Gorce National Park

The Gorce National Park (Polish: Park Gorczański Narodowy ) located in the southern part of Poland, in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship. The National Park comprises the central and northeastern part of the Gorce Mountains, which in turn is part of the Western Beskids.

Generally

Although initial attempts to protect this area, dating back to the year 1927, the national park was established in 1981 with a size of 23.90 km ². Over time, the area was enlarged again and again until he reached the present extension of 70.30 km ². Addition was erected around the park, a protective zone of 166.47 km ². The landscape is dominated by smooth, dome-shaped peaks. The highest mountain in the Gorce Mountains is the Turbacz. Although it is located just outside of the park, he is the starting point for several elongated ridge. The Massif of the Gorce is deeply dissected by river valleys, still waters are more in the background of the national park (0.18 km ² of the total area ). There are no lakes or major rivers. A typical feature of the Gorce Mountains are the prominent sandstone cliffs on the northern slopes. Given its location, the National Park has many spectacular vantage points from which the adjacent mountain ranges are good to see. Particularly impressive are the views of the Tatras, Babia Góra and the Pieniny.

Flora

A special feature of the national park are the persons mentioned in this mountain plants. There are 17 alpine and subalpine 24 species that are found in the clearings of the Gorce et al. Approximately 95 % of the park area is covered by forests. A significant part of it is over 100 years old. The high forest clearings caused by the action of man. By reducing the operating shepherd in the mountains shrubs and tree planting have increased dramatically in the clearings. As a result, many of the original plant communities have been greatly reduced. Currently, attempts are made to protect the most valuable separately clearings.

Fauna

The wildlife of the Gorce Mountains has the typical selection of a Beskidengebirges. Mountain animals are represented. This includes over 46 species of mammals. Besides lynx, wolf, bear here still live in large numbers deer, roe deer and wild boar. Also some birds have here a habitat found, including buzzards, Honey Buzzards, Tree falcons, hawks, owls, woodpeckers and some grouse birds. A rarity of the National Park are occurring here representatives of dormice, including the Bilchmaus, the Dormouse and the Dormouse. In the national park there are also amphibians like the spotted salamander, which is also found in the coat of arms of the park.