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Gorce National Park
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Location
Gorce National Park covers central and north-eastern part of Gorce mountain range, in southern Poland (region of Małopolska).
Geological Facts
The landscape of Gorce is dominated by gentle, domed hills. River valleys cut deeply into the range, forming a shape of octopus with Mt Turbacz as the central point. Sandstone rock outcrops are typical for the relief, particularly at northern slopes. The Park has a number of small caves formed in the result of rock movements. Other highest peaks on the Park?s area, in addition to Mt Turbacz (1310 m) include Jaworzyna Kamienicka (1288 m.), Kiczora (1282 m.), Kudłoń (1279 m.), Czoło Turbacza (1258 m.) and Gorc Kamienicki (1228 m).
Plant Life
Gorce National Park is a home for many mountain plants, of which the best known species are alpine (17) and subalpine ones (24) which are common at mountain meadows.
Forests, most of which exceed 100 years of age, cover almost 95% of the Park?s area and are dominated by firs, spruces, beeches in addition of larch, elm, ash and grey alder. Lower mountain forest zone spreads from 650 through 1100 m and the upper mountain forest zone begins at 1100 m. Mountain glades have been created by men, but reduced shepherding resulted in more intensive growth of shrubs and trees in clearings, which has lead to degradation of many plant communities and withdrawal of species typical for alpine meadows, including crocuses. At present the Park actively protects the glades which are most valuable for natural and landscape reasons.
Animal Life
The Park fauna is typical for Beskidy mountains, with numerous mountain species. Birds are represented by common and honey buzzard, hobby, goshawk, owls (eagle owl, tawny owl Ural owl, Tengmalm's owl, pygmy owl and long eared owl), woodpeckers (three-toed and white-backed) and forest fowl (hazel grouse, capercaille, and black grouse). Among nesting species are also black stork, nutcracker, raven, dipper and rock pipits.
The most interesting group among more than 46 mammals living in the park are large predators such as lynx, wolves and brown bears, and the most common ? red deer, roe deer and wild boar. Representatives of Myoxidae: common dormouse, fat dormouse and forest dormouse are a true curiosity. Reptiles common in the Park include spotted salamander (used as Park logo), 2 species of newts, common frog, common toad and yellow bellied toad. Reptiles are represented by common and sand lizards, blind worm, adder and grass snake.
Threats, Local History and Tourism
The first settlers reached Gorce mountains at the beginning of the 14th century. Shepherds? glazes had been burnt in the forest until the first half of the 19th century. The forests suffered most damage also in the 19th century, when large areas of primeval forests were felled down in reasonably accessible places.
The region, including the area of the Park, has large number of examples of folk architecture. Local residents have maintained some of old customs. Shepherds huts are still encountered on mountain glades and some of them have the status of cultural monuments. The oldest monument of sacral architecture is a roadside shrine built at Jaworzyna Kamienicka glade in 1904 by Tomasz Chlipała nicknamed Bulanda. The shrine and its founder, a well known shepherd and witch doctor, have become the theme of many legend.
Landscape of the Park has retained its natural character, as human interference in this area has been hardly noticeable. The region is particularly interesting for tourists keen on natural history, but the number of visitors is relatively low. The Park offers considerable number of watchtowers, with attractive panoramas of neighbouring mountain ranges, including the Tatras, Mt Babia Góra and Pieniny range.