LOCATION
Słowiński National Park is located in Pomeranian Voivodeship, It is situated on the Baltic coast between seaside Rowy and Łeba, 54°42′12″N 17°18′25″E. The northern boundary of the park consists of 32.5 kilometres (20.2 mi) of coastline
SCENIC CHARACTER
Slovinski National Park is one of two coastal parks in Northern Poland. It was established as a National Park in 1967. At present it occupies an area of 3200ha which includes seaside forests, coastal lakes, dunes, peatland and sea coast. In the park it is possible to observe 270 species of birds like cranes, herons, ospreys, white-tailed eagles and more. In the National Park, there are numerous species of mammals, e.g. grey seals, water shrews, rearmice, harbour porpoises, bats and foxes. In 1995 Slovinski National Park was included into the World Network of Biosphere Reserves by UNESCO. The Slovinski National Park is one of two Polish national parks situated on the Baltic coast. It is located between towns of Leba and Rowy, 115 km northwest of Gdansk, covering the area of 186.18 km2 (71.88 sq mi). The purpose of its foundation was to preserve the system of seaside lakes, peat bogs, meadows, forests and, most importantly, sand dunes. Moving dunes stretching along the Lebska Spit are unique and regarded as a curiosity of nature on European scale. Approximately half of Park’s area is occupied by waters which are made up of lakes and rivers. The lakes of Lebsko and Gardno (former sea bays) are an important refuge for aquatic birds. The park is inhabited by 260 bird species and visited by a number of others as it is located on the route of migrating birds. Among the most interesting ones are: eagle owls, cranes, cormorants, sea eagles, ducks, swans and many others.
ATTRACTIONS
The moving sand dunes, with the highest peak Łączka, constitute a unique tourist attraction in Europe. Visitors can feel like on the desert. It is possible to jump or roll down from the dunes. The next attraction located in the middle of the Park is Czołpino Lighthouse, with a beautiful landscape of Łebsko Lake and the Baltic Sea coast. All tourist walking trails in the park combined amount to over 140 kilometers. To visit all attractions it is possible to rent a bicycle or electric vehicles. Tourists and nature lovers can discover the beauty of this unique Land of Water, Wind and Sand by taking one of walking or cycling trails. By the lakes there are some observation towers and the highest peak of the Park, Rowokol (115 m (377 ft)), is also an excellent observation point. The Museum of Nature of the Slovinski National Park in Smoldzino presents an exposition of the nature of the most characteristic Park ecosystems. Those who are interested in the history of this land and people (Slavs) who used to live in this swampy area should visit the open-air ethnographic museum in the village of Kluki.
