Gość: Jenny
IP: *.suwalki.sdi.tpnet.pl
14.01.03, 16:55
The Wigierski National Park is one of the biggest and youngest parks of this
type in Poland. It is beautifully situated and visited by Polish and foreign
tourists every year. It has an area of 15000 hectares and resembles a lop-
sided triangle. The park is located not far from the eastern border of the
capital city of Suwalki province. It is a young park indeed because it began
only five years ago. The decision to establish it was not spontaneous or
sudden. In 1976 a landscape park came into
being and since then, for 13 years, efforts were made to forma National Park.
Now, it preserves beautiful landscapes and rich natural values in relation to
Europe as well as Poland. The main object of preservation is Wigry Lake which
was recently included into "AQUA", the world program of protecting water
ecosystems".Crowds of tourists loving peace, quiet and relaxation have been
attracted to its unique beauty for years. However, the area around Wigry Lake
is no longer inaccessible but every real lover of nature will find something
for him- on herself. Five or six years ago it was connected with mass tourism
based on several resorts which made a big profit but caused damaged the
natural loveliness of the region. Now it has changed into a perfect place for
so-called qualified tourism. In the Wigierski National Park there are many
routes that lead through the most interesting places.Therefore, it is
possible to visit and admire all the variety of the land scape.The longest
and the most interesting route goes a round Wigry Lake. It is 50 km long. The
lake itself is one of the biggest in Poland. It is 17 km long and 3 km wide.
The lake has a very irregular shape which resembles the letter "S" or a
dragon. Its name comes from a Lithuanian word "wingri" - crooked. The coast
line of Wigry is well developed so if you wanted to walk round the lake it
would be a 72 km long trip. It is not so well known that Wigry Lake is one of
the deepest lakes in Poland (73 meters). The only deeper one is Hancza Lake
which is 108 m deep. There are camping sites and riverside hostels scattered
around Wigry Lake. In Stary Folwark near the road leading to Sejny there is a
centre of PTTK (Polish Tourist Country-Lovers' Association) with a nice beach
of sailing equipment hire, and other tourist facilities service. From Stary
Folwark one can set off on a canoe trip across Wigry Lake, along the Czarna
Hancza River to the Augustowski Channel and farther to the national border or
in direction of the Biebrza River.
Wigry Lake is not the only one in the Wigierski National Park. There are 40
other smaller lakes that have their special charm, too. Biale Lake is one of
the most interesting and cleanest. There are also " Crackers "(sucharki) i.e.
small lakes without out lets, situated in the middle of forest where the
water resembles strong. In the Wigierski National Park there are four rivers
which make its landscape different: the Czarna Hancza, Maniowka, Wiatroluza
and Kamionka Rivers. Kamionka is probably the most charming of them all and,
it has been put under strict protection. A great variety of habitats warrants
numerous of flora and fauna species. There are the nests of whiter eagles at
the Wigry Lake and in its depths there are some species in their relict forms
which have not changed since the glacial era. Sometimes wolves from the main
complex of the Augustowska primeval forest come here. Beavers, however, are
the most famous and specific representatives of this region. This was proved
by putting the beaver's picture in the park's emblem. The post-cameldolite
monastery co mplex is the most magnificent example of human activities in the
area.
