Resource Collection for Drawa National Park: Seasonal Planning and River Exploration

Poland's river-centered forest wilderness in the heart of the Drawsko Plain

Drawa National Park

Drawa National Park sits within the heart of the Drawsko Forest, one of Poland's largest and most ecologically significant lowland forest complexes. The park's landscape is shaped by the Drawa and Plociczna rivers, which have carved deep valleys through the generally flat terrain of the Drawsko Plain. These valleys, together with numerous lakes, peat bogs, and artificial water channels, create a diverse mosaic of wetland and forest habitats. The terrain exhibits remarkable topographic variation in places, with elevation differences of up to 30 meters occurring within just 500 meters—unusual for Poland's lowlands. The highest point reaches 106 meters near Martew Lake in the northern part of the park. The soil is predominantly poor, sandy material, which has limited agricultural development and helped preserve the forest cover that defines the region. The park was created in 1990 initially covering 86.91 square kilometers and was later expanded to its current size of approximately 113 square kilometers, with forests accounting for 96 square kilometers and water bodies for another 9.4 square kilometers.