Narew National Park

 The Narew National Park (Narwiański Park Narodowy) may on a European scale be called a jewel. It covers a boggy valley of the Narew river in its upper stages, and is one of the few European active river valleys that is regularly flooded. Within the limits of the Park, the river creates an amazing labyrinth of river beds, that branch repeatedly before converging again. . It is a unique example of an anastomosing river – also called "braided". There is no other river of this type in Poland and in Europe; it is so charming that people often call it "the Polish Amazonia". The unique characteristics of Narew allows it to be compared only with the Okavango in Africa, the Ob in Siberia or Saskatchewan in Canada. Some experts even say that the Narew is more unpredictable and capricious than these. 

Man in the Park. Photo by Andrzej Bielonko.

  

Haystacks on flooded meadows. Photo by Andrzej Bielonko.

 The prevailing natural conditions of the upper Narew river valley have resulted in an unequalled tapestry of habitats: aquatic, terrestrial-aquatic, terrestrial-marshy and pure terrestrial . All these habitats support a varied number plant communities – both aquatic and reed-type associations. The Park is an important bird refuge of European status. Of more than 200 bird species recorded, 154 are nesting species. Many of those are species nearing extinction whilst some of these are endangered throughout the world.

The Narew National Park covers only a portion of the interesting Narew river valley. The river served for centuries as a transport route along which human activities were concentrated. It was indeed a crossroad for many cultures influencing each other: of Yatwingians, Teutonic Knights, Poles, Lithuanians and Russians. Even today, Belarussian and Ukrainian dialects can be heard in many localities, and various material traces of past cultures are preserved in the area.

There are routes for hiking and biking around the Park. However, the best way to get to know the park is to use its river courses to visit its charming townships and villages while kayaking or boating. You can spent days zigzagging in a water labyrinth, among marshes, and islands listening to the songs of aquatic birds. The Narew river valley is for all those looking for silence and solitude in direct contact with wild nature. You can stay for a night in many places, in one of the agro-tourist farms. Not far from the limits of the Park you will find little restaurants and pubs. 

The headquarters of the Narew National Park is in the small village of Kurowo, some 30 km south of Białystok, in a historic mansion surrounded by an old and charming park.