Slovincian National Park

Lore & Background

The park's area was once a Baltic Sea bay, but sea activity created sand dunes that separated the bay from the sea. These dunes move inland at 3 to 10 meters per year, reaching heights up to 30 meters. The highest point within the park is the moving dunes, reaching about 56 m above sea level. Waters occupy 55% of the park, including lakes Łebsko, Gardno, and Dolgie Wielkie, which were previously bays. Forests are mainly pines, covering 80% of wooded areas, with peat bogs of several types. The park hosts 257 bird species due to its location on migration paths, including erne, eagle owl, crow, swan, and various ducks. Mammals include deer, wild pigs, and hares.

Reader's Guide

The Slovincian National Park is significant for its unique moving sand dunes, a natural curiosity on a European scale, and its designation as a UNESCO biosphere reserve and Ramsar wetland site. It preserves the cultural memory of the Slovincian people, with an open-air museum in Kluki village showcasing their former life. The park's 32.5 km of coastline and 140 km of walking trails, along with observation towers and amenities in Łeba, make it a destination for nature tourism. Its strict preservation zone covers 56.19 km², limiting human impact and protecting habitats for 257 bird species and other wildlife. The park's history began with a 1946 conference in Łeba, leading to its creation in 1967.

Did You Know?

• The park's moving dunes advance inland at 3 to 10 meters per year.
• The park is named after the West Slavic Slovincian people.
• Lakes Łebsko and Gardno were originally bays of the Baltic Sea.
• The park was designated a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 1977.