RELICTS OF PRIMEVAL SPRUCE FOREST AS HABITAT FOR EAGLE OWL
A nature reserve called
Wysokie Skałki is composed of lime rocks like other reserves in the Małe Pieniny Mts. This reserve is situated on mount
Wysoka (1050 m asl) which is highest in the whole Pieniny Klippen Belt in Poland. The reserve was established in 1961 and protects landscape and old spruce and beech forests, 13.9 ha in area. The summit parts of Wysoka are created by dolomitic rocks composed of ammonites, calpionellas, crinoids and red and green radiolarians. The N-W slope of the mount is overgrown by primevel spruce forest. In its undergrowth we can observe rare plants: a fern
Polystichum lonchitis, an orchid
Corallorhiza trifida as well as
Moneses uniflora,
Lunaria rediviva,
Galanthus nivalis,
Aconitum variegatum,
Lilium martagon,
Ranunculus platanifolius,
Mulgedium alpinum,
Daphne mezereum and
Clematis alpina. These species are also characteristic for the adjacent beech forest. Bare rocks of the summit are overgrown by patches of
Festuca pallens,
Saxifraga aizoon and
Sedum acre. Eagle Owl, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Buzzard and other bird species nest in these forests. A large beetle,
Carabus violaceus, lives in these wet forests. We can ascend Wysoka by the green trail directly from the Homole reserve (see a map). The blue trail running along the Polish-Slovak state border surround the reserve northerly. Eastern cliff walls are of height of 20 m. Steep ascend through wet slippery lime rocks is enabled by stairs and tourists on the summit are protected against any accident by crash barriers. Sometimes the summit is really crowded by international society (Poles, Slovaks, Czechs, Germans and Englishmen). From the summit we can see beautiful landscapes od Radziejowa Range, Babia Góra, Pieniny and Tatra Mountains.
It will be continued.........
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