Babia Góra National Park

The National Park Babia Góra (Polish: Babia Park Narodowy ) is one of 23 national parks in Poland. It is located southwest of Krakow on the border with Slovakia. The National Park is located in the village Zawoja. The park covers the northern and southern side of the massif Babia Góra with the highest peak of the Beskid Żywiec, the Diablak ( 1725 m asl ). On the Slovak side, there is also a nature reserve called " Babia Hora ".

History

The National Park Babia Góra was founded on 30 October 1954. In 1977, the National Park Babia Góra by UNESCO was declared a Biosphere Reserve and in the Man and Biosphere program ( Man and Biosphere - MAB) included.

Flora

The Babia Góra massif has a stage -structured mountain vegetation. The national park offers more than 500 plant species, a home, including more than 200 different mosses and lichens. A rarity here is the growing angelica herb laser, which can also be found in the park logo, and the Alpine chickweed. Both plants can be found in Poland exclusively here.

In the lower mountain forest zone (700-1150 m asl ) is dominated by a beech forest, reaching a height of up to 40 meters and a circumference of about 350 cm in the trees. The special feature of these forests is that it is they constitute forests that have never been used commercially. In the upper high forest zone (1150-1350 m asl ) is dominated by high, narrow spruce. In the area above the upper timber forest is a plant community of dwarf pine with a mixture of rowan and herbs plants.

Fauna

For the wildlife of the national park include 127 bird species, of which over 100 breed in the park. Of special significance is the park in that it provides habitat for three species grouse, namely for the capercaillie, black grouse and hazel grouse. The woodpeckers are represented by the types of three-toed woodpecker, green woodpecker, great spotted woodpecker, black woodpecker and white-backed woodpecker. Even six owl species ( Ural, pygmy, boreal owl, eagle owl, tawny owl and long-eared owl ) are found in the park.

Even some mammals are located here. In addition to numerous deer and lynxes, wolves and bears, and small forest rodents like dormouse, dormice and garden dormouse live here.

Tourism

The national park is popular with Poland from Krakow and Katowice as a weekend destination. We explored him best from Zawoja. Here you will also find numerous accommodation options. Every hour from Krakow buses to Zawoja.

Special

In the entire national park area is total dog ban.