Masurian Landscape Park

Masurian Landscape Park
Mazurski Park Krajobrazowy
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape)
Seksty Lake from Kaczor peninsula in Masurian Landscape Park
Masurian Landscape Park Map of Poland
Location	Masurian Lake District, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, Poland
Nearest city	Mikołajki
Coordinates	53°43′23″N 21°36′11″E / 53.723°N 21.603°E / 53.723; 21.603[1]
Area	536.55 km2 (207.16 sq mi)
Established	1977
Governing body	Wojewoda Warmińsko-Mazurski

Masurian Landscape Park (Polish: Mazurski Park Krajobrazowy) is a designated Polish Landscape Park protected area within Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, in northern Poland. It is one of the largest landscape parks in Poland.

It was established in 1977, and is a Natura 2000 EU Special Protection Area.

Geography[edit]

The Landscape Park protects an area of 536.55 square kilometres (207.16 sq mi) in the Masurian Lake District.^[2]

The Park lies within Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, in:

• Mrągowo County — Gmina Mikołajki, Gmina Mrągowo, and Gmina Piecki
• Pisz County — Gmina Pisz, Gmina Orzysz, and Gmina Ruciane-Nida
• Szczytno County — Gmina Świętajno

Features[edit]

The Park contains the biggest Polish lake called Śniardwy, with an area of 114.16 km², together with lakes of Kaczerajno and Seksty. Other bigger lakes include Bełdany (9.41 km²), Mokre (8.15 km²), Łuknajno (6.92 km²), Mikołajskie (4.98 km²), Warnołty (4.65 km²) and Zdrużno (2.52 km²). There are also over 20 smaller dystrophic lakes in the Krutynia river basin.

Within the Landscape Park are 11 nature reserves, including that of Łuknajno Lake, a Ramsar site also designated by UNESCO as a biosphere reserve due to its unique bird habitat.^[2]

General information[edit]

• Total area: 536.55 km²
• Forested area: 290 km²
• Water area (rivers and lakes): 180 km²
• Protected area: 186.08 km²
• Number of settlements: 29
• Number of permanent residents: approx. 4,800

See also[edit]

• Landscape parks in Poland
• Special Protection Areas in Poland
• Masurian dialects
• Natura 2000 in Poland

References[edit]

• Rozporządzenie Nr 4 Wojewody Warmińsko-Mazurskiego z dnia 14 stycznia 2005 r. w sprawie Planu Ochrony Mazurskiego Parku Krajobrazowego^{[permanent dead link]}