The history of Bialowieza National Park goes back to 1921. It is one of the oldest in Europe. The Park area is 10,502 ha. Its oldest part, "Strict Preservation" (Rezerwat Scisly) occupies 4,747 ha. The Park is dominated by forest ecosystems which take up over 90% of its area.
In 1977 the Park was recognised by UNESCO as the Biosphere Reserve, and in 1979 designated as World Heritage Site, as the only natural site in Poland. In 1992 UNESCO enlarged the World Heritage Site to adjacent part of Belorussian National Park "Belavezhskaya Pushcha".
Female European bison with its offspring
"Ribs of a bison" path
Meadow of anemonem
Colours of spring
Palace Park
"Upper bog" reserve
Sculptured by nature
"Pogorzelce" reserve
"Carska Tropina" Trawl
Young tree
Primeval Royal Oak
The Augustowska Primeval Forest is one the biggest forest complexes in Poland, and together with its immediate neighbours the forests in Lithuania and Belarus, it constitutes one of the largest compact complexes in Europe.
The area of the Augustowska Primeval Forest is over 1100 sq.km. The forest clearings are occupied by village enclaves and forest settlements. You can also meet numerous lakes, waterlogged meadows and peatbogs here.
The abundance of forests and green areas predestined this region to be called the Green Lungs of Poland whose area significantly exceeds the Augustowska Primeval Forest itself. The forest and Augustow lakes together with the valley of the Rospuda river are included in the area of protected landscape.
Augustowska Primeval Forest
Full basket
Fragment of Marycha River
Beautiful nature
Pine Trees
Czarna Hancza River is a tributary of Niemen River. It is 142 km long (108 km of its length is located within Polish borders). Czarna Hancza river is undoubtedly one of the most interesting and beautiful canoeing trails in Poland.
Czarna Hancza River originates in Hancza Lake, within the borders of Suwalki Landscape Park. It flows past Suwalki straight to Lake Wigry, then Czarna Hancza meanders across Augustow Primeval Forest towards Mikaszowka and Polish - Belorussian border.
Canoeing trip on Czarna Hancza
Czarna Hancza River
Waters of Czarna Hancza
The Biebrza National Park is located in northeast Poland, in the Podlaskie Voivodship. The northeastern boundary of the park is near the Belarus border. The Narew River and its confluence with the Biebrza River form the southern boundary of the park.
The park was established in 1993. Total area of 59 233 ha makes it the largest of Polish national parks. The famous Biebrza marshes are the most valuable habitats of the park. The area of 3 936 ha is under strict protection ha, including the Czerwone Bagno or Red Bog at the Grzedy Forest District.
The park’s marshes, as well as its highly diversified fauna, make it unique in Europe. The Park is under the protection of the RAMSAR Convention.
Artistic view of Bialy Grad
Bialy Grad
Woznawiejski Canal
Landscape of Biebrza National Park
Winter in the park
Vicinity of Burzyn village
Tejsowo Lake
Wagtails on the shore
Biebrza swamps in Winter
Landscapes of Biebrza National Park
Living in Biebrza forest
The wooden house from the beginning of the 20th century is located in Biebrza National Park. All the equipment gathered inside the house comes from that period.
House from the beginning of the 20th century
Picture of the Virgin Mary
Wooden household equipment
Living room
A stove
Kruszyniany village is situated 40 kilometers east from Bialystok (Podlaskie Province). It was erected in XVI century. In 1679 Polish king Jan III Sobieski gave it to the commander of Tatar regiment Samuel Murza Krzeczkowski.
Kruszyniany is not the only settlement in this region of Poland given by king Sobieski to Tatars. As their payment for fighting the Turks together with the Polish army Tatars received Malawicze, Bohoniki, Nietupe, Luzany.
The biggest attraction of Kruszyniany is the mosque built in the XVIII century. To the east of the small wooden building there is a mizar – Muslim cemetery. Among the tombstones there may be found the oldest Muslim grave in Poland – a grave from 1704 with inscriptions in Arabic and Polish.
According to Muslim tradition the deceased are buried with their head pointing towards Mecca. Old graves were usually marked by two gravestones – a big one, situated over the head and a smaller one, situated over the feet.
The citizens of Kruszyniany are Muslims who after the WWII emigrated there from Byelorussia. Today there are just a few families left in Kruszyniany, while several years ago 230 people lived there.
Another mosque in the neighbourhood is located 40 km north from Kruszyniany - in Bohoniki village (going from Krynek to Sokolka). It is also wooden but its much younger. The mosque in Bohioniki was built in XIX century.
Kruszyniany mosque 
Muslim cemetery - mizar
