Expert Guides and Regional Context for Slovincian National Park in Pomeranian Voivodeship

Poland's moving dunes and coastal wetlands on the Baltic

Slovincian National Park

Slovincian National Park occupies a remarkable position along Poland's northern Baltic coast, protecting a landscape shaped by the interplay of wind, waves, and sand over millennia. The park's territory was historically a coastal bay of the Baltic Sea, but the gradual formation of sand bars and moving dunes separated these waters from the open sea, transforming them into the chain of coastal lakes that characterize the region today. This ongoing geological process continues to reshape the landscape, with dunes migrating inland at measurable rates and periodically exposing ancient forests buried beneath the sand for thousands of years. The park encompasses several distinct landscape zones: the coastal sandbar with its moving dunes, the Gardno-Łebska lowland with its shallow lakes and wetlands, and fragments of terminal moraine from the last glaciation. The largest lakes, Łebsko and Gardno, are shallow bodies of water with maximum depths of only 6.3 meters and 2.6 meters respectively, supporting extensive reed beds and aquatic vegetation. Seven rivers traverse the park, with the Łeba and Łupawa being the most significant, carrying water from the hinterland to the coastal lagoon system. Forests within the park are predominantly pine woodlands, covering approximately 80 percent of wooded areas, interspersed with peat bogs of various types. This combination of coastal dune, lake, wetland, and forest habitats creates a mosaic of environments supporting remarkable biodiversity. The park's strict protection zone covers over 53 square kilometers, preserving the most ecologically sensitive areas with limited human access.