The Biebrza Valley and Wetlands have always been a unique point of interest for naturalists, especially ornithologists and botanists from Poland and all over the world. In 1993 these picturesque landscapes full of rich wildlife were taken under protection and the Biebrza National Park was established. It is the biggest national park in Poland (over 59 223 ha) and one of the largest in Europe.
Most recently in this area there have been undertaken private initiatives in cooperation with local authorities and national park management. This in result has led to the preparation, implementation and commercialization of the tourism product, which is nowadays targeted and available for a wider group of tourists – nature lovers. Destination's product provides the ability for an in-depth and utter enjoyment of the place while respecting natural values of the area.
Biebrza river rafts (on special, living-boats), survival trips in the vicinity of the Red Marsh (area of strict protection, refuge for elk) with a qualified guide, as well as all forms of ecotourism (bird watching, photo-safari) are the main attractions which lure more and more people to this special place in north-eastern part of Poland. A wide spectrum of tourist attractions is fulfilled by well-preserved and nurtured traditions of local culture such as traditional haymaking, the celebration of Easter, St. John's Night, pushing boats regatta or exhibition of local products.
Some most important characteristics on the unique natural values of the Biebrza Valley and Wetlands are:
• a wide, intact Biebrza river valley with natural, highly meandering character;
• ecosystems and habitats, which have already been irrevocably destroyed elsewhere as a result of drainage of marshes and bogs;
• major bird cluster in Poland and Central Europe and an Important Bird Area (IBA) site (about 270 observed bird species, approximately 65% of Polish avifauna);
• the largest area of peatlands in Poland, called Bagna Biebrzańskie;
• in 1995 the valley was placed on the list of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands – marking the international importance of the area;
• a large group of plant communities containing many species of rare and relict, disappearing in other parts of country;
• great variety (more than 1000 species) and the presence of many rare species of plants – orchids (sanguine, Cypripedium calceolus, Liparis Loesela, stinky orchid and others);
• well preserved fauna specific to the natural ecosystems of swamps and water
• it estimated that about 48 species of mammals live in the Biebrza Valley. The Osowiec Fortress hosts the largest colony of wintering bats in north-east Poland (significant scale in comparison with the rest of Europe);
• one of the facts underlying the international prestige and uniqueness of the Biebrza Valley is the classification of the area as a bird sanctuary of international importance, according to the BirdLife International standards.
The section of the Oder river extending between the mouth of its largest tributary, the Warta, near Kostrzyń, and the Baltic Sea is called the Lower Oder Valley
The Barycz Valley has been awarded in the EDEN competition owing to the fact that it is a region of an integrated ecosystems management with well-protected environment and well-preserved cultural traditions.
Drawsko Lake, is 1,871 ha large, 12,6 km long and 3.9 km wide (the 12th largest lake in Poland). Its maximum depth is 83 m, making it the second deepest lake in Poland.
Większość terenu wygranej destynacji znajduje się na obszarze chronionym Biebrzańskiego Parku Narodowego, który należy do największych obszarów chronionych w Polsce. Walory przyrodnicze tego terenu obejmują płynącą na tym terenie rzekę Biebrze, jej rozlewiska, torfowiska, stanowiące najrozleglejsze tereny bagienne w Polsce.
