 km², maximum depth 6.3 m), Gardno (24.68 km², maximum depth 2.6 m) and Dolgie Wielkie (1.46 km², maximum depth 2.9 m). Both Lebsko and Gardno lakes were previously bays. There are also 7 rivers crossing the Park, the biggest are the Łeba and the Łupawa.
Forests in the Park are mainly made of pines. These trees cover 80% of wooded areas, there are also peat-bogs of several types. Of animals, most numerous are birds with 257 species. This is due to the fact that Park is located on the paths of migrating birds. They feel safe here because human activities are limited. The most interesting species are: erne, eagle owl, crow, swan and various kinds of ducks. Among mammals, one has to point out deer, elk, wild pig and hare.
Park owns its name name to the Slavic tribe of Slowincy, who used to live in this swampy, difficult to reach area. The Slowincy tribe does not exist any longer - in the course of time they were Germanized. At the village of Kluki there is an open air museum in which several aspects of their everyday life and culture are presented.
There are around 140 kilometers of walking tourist trails. By the lakes there are some observation towers and along the trails one can find benches and resting places. Around the park there are many parking sites as well as hotels and camp sites, especially in Łeba.
Management address: ul. Bohaterów Warszawy 1 76-214 Smołdzino
