Wielkopolski National Park
Encyclopedia
Wielkopolska National Park is a National Park within the Wielkopolska (Greater Poland) region of west-central Poland
, approximately 15 km (9 mi) south of the regional capital, Poznań
. Together with the protective zone around it, it includes part of the Poznań Lakeland (Pojezierze Poznańskie) and parts of Poznań’s Warta Gorge (Poznański Przełom Warty).
The Park has its headquarters in the village of Jeziory
.
The idea of creating a preserve here was first raised by Professor A. Wodziczko in 1922. After 10 years of efforts, in 1932 two reserves were created: the first at Puszczykowo
(original area 2.39 km²), and the second around Kociołek lake (1.89 km²). In 1933 on the hill of Osowa Góra
a symbolic opening of the Wielkopolska National Park took place, however the Park was not officially created until 1957.
, which covered this area 70-10 thousand years ago. It is mainly flat - its highest hill - Osowa Góra
, reaches only 132 m (433 ft) above sea level. The Park is split by several tunnel-valley lakes, which were created by the glacier. Among them there is one regarded as the most beautiful - Góreckie Lake, with two islands.
Of other interesting land formations, one must emphasize numerous, round hills as well as long, narrow hills which resemble rail mounds. Also, there are huge rocks, the biggest of which - Głaz Leśników, is regarded as a nature’s monument and as such is protected.
, Puszczykowo
, Stęszew
and Wiry
. At Szreniawa and at Trzebaw there are 19th century manor houses. Interesting relic are ruins of a castle built in 1827 by Tytus Działyński on the Zamkowa Island on Góreckie Lake.
The Park is visited by more than a million tourists a year. It is crossed by 7 tourist trails and the richness of its fauna and flora is presented in Ośrodek Muzealno-Dydaktyczny Wielkopolskiego Parku Narodowego (Wielkopolska National Park Museum and Educational Center) in Jeziory.
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...
, approximately 15 km (9 mi) south of the regional capital, Poznań
Poznan
Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...
. Together with the protective zone around it, it includes part of the Poznań Lakeland (Pojezierze Poznańskie) and parts of Poznań’s Warta Gorge (Poznański Przełom Warty).
The Park has its headquarters in the village of Jeziory
Jeziory, Greater Poland Voivodeship
Jeziory is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Mosina, within Poznań County, Greater Poland Voivodeship, in west-central Poland. It lies within Wielkopolska National Park, and is the site of the Park's administrative offices....
.
History
Created in 1957 on an area of 52.44 km² (20 sq mi), the Park currently covers 75.84 km² (29 sq mi), of which over half (46.17 km²) is forested. Waters (mainly small lakes) cover 4.62 km² (2 sq mi), and other types of land 25.05 km² (10 sq mi). The Park contains 18 strictly protected areas.The idea of creating a preserve here was first raised by Professor A. Wodziczko in 1922. After 10 years of efforts, in 1932 two reserves were created: the first at Puszczykowo
Puszczykowo
Puszczykowo is a town in Poznań County, Poland, with 9,177 inhabitants . It is located about south of Poznań, the area is surrounded by the Wielkopolski National Park ....
(original area 2.39 km²), and the second around Kociołek lake (1.89 km²). In 1933 on the hill of Osowa Góra
Osowa Góra
' may refer to:* Osowa Góra , a district in Bydgoszcz, Poland*Osowa Góra, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, a village in north-central Poland*Osowa Góra, Pomeranian Voivodeship, a village in north Poland...
a symbolic opening of the Wielkopolska National Park took place, however the Park was not officially created until 1957.
Landscape
The landscape of the Park was strongly influenced by a glacierGlacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
, which covered this area 70-10 thousand years ago. It is mainly flat - its highest hill - Osowa Góra
Osowa Góra
' may refer to:* Osowa Góra , a district in Bydgoszcz, Poland*Osowa Góra, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, a village in north-central Poland*Osowa Góra, Pomeranian Voivodeship, a village in north Poland...
, reaches only 132 m (433 ft) above sea level. The Park is split by several tunnel-valley lakes, which were created by the glacier. Among them there is one regarded as the most beautiful - Góreckie Lake, with two islands.
Of other interesting land formations, one must emphasize numerous, round hills as well as long, narrow hills which resemble rail mounds. Also, there are huge rocks, the biggest of which - Głaz Leśników, is regarded as a nature’s monument and as such is protected.
Plants
The main element of Park’s flora are species of Euro-Syberian kind, like pine (making up 70% of Park’s forests) as well as other forest plants. Soil here is of poor quality, only around waters it is better which enables plant life there to be more heterogeneous. Unique in its character is Skrzynka Lake, which is partly covered by a thick layer of peat-bogs.Animals
Park’s fauna is characterized by richness of kinds, the best represented are insects with more than 3 thousand species. Forests are full of beets, also very rich is the world of spiders. In lakes, there are several fish - trout, pike and eel. In Park thrive all kinds of amphibians which can be met on Polish plains and 5 species of reptiles, including lizards and grass-snake. Also, there are around 190 species of birds, with black woodpecker and buzzard. Mammals are represented by 40 species, with numerous kinds of bats.Human life
Among most precious monuments there are: a wooden church in Łódź (17th century), churches in KomornikiKomorniki
Komorniki is a village in Poland, located in Greater Poland Voivodeship, Poznań County, Gmina Komorniki , with approximately 5,500 inhabitants. The gmina of Komorniki, including the village of Komorniki and 10 other villages, has about 18,325 inhabitants and is an agricultural and industrial...
, Puszczykowo
Puszczykowo
Puszczykowo is a town in Poznań County, Poland, with 9,177 inhabitants . It is located about south of Poznań, the area is surrounded by the Wielkopolski National Park ....
, Stęszew
Steszew
Stęszew is a town in Poland, with 5,248 inhabitants in Poznań County, Greater Poland Voivodship.-References:Location [edit]...
and Wiry
Wiry
Wiry may refer to the following places in Poland:*Wiry, Lower Silesian Voivodeship *Wiry, Łódź Voivodeship *Wiry, Subcarpathian Voivodeship *Wiry, Greater Poland Voivodeship...
. At Szreniawa and at Trzebaw there are 19th century manor houses. Interesting relic are ruins of a castle built in 1827 by Tytus Działyński on the Zamkowa Island on Góreckie Lake.
The Park is visited by more than a million tourists a year. It is crossed by 7 tourist trails and the richness of its fauna and flora is presented in Ośrodek Muzealno-Dydaktyczny Wielkopolskiego Parku Narodowego (Wielkopolska National Park Museum and Educational Center) in Jeziory.