Gorce National Park, National park in southern Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland
Gorce National Park covers roughly 70 square kilometers in the Western Beskids mountain range and protects dense forests of spruce, beech, and fir trees. The landscape consists of wooded ridges, stream valleys, and open glades that offer sweeping views of the surrounding peaks.
The origins of the protected area go back to 1927, when a forest reserve was created on land owned by Count Ludwik Wodzicki. National park status was then granted in 1981.
The Bulanda Chapel, funded by shepherd Tomasz Chlipała in the early 1900s, stands on Jaworzyna Kamienicka glade and shows how closely people here have always lived with the mountains. Hikers also come across old shepherds' huts that recall the time when livestock grazed these meadows.
Forty marked trails of different lengths wind through the area, with the longest route measuring roughly 17 kilometers (about 10.5 miles) and crossing mountainous terrain. The paths are generally well signposted, though steep sections and uneven ground can make progress slow in places.
The fire salamanders chosen as the official symbol of the park live in damp parts of the forested slopes and are most often spotted after rain. Other amphibian species also find protected habitat here in spring streams and pools.
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