Poloniny National Park (Slovak: Národný park Poloniny) is a national park in northeastern Slovakia, near the borders of Poland and Ukraine. It is located in the Bukovské vrchy mountain range, which is part of the Eastern Carpathians. The park was established on October 1, 1997, and includes a protected area of 298.05 square kilometers (115.08 square miles) and a buffer zone of 109.73 square kilometers (42.37 square miles). Some areas of the park are part of the Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Location

The park is located in the Snina District within the Prešov Region. It is next to Bieszczady National Park in Poland, and together they are part of the East Carpathian Biosphere Reserve. The highest point is 1,208 meters (3,963 feet) above sea level. This spot is where the borders of Slovakia, Poland, and Ukraine meet, near the top of Mount Kremenec. The National Park is the easternmost and least populated area of the country. Hiking trails begin in several villages, including Nová Sedlica, Runina, Topoľan, and Uličské Krivé.

Biology and ecology

Forests cover about 80% of the area, and beech and beech-fir forests are the most common. The National Park has the largest number of old growth forests in Slovakia, which are protected by national nature reserves. Meadows, known as poloniny in Eastern Slovak dialects, are often found on the main ridge of the Bukovské vrchy mountain range.

Many species in the park are found nowhere else and are rare. In total, 800 types of fungi and 100 types of lichens live in Poloniny. The park is home to about 5,981 known invertebrate species, such as 91 mollusks, 1,472 true bugs, 819 butterflies, and 403 spiders. It also has 294 vertebrate species, including 13 amphibians, 8 reptiles, 198 birds, and 55 mammals, such as the Eurasian lynx and bear. About 1,000 species of vascular plants have been identified in the park, many of which are endangered and protected. A small group of wisent (Bison bonasus) was reintroduced to the area in 2004.

Tourism

The National Park is open to the public throughout the year. In the winter, visitors can enjoy cross-country skiing, and during the summer, there are hiking trails available. In addition to many mountain trails, there is one trail that connects three notable wooden churches from the 18th century located in Topoľa, Uličské Krivé, and Ruský Potok.

World Heritage Site

The ancient beech forests of Havešová, Stužica, and Rožok (all located in the Bukovské vrchy region) were named a UNESCO World Heritage Site on June 28, 2007, due to their natural ecosystems that have remained untouched. These forests are part of the Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians, along with another site in Slovakia's Vihorlat and six additional sites in Ukraine. To protect the special value of these forests, only Stužica is open to visitors.

Gallery

• A wide view of the Poloniny Mountains.
• The Starina Water Reservoir.
• A view of Runina village from a hill near Durkovec.
• A hiking trail located within the National Park.
• A view of the Bukovské vrchy mountain range.
• A wooden church located in Ruský Potok.
• A wooden church located in Uličské Krivé.