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Michal Stefaniuk, AGH-University of Science and Technology (Poland)
Danuta Ilcewicz-Stefaniuk, AGH-University of Science and Technology (Poland)
Tadeusz Slomka, AGH-University of Science and Technology (Poland)
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Podlasie is the historical region located in northeastern margin of Poland. The geomorphology and near-surface geology of area is predominated by continental glacier activity. Landscape forms were mainly formed by different glacial and glacifluvial sediments. To some extent, they were modified by Quaternary limnic and alluvial sedimentation and river erosion. Different forms of environment protection were developed in the area. They include national parks, landscape parks and numerous reserves protecting mainly the animated nature. The Podlasie region is a place of mixed cultures and religions. The above presented factors create very interesting conditions for geotourism development in the area. Different geomorphologic forms are major geotourist attractions of the Podlasie region. The were formed as a result of geological activity of the continental glacier and postglacial waters. Young moraine sediments and erosional forms related with the Baltic glaciations occur in the northern part of the area. Postglacial geomorphological forms are abundant in the Suwalki National Park. They include the ice-marginal valley of the Czarna Hańcza river with osars and the hanging valle Gaciska, a belt of frontal moraines in the Hańcza lake area, and accumulations of erratic and ice pavement.
In southern and central part of Podlasie, one can notice the influence of older glacial cycles ? so called Mid-Polish glaciation ? and forms related with erosion and accumulation of rivers in Holocene. A unique geotourist attraction is the boggy valley of Biebrza and Narew rivers, which is surrounded by vast moors and bogs. Meandering and braided rivers as well as successive phytogenic sedimentation in the river valley can be observed there.
A great attraction of the southern part of the region is a gorge of the Bug river, which cuts uplands built of moraine and fluvioglacial sediments. There one can admire different forms of river erosion and accumulation: high and undercut river slopes, river outwash at the alluvial flat, old channels and other. Steep valley slopes are often cut by deep gorges, which were formed as a result of modern erosion of rainfalls. Phytogenic sedimentation developed in the old channels of the Bug river and its tributaries resulting in numerous moors. Sedimentation structures typical of glacial and fluvioglacial sediments can be observed in steep river slopes. Locally, there occur outcrops as a result of eolic accumulation in the subglacial climate.
Among moraine hills and fluvioglacial forms, there occur limnic, clastic, carbonate and phytogenic deposits, often with well-preserved late Pleistocene and Holocene fauna accumulations.
Podlasie is a region with perfect conditions to practice different forms of tourism. In contrast to surrounding plains, numerous geomorphological, sedimentary and erosional forms make great geotourist attractions.
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