title: Masurian Landscape Park
text: # Masurian Landscape Park
  
  Masurian Landscape Park (Polish: Mazurski Park Krajobrazowy) is a designated Polish Landscape Park protected area within Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, in northern Poland. It is one of the largest landscape parks in Poland.
  
  It was established in 1977, and is a Natura 2000 EU Special Protection Area.
  
  ## Geography
  
  The Landscape Park protects an area of 536.55 square kilometres (207.16 sq mi) in the Masurian Lake District.
  
  The Park lies within Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, in:
  
  * Mrągowo County — Gmina Mikołajki, Gmina Mrągowo, and Gmina Piecki
  * Pisz County — Gmina Pisz, Gmina Orzysz, and Gmina Ruciane-Nida
  * Szczytno County — Gmina Świętajno
  
  ### Features
  
  The Park contains the biggest Polish lake called Śniardwy, with an area of 114.16 $km^2,$ together with lakes of Kaczerajno and Seksty. Other bigger lakes include Bełdany (9.41 $km^2),$ Mokre (8.15 $km^2),$ Łuknajno (6.92 $km^2),$ Mikołajskie (4.98 $km^2),$ Warnołty (4.65 $km^2)$ and Zdrużno (2.52 $km^2).$ There are also over 20 smaller dystrophic lakes in the Krutynia river basin.
  
  Within the Landscape Park are 11 nature reserves, including that of Łuknajno Lake, a Ramsar site also designated by UNESCO as a biosphere reserve due to its unique bird habitat.
  
  ## General information
  
  * Total area: 536.55 $km^2$
  * Forested area: 290 $km^2$
  * Water area (rivers and lakes): 180 $km^2$
  * Protected area: 186.08 $km^2$
  * Number of settlements: 29
  * Number of permanent residents: approx. 4,800
  