Silesian Beskid Landscape Park

The Beskid Śląski Landscape Park, located in the Silesian Voivodeship, covers an area of 38,620 hectares, with a buffer zone of 22,285 hectares. It encompasses the mountain ranges of the Beskid Śląski, including Czantoria and Barania Góra, where the sources of the Biała and Czarna Wisełka rivers are found, giving rise to the Vistula River. The park protects several nature reserves, such as Barania Góra, Czantoria, and Jaworzyna, which host unique plant communities typical of this region. The geological foundation of the park is diverse, consisting mainly of shales and limestones, as well as Godula sandstones and Istebna conglomerates. The park features numerous caves, including the Jaskinia Wiślańska—the longest non-karst cave in Poland—as well as rock formations such as Malinowska Skała. The park's flora has been transformed by exploitation, leading to the disappearance of mixed deciduous forests and an increase in the area of fir-spruce forests. In stream valleys, ash-alder forests and lower montane spruce forests can be found. In terms of fauna, the park is home to rare species such as the gray wolf, Eurasian lynx, western capercaillie, and lesser horseshoe bat, as well as endangered fish and invertebrates. The park is an important area for nature conservation and ecological research, and thanks to its landscape, floral, and faunal diversity, it is an attractive destination for tourists and nature enthusiasts.