Poloniny National Park, National park in Snina District, Slovakia
Poloniny National Park covers 298.05 km² of the Bukovské vrchy in the Eastern Carpathians, with beech and beech-fir forest on about 80% of its area. Open meadows called poloniny break the forest along the main ridge, and a winding strip of bare earth climbs the grassy saddle toward the crest. The highest point, Kremenec at 1,207 m, lies where the borders of Slovakia, Poland and Ukraine meet.
The area received national park status in 1997 and gained UNESCO World Heritage recognition in 2007 for its ancient beech forests. The cross-border designation highlights the ecological importance of these largely undisturbed woodland complexes.
The park's name comes from Rusyn and refers to mountain meadows found in the upper parts of the Bukovské Mountains. These open grazing areas alternate with dense woodland and shape the landscape character of this borderland region.
The village of Nová Sedlica serves as a starting point for marked hiking routes through the protected area. Visitors should bring sturdy footwear and weather-appropriate clothing as trails pass through remote terrain.
The protected area is home to Slovakia's only free-roaming European bison population. These animals were reintroduced in recent years and now move through remote woodland sections of the park.
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