Roztocze National Park

Roztocze National Park (Polish: Roztoczański Park Narodowy) is a National Park located in eastern Poland, in Lublin Voivodeship. It protects the most valuable natural areas of the middle part of the Roztocze range. The Park was created in 1974 and initially covered area of 48.01 km². Its current size is 84.83 km² (32.75 sq mi), of which forests occupy 81.02 km², and strictly protected areas 8.06 km². The Park has its headquarters in Zwierzyniec.

The beginnings of nature protection in the region date back to 1934, when the Bukowa Góra Preserve was created (now it is a strictly protected area). In 1938, for the first time in Poland, a bill was issued which stated that prey birds on the area of the Zamoyski family estate were protected. The Park itself was created from State Forests of Districts of Kosobudy and Zwierzyniec, which had belonged to the Zamoyski family estate. The Park is located in a picturesque Roztocze Środkowe Region, in the upper Wieprz river valley. These parts separate Lublin Upland (Polish: Wyżyna Lubelska) from Sandomierz Dale (Polish: Kotlina Sandomierska). Water of the main river running through the Park - the Wieprz - is of the second class of purity. There are also two streams which originate in here: the Szum (2.5 km) and the Świerszcz (7.5 km). It must be mentioned that Roztoczański National Park boasts unique tree formations. There are more than 400 so-called "nature monument" trees and the Park’s firs are among the largest in Poland (up to 50 meters in height).

Wildlife

Polish ponies

Among mammals living in the Park are: red deer, roe deer, boar, red fox, grey wolf and eurasian badger. In 1979 European beaver was reintroduced and now colonies of the mammal thrive in the Wieprz valley. In 1982 Polish ponies were brought here. Also, there have been registered around 190 species of birds, including eagles, storks and woodpeckers. Reptiles are represented by lizards, the common european adder and grass snakes as well as endangered European pond terrapin. Also insect fauna is interesting, with more than 2000 species.

Brief history

The history of this area is closely connected with the Zamoyski family estate, which was founded in 1589. The Estate’s headquarters were placed at Zwierzyniec, and the Park’s management today is located in the restored house of the former Estate’s administrator. Tourists have a choice of five walking trails as well as a bicycle trail. The area of the Park and adjacent lands witnessed numerous battles during the Polish January Uprising and both World Wars. Tragic reminiscences of these times are numerous cemeteries in Zwierzyniec and other locations.

Gallery

• 
  Polish ponies in the Roztocze National Park.
• 
  Echo artificial lake in Zwierzyniec.
• 
  The House of the Plenipotentiary (now the headquarters of Roztocze National Park) in Zwierzyniec.
• 
  Girl Scouts in front of a Catholic church in Łosiniec.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Roztoczanski National Park.

• The Board of Polish National Parks