Would you like to enjoy active holiday in the real wild? Then Poloniny and Bukovské hills might be what you are looking for. Protected Landscape Area of the Eastern Carpathians is located in the north-eastern Slovakia and in its most eastern part was established Poloniny National Park in 1997.
This area is also located near the connection of state borders of Slovakia, Ukraine and Poland. These mountains are in Slovak measures not very high. The highest point is Vysoký Grúň - 905 m.
There is also located here the lowest-positioned Pass of Carpathian ridge - Duklianksy pass. The mountain range is particularly interesting by its authentic and untouched nature. It is dominated by very old mixed forests. These mountains are way too remote and therefore offer satisfaction especially to those who appreciate longer lonely wilderness wanderings.
Poloniny are known through its dense beech forests and Bukovské hills count to at least populated areas of Slovakia. Inhabitants use a specific dialect that is a mixture of Polish, Slovak and Ukrainian language, that is hard to understand for Slovaks. The main ridge of mountains forms the Polish- Slovak border with highest peak - 1,221 m high Kremenec.
So-called poloniny - mountain meadows and extensive beech- fir forests with lots of unique flora and animals is what maked this part of Slovakia very authentic. Since this locality is the largest area of natural beech forests in Europe, related mountain range has been classified as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The area is marked by little human activity. That is why you can enjoy holiday in truly unspoilt nature.
Greater interference into the natural environment was building of a dam called Stariná. Its construction as well required disappearance of several villages. Todays most important settlements of Poloniny include Nová Sedlica (the easternmost village of Slovakia, starting point of hiking trips) and villages of Ruský Potok, Topoľa and Uličské Krivé with preserved buildings of unique wooden churches.