Tatra National Park
The Tatra National Park is located in the most southern and middle part of Poland, very close to the boundary with Slovakia. The park constitutes the Tatra Mountains, in which there are found the highest points of the country, as it is the Rysy Mountain, that has 2,499 meters. The area of the park is 211.64 sq kilometers, and there can be found important natural places, like lakes, such as Morskie Oko, or even several caves.
Climate
The climate that predominates the region of the Tatra Mountains, is surely the high mountain climate, which can be very similar to the temperate alpine climate. For this reason, the most predominant season is winter, which starts between the months of October and November, and ends in April, or even in May. During this time, the temperature mostly drops below zero or stays below 10°C. The warmer and summer months are May, June, July, and August, during which the average temperature can be above 15°. Still, because of climate change, these temperatures are drastically changing during the summertime, and the rainfalls that were often seen before, are becoming rarer. This is an alarming issue that can change in the future the lifestyle of some species, as well as the ecosystems.
Flora and ecosystems
As the Tatra park is located within the Tatry Mountains, each of the different ecosystems with the flora is divided into 5 of the flora or plant floors.
1. Regiel Dolny (height, 1200 m)
On the first floor named the bottom region, there is a prominent area of mixed forest, such as the fir, beech, spruce, and maple tree. In this specific area, there can be found several clearings full of grasses, that were left after old forests. In this place, biodiversity is prominent especially with flowers that can be seen in spring. Some of the most viewed species remaining in these open areas are the crocus flowers, as well as the primroses.
2. Regiel górny (height 1200-1550 m)
On the second floor also called the upper region, the Tatrarzanski forest is even more usual, in which one of the most common is spruce, above all, and also rowan and the swiss pine. Here, moss begins to be more viewed, and for this, the climate is more humid. However, there are still some types of flowers like the Enzian, which has a very strong blue color.
3. Piętro Kosodrzewiny (height, 1500-1800 m)
In the third region, called the dwarf-pine region, in which the vegetation is of a coniferous kind, that is characterized by being very shrubby and dwarf pine. The height of these plants is not very much height, and the higher, the flora is of a smaller size. Moreover, the more resistible type of rowan trees is able to also live in this zone, which is much colder. Lastly, the Alpine Rose and the blue monkshood are other flowering plants of the Tatry.
4. Piętro Hal (height 1800-2300 m)
On this fourth floor, or the Subalpine Zone, the mountain pine vegetation becomes rarer, and instead, there occur to be smaller pieces, besides the alpine grasslands. Other common plants are the mountain avens, alpine violet, whorled lousewort, the primula minima (primrose), campanula Alpina, which has a specific bell shape, and the alpine pasque flower. These species are able to survive the stronger and colder temperatures, as also the more humid zones.
5. Piętro turniowe
The final and highest Tundra region is the coldest one, with the hardest condition of living for most vegetation, and the fact that most of the year, for 9 months, winter is the principal season, plants are rare. Nevertheless, there is alpine vegetation all over, and grasslands. The plants from this area are mostly moss and grasses, for example, the short fescue, which is one of the most predominant species.
Brown Bear
The brown bear is the biggest mammal predator in Poland, which inhabits mostly in the southern part of the country, in Karpaty, and in the Tatra Mountains. This animal lives a lonely lifestyle during the year, in which they have different stages. As it is an omnivore, during the spring, between the months of April and May, its diet is based on the vegetation
that appears after winter, as well as on several other animals that are hunted, such as deer, goats, and it can even eat animals. smaller, for example, ants. Besides, spring is the time of the reproduction of adult bears. Later, in summer and autumn, bears consume forest fruits, such as raspberries, blueberries, and mountain ash. Through this time, they also accumulate the largest amount of calories, to prepare for the winter, because these species hibernate when the temperatures go down. Moreover, in the latest period of autumn, bears build liars in which ones they will spend the winter.
In Poland, the brown bear is respectfully protected, but even though the threats that disturb his lifestyle are urbanization, which not only destroys his territory, but it also creates noise, something that bears do not like. Lastly, tourism can also cause a problem for these animals, and create fear in them. For this reason, it is crucial to always try to respect the habitat of the bear, by being quiet, as also respectful towards its natural environment.