National parks

Narew National Park

The Narew does not flow here in a single channel: it spreads into dozens of threads winding through the reeds — an anastomosing river, a pattern with no parallel in Europe, which is why it is nicknamed the "Polish Amazon". Narew National Park, established on 1 July 1996, covers 6,810 ha of marshy valley between Suraż and Rzędziany. The park's emblem is the marsh harrier.

A bird address

Between 1979 and 2000 203 bird species were recorded here, 154 of them breeding. Since 2010 the Narew valley has been an Important Bird Area (IBA), with the aquatic warbler named by BirdLife International as the key species. Great bittern, corn crake, great snipe and spotted crake also nest here, while marsh harriers hunt over the reeds. Among the 34 mammal species are elk, beaver and stoat, and the vascular flora counts around 500 species.

A river to paddle

The best view of the marsh is from the water. Kayaks can be rented in Suraż and Uhowo — boats with combustion engines are banned, so you hear nothing but birds and paddles. You can also glide along in a traditional pychówka punting boat on the "obwodnica narwiańska" route of about 90 km around the park.

A footbridge across the marsh

The Śliwno–Waniewo footbridge is over 1 km long and links the two villages; walkers and cyclists use it, and part of the crossing runs on pontoon platforms. It is one of the few ways to reach the heart of the wetlands with dry feet.

In practice

Birds are best in spring and early summer, paddling in the warmer months. Bring binoculars and insect repellent — the reeds have their own guardians. The park is also reachable by train; Łapy is the convenient stop.