Commune: Lutowiska (pow. bieszczadzki, woj. podkarpackie) , Ustrzyki Dolne (pow. bieszczadzki, woj. podkarpackie) , Czarna (pow. łańcucki, woj. podkarpackie)
Framework element or context represented:
Structural landscape, tectonics, lithostratigraphy of the Eastern Flysch Carpathians.
Primary geological/geomorphological interest:
The highest part of the Polish Eastern Outer Carpathians, diversified structural landscape, contact of two facial-tectonic units.
Comparative assessment justification:
The classic, large area of the structural landscape of the Eastern Outer Carpathians.
Protection status and accessibility:
The Bieszczady National Park (1973) comprises the largest mountain massifs of the Polish territory and is a part of the International Eastern Carpathian Biosphere Reserve that was established in 1992. The others part of this reserves are in Slovakia and Ukraine.
Character of site: Mountain range.
Area: 29202 ha
Altitude: 650-1346 m a.s.l.
Lithology: sandstones, shales
Discipline: Geomorphology, Stratigraphy of Phanerozoic, Tectonics
Process Age: *all periods
Bedrock Age: Paleogene, *all periods
Description of primary interest:
In the area of the Bieszczady Mts there is a contact of two large facial-tectonic units. The Dukla Unit is thrust over the Silesian Unit from the southwest. The Bieszczady Mts are mainly formed of the Oligocene-Lower Miocene Krosno beds of the Silesian Unit characterised by thick-bedded sandstones alternating with shales. This is the youngest formation of the Carpathian flysch. Relief of the mountains reflects geological pattern. Ranges built of resistant sandstones are arranged parallel from the northwest to southeast. Slopes of these ranges are dissected by deep gorge valleys. The highest mountain range reaches above the timberline situated at 1150 m a.s.l. In the summit parts there are numerous sandstone outcrops with broad block fields beneath. Mass movements play an essential role in the Bieszczady mountains relief shaping. Concave shape of slopes and top trenches developed as double ridges (Smerek Mt, Połonina Wetlińska Mt) represents typical forms of relief of the Bieszczady National Park, very well visible in mountain landscape. The Bieszczady Mts have a specific and important hydrological role as a source of waters contribution to two catchments: the Baltic and Black Sea. The network of valleys and ridges forming a system of the grid is very typical of this Eastern Carpathians part.
Literature:
ALEXANDROWICZ Z., POPRAWA D., RĄCZKOWSKI W. 1999–Stratotypes and other important geosites of the Polish Carpathians. Pol. Geol. Inst., Spec. Papers, 2: 33-46. BAUMGART-KOTARBA M. 1974–Development of mountain ridge in the flysch Carpathians (English sum). Prace Geogr. Inst. Geogr. PAN 106: 1-136. PĘKALA K. 1969–Block fields and recent morphogenetic processes in the Western Bieszczady Mts. (English sum.). Ann. UMCS, sec. B 24(2): 47-98. STARKEL L. 1965–Development of relief of the Polish East Carpathians (upon the example of the upper San Basin) (English sum.). Prace Geogr. Inst. Geogr. PAN 50: 1-157. ŚLĄCZKA A. 1971–The geology of the Dukla Unit (English sum.). Prace Inst. Geol. 63: 1-97. TOKARSKI A.K. 1970–The relief of south - western slopes of the Bukowe Berdo on the background of the geological structure - Bieszczady Mts. (English sum.). Stud. Geomorph. Carp.-Balc. 4: 249-259. TOKARSKI A.K. 1975–Geology and geomorphology of the Ustrzyki Górne area (Polish Eastern Carpathians) (English sum.). Stud. Geol. Pol. 48: 1-90. ŻYTKO K. (ed) 1973–Przewodnik geologiczny po wschodnich Karpatach fliszowych. Wyd. Geol. Warszawa.