Rospuda

The Rospuda in summer

The Rospuda is a river in north-eastern Poland in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship. It flows through the Suwałki Region and the northwestern part of the 160,000 -hectare forest complex Puszcza Augustowska. It represents the upper reaches of the river Netta, a right tributary of the Biebrza.

Geography

The Rospuda originates from several streams that flow down from a mountain range north of Puszcza Romincka and southeast of Goldap ( Przejmowa Góra, 213.4 m; Jastrzębia Góra, 230.8 m; Słupowa Góra, 247.9 m; Lisia Góra, 259.5 m). The actual river rises but only from the Black Sea ( Jezioro Czarne ). In its further course the Rospuda flows through a chain of elongated nine formed after the last glacial lakes: Rospuda Filipowska, Kamienne, Długie Garbas, Głębokie, Sumowo, Okrągłe, Bolesty and Rospuda Augustowska. The two longest lakes Rospuda Filipowska and Bolesty, 5.8 km long, with a width of only 400 to 800 meters.

In its upper course of the Rospuda characterized by a very narrow, spiral riverbed, a very fast flow and a stony ground, so that it resembles a low mountain. It flows here through a narrow valley with some very steep slopes, which are covered either forested or grass. This landscape shape is V.A. the result of erosion due to flowing rainwater.

In its lower course the Rospuda changes in a typical lowland river. It forms here numerous meanders, and the riverbed widens considerably, so that extensive moorlands fields are generated, which are called Rospuda Valley.

Environment

The Rospuda Valley is a refuge for many rare, protected plant and animal species. It grow there, for example, 19 representatives from the orchid family, including the Einknollige Honigorchis ( Herminium monorchis ), the flesh -colored orchid ( Dactylorhiza incarnata ), the Broad-leaved Marsh Orchid ( Dactylorhiza majalis ), the Yellow Lady's Slipper ( Cypripedium calceolus ), the Korallenwurz ( Corallorrhiza trifida ) or the Common Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii ). More rare, which is under protection of species plants that occur in the Rospuda valley are: the Langblättrige Sundew ( Drosera anglica ), the Round-leaved sundew (Drosera rotundifolia ), the shrub birch (Betula humilis ), the Turk's cap lily (Lilium martagon ) or the Blue sky ladder ( Polemonium caeruleum ).

Many of the breeding bird species in the Rospuda valley are a protected species. These include, inter alia, the hazel grouse, capercaillie, spotted crake, corncrake, the crane, the white-tailed eagle, lesser spotted eagle, marsh harrier, honey buzzard, the boreal owl, the white stork, the black woodpecker, the white-backed woodpecker, red-backed shrike, or the Barred Warbler, to name a few mention.

For larger mammals, such as wolves and red deer, represents the Rospuda valley a trail on the way out of the Puszcza Augustowska and dar. the Biebrza National Park to the west

Previous plans before seen, to draw a section of the Via Baltica ( Europe Straße 67 ), which should also serve as Augustow bypass simultaneously through the Rospuda Valley. Conservationists and experts fear in this context, the destruction of valuable habitats, air pollution, water pollution and the threat to rare animals, especially birds. The EU Commission has, therefore, the Polish government in its decision of 23 February 2007 prompted the construction for the time being to stop. The enforcement by the local authorities and the Warsaw preceded demonstrations of more than 100,000 Polish natural and environmentalists. On 16 September 2008 the Supreme Administrative Court in Poland stopped the construction of the Via Baltica through the Rospuda Valley. In October 2009 it was decided that the expressway S61 shall form a part of the Via Baltica.

Conservation

The Rospuda Valley

• Is a "standing under protection landscape " (since 1989)
• Is a " noise field " (since 1991)
• Belongs to the Natura 2000, a transnational system of protected areas within the European Union ( since 2004)