Wadżra

Wdżar is a popular mountain in Poland, located in the northern transitional zone of the Pieniny range, characterized by its distinctive, almost conical dome and situated near the provincial road no. 969. It offers a variety of tourist attractions year-round, such as a chairlift, a rope park, and a Bike Park. The area is a hub for winter sports, including skiing at the Czorsztyn-Ski resort, while in summer, visitors can enjoy a summer toboggan run and downhill trails. From Wdżar, there is a magnificent view of the surrounding mountains, including the Tatra and Pieniny ranges. It is also a well-known launch site for paragliders, where Józef Gigoń set the first Polish records in this discipline. Geologically, Wdżar is unique due to the presence of andesites, which are rare in the Carpathians. Quarries, including Snozka, were used for the extraction of building stones from the late 19th century until the 1970s. The andesite exposures at Wdżar are particularly significant, as the area hosts a unique site of ferns associated with andesitic substrate, making it valuable from a nature conservation perspective. Tourist trails run along Wdżar, including the blue trail from the Snozka Pass and an educational path through the Papieski Gorge (Papal Gorge). Wdżar, with its notable geological and biological values, deserves legal protection. Various forms of conservation are currently proposed, including the establishment of a nature reserve, though none of these concepts have yet been implemented.