Nature

Many animals that have since died out in other parts of Europe still survive in Poland, such as the wisent (or European Bison) in the ancient woodland of the Bialowieza Forest and in Podlachia. Other such species include the brown bear in Bialowieza, in the Tatras, and in the Beskids, the grey wolf and the Eurasian lynx in various forests, the moose in northern Poland, and the beaver in Masuria, Pomerania, and Podlachia. In the forests, one also encounters game animals, such as red deer, roe deer, and boars. In eastern Poland there are a number of ancient woodlands, like Bialowieza, that have never been cleared by people. There are also large forested areas in the mountains, Masuria, Pomerania and Lower Silesia.

Poland is the most important breeding ground for European migratory birds. Out of all of the migratory birds who come to Europe for the summer, one quarter breed in Poland, particularly in the lake districts and the wetlands along the Biebrza, the Narew, and the Warta, which are part of nature reserves or national parks. In Masuria, there are villages in which storks outnumber people.