Jura Krakowsko- Częstochowska

Polish Jurassic Highland

Location of the Polish Jura Chain

Jura Krakowsko- Częstochowska• Krakowsko- Częstochowska Jurassic Upland, popularly called Jura is

the second after Beskids touristic and recreational area of Silesia Voivodeship used mostly for trekking, bike and horse riding and cross country skiing in winter. The attractiveness of the area connected with outstanding landscape, mild climaye, and high forestation, great variety of flora and the animal world and numerous examples of Jurassic forms such as inselbergs, deep valleys, ravines, and caves. Krakowsko- Częstochowska Jurrasisc Upland is a popular climbing area. Impressive rocks and caves attract alpinists and cave explorers. Architectural monuments add to the attractiveness of the area, these are especially ruins of castels, sanctuaries in Żarki-Leśniów, Święta Anna, Mstów and Myszków-Mrzygłód, and the most fomouse Częstochowa.

Flora and fauna• The Krakow- Czestochowa Jurassic Upland consists of a rich ecosystem, where

completely opposite plants coexist in the same timeframe, partly because of the unique microclimate and also, because of the whole upland being surrounded by virgin forest. Plant and animal life is very biodiverse with over 1600 species of plants and 5500 species of animals. These include 4600 species of insects, including 1700 of beetles and 1075 of butterflies and 135 of birds. Mammals include the beaver, badger, ermine and 15 species of bats, many of which hibernate in the park's caves during the winter.

Flora and fauna

The climate of the upland differs significantly from the surrounding area. The snowpack covers the area for 180 days a year and the rainy season lasts from April until September. Annual precipitation varies between 650-700 mm, higher than in surrounding regions, the median temperature is lower, from 0.5 to 1.0°C. Average temperature is 19°C in summer and -3°C in winter.There are a number of rivers that originate from the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland, among them the Warta, Biała Przemsza, Pilica, Dłubnia, Szreniawa,Prądnik, Wiercica and Rudawa.Apart from a diversity of plant and animal species, one can find a unique cultural landscape with archeological objects and relics of ancient inhabitation, with a vast collection of artifacts. The earliest settlement in the area dates to the Paleolithic period, approximately 120,000 years ago. The region is rich in flint, which attracted early humans.

Flora and fauna

The Polish Jura Chain consists of a hilly landscape with Jurassic limestone rocks, cliffs, valleys and vast lli mestone formations, featuring some 220 caves. The relief of the upland developed since the Paleogene, under climatic conditions changing considerably. Its main component is a peneplain, crowned by monadnockc, rocky masses that resisted erosion, generated as hard rock on Late Jurassic buildup surrounded by less resistant bedded limestone of the same age. The Polish Jura Chain is visited by roughly 400,000 visitors a year. Part of it belongs to the Ojców National Park, the smallest of Poland's twenty national parks, ranking among the most attractive recreational areas of the country.

Castels phtogalery

Gallery