Drawa abounds in stone-overgrowing algae Hildebrandtia rivularis; it means, that river's water is really clear. Need of preservation of very valuable Drawa and Płociczna's parts with surrounding forests, many inforest lakes, mosses and peat bogs, was one of the main motives of creating a National Park there. On its whole lenght Drawa has fast current, it is similar to mountain rivers and it forms showy gorges and ravines.
It has 11018,52 ha area, 368 ha is strictly protected.
- 7 reptiles' species, e.g.:
Anguis fragilis - blindworm,
Lacerta vivipara - lifeborn lizard,
Natrix natrix - grass snake,
Lacerta agilis - jaszczurka zwinka,(POL)
Vipera berus - viper,
SWAMP TURTLE [EMYS ORBICULARIS
Coronella austriaca - gniewosz plamisty.(POL)
- 154 birds' species, e.g.: balck stork, gągoł(POL), trzmielojad(POL), kania rdzawa i czarna(POL), WHITE EAGLE, rybołów(POL), orlik krzykliwy(POL), cyraneczka(POL), nurogęś(POL), eagle owl, włochatka(POL), pluszcz(POL).
- 40 mammals' species, e.g.: beaver, OTTER, marten, red deer, roe deer, wild boar, elk, wolf, badger, piżmak(POL), jenot(POL).
As a result of reintroduction in 1978, beaver, the emblem of the DNP, has returned to this terrains.
- 13 gatunków płazów. Są to m.in.:
- 13 amphibians' species, e.g.:
Bombina bombina [kumak nizinny](POL)
Bufo bufo [grey toad]
Bufo calamita [stripe toad]
Bufo viridis [green toad]
Hyla arborea [rzekotka drzewna](POL)
Pelobates fuscus [grzebiuszka ziemna](POL)
Rana esculenta [water frog]
Rana arvalis [marsh frog]
Rana lessonae [lake frog]
Rana ridibunda [smieszka frog](POL)
Rana temporaria [grass frog](POL)
Triturus cristatus [crest newt]
Triturus vulgaris [newt]
- At least 53 butterflies' species, e.g.:
??? - czerwieńczyk dispar,(POL)
Aglais urticae - rusałka pokrzywnik, (POL)
Anthocharis cardamines - zorzynek rzeżuchowiec,(POL)
- At least 46 dragonflies' species;
- About 100 chruściks's(POL) species;
- Systematic groups, i.e.: sponges, spiders or many insects;
Many peculiarities are still waiting for recognizing!
PEAT BOGS
Peat bogs are deposits of accumulated peat and overgrowing flora, which both make peculiar eco-systems.
They develop in high humidity and permanent water supply conditions, and the cause are plants leftovers which transform into peat. We can find many peat bogs' types in almost all changeability range, e.g.:
- peat bogs supplied by precipitations (ombrogenic);
- peat bogs that fill non-low tide hollows (boiler);
- peat bogs of river terraces;
- peat bogs by the lakes;
- spring peat bogs;
- moss peat bogs;
- rushes peat bogs;
- forest peat bogs;
- skapożywne (POL) peat bogs (oligotrophic);
- transitional peat bogs (mezotrophic);
- fertile peat bogs(eutrophic).
There is no division known from school: tall, short, etc. They all pervade themself, creating unique mixture, unique eco-systems, conmplexes; peat bogs fill lake bays, river valleys, some lakes' edges, non-low tide terrain hollows, underground waters' springs and many, many more.
SPRINGS
In Puszcza Drawska we can find many spurts and gushes of underground water; there are over 70 springs recorded. Glacial, sandy plain has a good influence on soaking fall waters into ground. From there, they raise using the most various cracks system, according to geological type of terrain. Sometimes they drill through the river valleys' edges, sometimes through sandy hills, sometimes through water-proof clay.
Springs have many forms: from unseen, underground cracks supplying spring peat bogs and slowly oozing springs hidden at the bottoms of rivers and lakes, to heavily flowing springs, where water swiftly flows into the river, surrounded by adlers.:
The most famous springs are:
- in the Krępy valley, by lake Tuczno;
- in the Runica valley, in the area called Pod Czapką;
- by the lake Sitno;
- at Miradzka gutter;
- at the surroundings of lake Jamno;
- at Lunoczka;
- at Karolinka;
- at the surroundings of UFO lakes by Płociczna;
- at spring area Grąd by Drawa;
- nearby the lake Moczele;
- at Moczelska gutter;
- by the lake Szerokie;
- at Dominikowskie Lakes' gutter
All the springs are unique biotopes. They are overgrown with specific flora with large participation of springs' typical species: wątrobowce (POL), mosses and bitter cress. There are also rare grove manna and potocznik wąskolistny (POL).
By the springs we can also find unique chruściks' (POL) fauna, which larvas live in the springs.
FORESTS
Forests are predominating in the landscape of Puszcza Drawska. The most typical Drawa Valley's forests are fertile and acidic beech forests, which are well-preserved in the Drawa Valley and to the west of it (Wygon Slopes and Wygon's neighborhood). Once, their total area was larger, but as a result of a hold-up forest economy (especially years 1975-2000) their most part had been destroyed or changed into fake pines. Almost all acidic oak forests had been destroyed, too, even if once they were predominating on this terrains
Artificial pine forests, which were planted at the home of poor deciduous forests, have raised pike participation from 15% to 70%. Trees planted at the after-agricultural soils have no meaning, they take about 3% of whole area.
In the river valleys, at the swampy but fertile places, alders are growing in the gatherings - so-called łęgi (POL) of alders. Łęgi of ashes and elms are found in a few places only. Some river valleys' slopes are occupied by acidic beeches, some are occupied by grąds (POL). On the acidic peat bogs, there are swampy brzeziny (POL) and swampy forests growing, and on the edges - spruces.
MEADOWS
Inforest meadows at the valleys of rivers Drawa, Płociczna and Korytnica are important Puszcza Drawska nature's elements. Last decades of economic usage made, that today's landscape is half-natural, created by both nature and human. Meadows were and are the only possible mainstay for many plants' species (e.g.: carnation, nasierzał (POL),
HUNDREDSTAIN ORCHID, etc.).
Also, as well for animals meadows are very important. Very various butterflies, insects and birds' fauna is connected with them; specific species have nests here (e.g.: żeruja (POL), orlik krzykliwy (POL)), and also, many mammals live here (red and roe deers - unfortunately, less and less). At the Park's area percentage of meadows is small, only about 5%, in relation to percentage of meadows in Park's Neighborhood. Despite, management of National Park spends a lot of money on their maintenance (mowing). Most meadows lies in the Neighborhood, and recently, mass resignation from meadows usage of private users, owners and leaseholders is seen. That is why we can find many plants species, which rose phoenix-like from the ashes and you will neither find them growing in the Park nor even described.
PARK'S NEIGHBORHOOD
Around Drawieński National Park there is a 40.000 ha area, which reaches Park nearby villages. This area is known as Park's Neigborhood. MORE
