Untouched forests and national parks are not only found in South America. If you want to visit a ‘primeval forest’ here in Europe, you should make your way to the border between Poland and Belarus.
This is where the Białowieża Forest is located. It is the last lowland forest in Europe. The area was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979, and part of the forest became a national park as early as 1932. When visiting, it makes sense to head for the village of Białowieża. There you can visit the natural history museum and book guided tours through the national park.
If you are lucky, you might see a European bison on a tour. It is probably the most famous animal in the park. European bison are the European counterpart to the American bison and are considered the largest mammals in Europe. They can weigh up to a ton. The largest free-living population is native to this area. In addition to bison, wild horses, beavers and lynxes also live in this area, along with about 120 different species of birds.
But if you want to marvel at the unspoilt nature, you should be quick. Poland is repeatedly criticised for promoting deforestation and threatening the survival of the bison by building a border fence with Belarus.
Opening times/ entrance fees: https://pttk.bialowieza.pl/info/20/about-us
Photo: Wisentherde. Credits: Pixabay/Andrzej_Kulak.
