P h o t o g e o g r a p h y

Tatra Mountains and Pieniny Mountains Poland is a relatively low-lying country. More than 90% percent of its territory lies ca 300 m above sea level, but there are three main mountain ranges located mainly in the southern part of the country. They run in a direction from west to east and include the Carpathian Mountains (Carpathians), the Sudety Mountains (Sudetes), and the Świętokrzyskie Mountains (Holy Cross Mountains).  All of these mountain ranges, except for the Świętokrzyskie Mountains form a natural southern border of Poland. Sudetes Śnieżka (1603 m a.s.l.)  - the highest peak of Karkonosze Mountains Sudetes (Sudety Mountains) The Sudetes stretches from eastern Germany along the south-western Poland. The highest peak of the range is Śnieżka in the Karkonosze Mountains (Giant Mountains) on the Czechia-Poland border, which is 1,603 metres in elevation. The Sudetes are usually divided into Eastern Sudetes (in Poland are two ranges: Golden Mountains a...

The highest waterfall in the Polish part of the Karkonosze Mountains (Giant Mountains) is Kamieńczyk Waterfall (Polish: Wodospad Kamieńczyka). Waterfall is very impressive all year round and it is a frequent target of the tourist hiking. It is located in the Karkonosze National Park, on steep northern slopes of mountains, on one of the trails leading from Szklarska Poręba to the summit of Szrenica. It is one of the most spectacular and rich in content geosites in the Giant Mountains. The water of the Kamieńczyk stream forms a three-level cascade 27 m high falling to the gorgeous Kamieńczyk Gorge. The gorge is about 100 m long with vertical, rocky walls reaching over 25 m in height while its width at some parts is less than 4 meters. Behind the middle waterfall cascade there is a cave called Golden Cave (Polish: Złota Jama) hammered by the Walloons (Medieval masters in excavating and processing natural minerals, iron ores, metals, precious stones and quartz) and famous for pegmatite...

The East Carpathian Biosphere Reserve is a transboundary protected area, designated as an area of global importance under UNESCO's Programme on Man and the Biosphere. It is located in the Eastern Carpathians on the territory of three countries: Poland, Slovakia and Ukraine. This reserve is formed by the combination of three national parks. It is the only extant designated trilateral biosphere reserve in Europe. The dominant tree species is beech (Fagus sylvatica).  Other common species (silver fir, sycamore, Norway maple, oak, elm, etc.) do not account for any significant percentage of forest cover. The beech forests of the East Carpathians represent an outstanding example of undisturbed, complex temperate forests. They contain an invaluable genetic reservoir of beech and many species associated and dependent on these forest habitats. The entire area of the Biosphere Reserve is built of flysch rocks.  The territory belongs in large part to the cool climate...

Małe Pieniny (Small Pieniny) Mountains are a very attractive area for hiking, biking and skiing. The routes and trails are very attractive landscape in most outdoor areas dotted with extensive views of the neighbourhood mountains ranges. You can enjoy the picturesque sunsets over the Tatra and Pieniny Mountains or the beautiful sunrises over the Beskidy Mountains. Small Pieniny are the ideal location for landscape photographers and nature lovers. Read my other articles about Pieniny Mountains: Small Pieniny Mountains (Małe Pieniny) Małe Pieniny at dusk Pieniny Mountains Tatra Mountains #4

Saffron conspiracies ( Crocus scepusiensis ) (Polish: krokus spiski or szafran spiski ) is a species in Family Iridaceae. The name of "Crocus" is derived from Greek word "kroke" (thread, floss). This beautiful violet-colored flower occurs in the Western Carpathians. In Poland crocus flower most often grows in the Tatra Mountains and also in the other mountains e.g. Żywiec Beskids (mountainsides of Pilsko and Wielka Racza), Gorce, Beskid Wyspowy, Small Beskid (Leskowiec). Sometimes we encounter white crocus - albino. Saffron conspiracies blooms usually around 2-3 weeks. It is strictly protected in Poland.

The Karkonosze Mountains are among the World Biosphere Reserves. In terms of the richness and rarity of flora, the Karkonosze rank third in Poland, after the Tatra Mountains and the Pieniny Mountains. The Karkonoski National Park protects many rare species facing extinction, among them endemic and relic species included in the Polish Red Book.  However, the easily accessible lower parts of the mountains have been significantly changed. The most heavily transformed by man is the flora in the lower subalpine level (400-800 m above sea level). There are mostly spruces here, introduced by man in the 19th century. Small fragments of primeval beech-fir-pine forest have been preserved in the area of National Park and other several places. ABC Wednesday

Snowy Ponds are the small natural reservuars with crystal clear water, are located at the bottom of the Great Snowy Cirque in the Karkonosze Mountains. Snowy Ponds were formed during the last phase of the glacial period and are an example of the alpine landscape in Karkonosze. It is possible to reach the Snowy Ponds following green trail from Hala Pod Łabskim Szczytem along the path along subalpine forests (so called, “Ścieżka nad reglami”).This difficult trail is closed in winter.