Wigierski National Park is found in the north-east of Poland and is representative of the landscape in this part of the country. It is named for one of the important natural features within the park, Lake Wigry. This lake is one of the largest in this quadrant of the country but is only one of many contained within this protected area. This rather watery landscape contains some of Poland’s Mazury Lake District and the northern section of the Augustow Forest. There are 25 smaller lakes in addition to Lake Wigry within the park, these are connected by a series of waterways. The National Park was set up in the first instance to protect the Lakes and bodies of water but the park, both the wider section and the strictly protected portions, now include forest, meadows, marshes, bogs, dunes and arable land.

The waters of this post-glacial landscape are a vitally important ecosystem and also a fairly popular tourist destination. People come here to see the floating islands on the lakes, formed when peat moss grows on the shores of mid-forest lakes breaks away. They also come to avail themselves of the many watersports opportunities to be found here. Kayaking and canoeing are popular pastimes in the areas that are not too stringently protected.

The park’s flora is largely make up of forest ecosystems. The most common trees are pine and spruce but there are a variety of other tree types to be found in the park’s forests including oak, birch, larch, ash and alder. There are sixteen types of forest found here and these are representative of all the types found in this north-eastern region of Poland. A huge number of marshland, forest and waters edge plants have been identified amongst the park’s rich biodiversity, including some rare flowering plants.

Here visitors will also find the whole complement of land animals and fish that you would expect to find in a place with such a climate and geography. Wolves, elk, deer, beavers and martens are found here, as are a variety of birds, such as eagles, eagle owls and long-eared owls, to name but a few, and beneficial insects like dragonflies and wild bees. Many of the fish found in the waters within the park are now rare in Poland as a whole. Examples include the brown trout, as well as the smelt, vendace and houting.

People come here in the winter to do some Nordic Skiing and ice sailing and then when the weather warms up, people visit for the watersports, and also for the fishing and for the historic attractions, one of the most interesting of which is the Camaldolese Monastic community and church. Whatever the reason that induces you to come, why not consider this National Park in Poland for your next eco destination?