Paulina Jarkiewicz

Suwalszczyzna (latin: Sudovia) - land of moraine hills, thick forests, clear lakes, yotvingias culture and cake from dozens of eggs

Historically, the area is originally occupied by Yotvingians (Pol. Jaćwingowie; separated from the Prussian tribes). In XV-th century after Yotvingians conquest the region was divided between the Kingdom of Poland, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Teutonic Order. Today Suwalszczyzna is located in area of three countries: the north-eastern part of Poland (Biebrza river, the largest city: Suwałki), south-western part of Lithuania (Niemen river, the largest city: Mariampol) and north-western part of Belarus (the largest city of Sopoćkiń).

 Suwałki Governorate, year 1911; Wikipedia source

 

Special features of the Suwalszczyzna:

  • An glacier region with very varied terrain: hills, valleys, lakes and rivers; characterized by a variety of flora and fauna: swamps, peat bogs, sand dunes, deciduous and coniferous forests;
  • Two National Parks: Biebrza National Park and Wigry National Park and two Landscape Parks: Suwałki Landscape Park and Romincka Forest;
  • Augustow Primeval Forest - one of the largest forest complexes in Poland;
  • The largest concentration of erratic boulders in Poland;
  • Lakes have a reputation for their cleanliness and clarity;
  • Hańcza - the deepest lake in Poland;
  • A point of contact the borders of three states: Poland, Russia and Lithuania;
  • The homeland of the Yotvingians - discovered burial sites dating back to the 2nd century AD;
  • Railway bridges in Stańczyki - one of the highest in Poland;
  • Place of significant population of storks (also black) and cranes;
  • The ”Polish cold pole": snow covers an average of 90 days and lasted the longest 137 days (season 1969/1970 - source: Górniak 2000);
  • The"Green Lungs of Poland", many of areas covered by the program Nature 2000;
  • An unique regional cuisine represented by: branched tree cake (Pol. sękacz), dumplings with meet (Pol. kartacze), potato cake (Pol. babka ziemniaczana);
  • Suwałki Landscape Park – the second place in the IV-th NG Travelery plebiscite "Seven wonders of Poland" in 2014.

I invite you to reading a series of articles presenting this fascinating region.