Biebrza National Park
Encyclopedia
Biebrza National Park is a national park
in Podlaskie Voivodeship
, northeastern Poland
, situated along the Biebrza River
.
The largest of Poland’s 23 National Parks, the Biebrza National Park was created on September 9, 1993. Its total area is 592.23 km² (228.7 sq mi), of which forests cover 155.47 km², fields and meadows covering 181.82 km² and the famous Biebrza River Marshes
with an area of 254.94 km².
Marshes are the most precious part of the park. Biebrza National Park protects vast and relatively untouched fenlands with a unique variety of several communities of plants, rare wetland birds and mammals such as Elk
and Beaver
and other animals. The Biebrza wetlands as well as the Narew
River valleys are very important centres for birds’ nesting, feeding and resting. In 1995 the park was designated as a wetland site of worldwide significance and is under the protection of the Ramsar Convention
. The most important part of the Park is Red Marsh
(), which is under strict protection.
The park's headquarters are in Osowiec-Twierdza
8, in the grounds of the historic Osowiec Fortress
, near Goniądz
.
National park
A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or...
in Podlaskie Voivodeship
Podlaskie Voivodeship
Podlaskie Voivodeship , is a voivodeship in northeastern Poland. It borders on Masovian Voivodeship to the west, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship to the northwest, Lublin Voivodeship to the south, the Belarusssian Voblasts of Grodno and Brest to the east, the Lithuanian Counties of Alytus and...
, northeastern Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, situated along the Biebrza River
Biebrza
Biebrza is a river in north-eastern Poland, a tributary of the Narew river , with a length of 155 kilometres and the basin area of 7,057 km2...
.
The largest of Poland’s 23 National Parks, the Biebrza National Park was created on September 9, 1993. Its total area is 592.23 km² (228.7 sq mi), of which forests cover 155.47 km², fields and meadows covering 181.82 km² and the famous Biebrza River Marshes
Biebrza Marshes
The Biebrza Marshes are a complex series of habitats, located on the Biebrza river valley, in Suwałki, Łomża in the northeast of Poland. The area encompasses river channels, lakes, extensive marshes with wooded areas on higher ground and well-preserved peat bogs that occupy around 1,000 km2...
with an area of 254.94 km².
Marshes are the most precious part of the park. Biebrza National Park protects vast and relatively untouched fenlands with a unique variety of several communities of plants, rare wetland birds and mammals such as Elk
Moose
The moose or Eurasian elk is the largest extant species in the deer family. Moose are distinguished by the palmate antlers of the males; other members of the family have antlers with a dendritic configuration...
and Beaver
Beaver
The beaver is a primarily nocturnal, large, semi-aquatic rodent. Castor includes two extant species, North American Beaver and Eurasian Beaver . Beavers are known for building dams, canals, and lodges . They are the second-largest rodent in the world...
and other animals. The Biebrza wetlands as well as the Narew
Narew
The Narew River , in western Belarus and north-eastern Poland, is a left tributary of the Vistula river...
River valleys are very important centres for birds’ nesting, feeding and resting. In 1995 the park was designated as a wetland site of worldwide significance and is under the protection of the Ramsar Convention
Ramsar Convention
The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands, i.e., to stem the progressive encroachment on and loss of wetlands now and in the future, recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural,...
. The most important part of the Park is Red Marsh
Red Marsh Nature Reserve
Red Marsh Nature Reserve is a nature reserve with an area of 11 629.75 hectares located within the municipalities; Goniądz and Rajgród in Podlaskie Voivodeship northeastern Poland. Reserve Type: fauna with numerous specimens of flora...
(), which is under strict protection.
The park's headquarters are in Osowiec-Twierdza
Osowiec-Twierdza
Osowiec-Twierdza is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Goniądz, in Mońki County, Podlaskie Voivodeship, in north-eastern Poland. It lies approximately south of Goniądz, north-west of Mońki, and north-west of the regional capital Białystok...
8, in the grounds of the historic Osowiec Fortress
Osowiec Fortress
Osowiec Fortress - a 19th century fortress located in north-eastern Poland, originally built by the Russian Empire. The Russian name is Крепость Осовец i.e. Krepost Osovets. In English sources it is variously given as Osowiec , Osovets, Ossovetz, Osovetz and Ossovets...
, near Goniądz
Goniadz
Goniądz is a town in Poland, located at the Biebrza river, in Mońki county in Podlaskie Voivodeship in northeastern Poland. 80% of the town was destroyed in World War II...
.