The Beskid Niski, Nízke Beskydy, Low Beskids or Lower Beskids is one of the Beskids mountain ranges in the Outer Eastern Carpathians in southeastern Poland and northeastern Slovakia. Is a hilly region in Prešov Region, Sanok County and Jasło County, between Busov, Ondavská vrchovina, Laborecká vrchovina, Beskydské predhorie in Slovakia, Beskid Sądecki, Pogórze Bukowskie and Bieszczady near the river Wisłoka, Wisłok and Osława in Poland. The mountain has two separate summits, one of 1,002 (Busov) and one of 997 meters (Lackowa). The Low Beskids separating the East from the West Carpathians.

Original flora and fauna was preserved because of the area's remoteness. The mountain range is covered with beech forests. The area is protected by Magurski National Park and Jaśliski Park Krajobrazowy. Animals living in this reserve are, amongst others, black storks, deers and wolves.

Division

Since there exist many variants of divisions of the mountain ranges and names for the Beskids , several divisions are given in the following:

• Busov (Slovakia),
• Ondavská vrchovina (Slovakia),
• Laborecká vrchovina Slovakia),
• Beskydské predhorie (Slovakia),
• Góry Grybowskie - near rivers Kamienica and Biała (Poland),
• Góry Hańczowskie - near rivers Biała, Ropa and Zdynia, (Poland),
• Beskid Gorlicki - near river Biała, villages : Radocyna, Bartne, Wołowiec,
• Pasmo Magurskie - mountains ranges Magura Wątkowska and Małastowskie,
• Beskid Dukielski - between rivers Wisłoka and Tabor, (Poland),
• Gniazdo Jawornika - between rivers Jasiołki i Wisłoka, (Poland),
• Pasmo Bukowicy and Kamieni Peak - between rivers Wisłok and Osławica,
• Pasmo graniczne - near river Bełcza, (Poland),
• Wzgórza Rymanowskie - near river Tabor,(Poland),

See also: Divisions of the Carpathians.

History

Beskid Niski in Poland

The region then became a site of contention between Poland, Kievan Rus and Hungary starting in at least the 9th century. Up until 1947, 45% of the population of the part of the mountains was Lemkos and Dolinians, 45% Polish Uplanders and 10% Jews. The killing of the Polish General Karol Świerczewski in Jabłonki by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army in 1947 was the direct cause of the replacement of the Lemkos, the so-called Operation Wisła.

Nízke Beskydy in Slovakia

The territory of present-day Nízke Beskydy has attracted settlers since the Stone Age. The Slavic forefathers of the Slovaks gradually moved to the basin of Humenné and Bardejov during the great migration of peoples, starting in the 5th century. An intensive and organized settlement of this area started as late as in the middle of the 13th century, after the Mongol raids. However, the first written reference to the town dates back to the 1240s, when monks from Bardejov complained to the King Béla IV about a violation of the town’s borders by Prešov.

Towns and Villages

Important towns and villages of this region include:

• Bardejov
• Humenné
• Svidník
• Medzilaborce
• Stropkov
• Giraltovce
• Bukowsko
• Grybów
• Gorlice
• Iwonicz Zdrój
• Rymanów-Zdrój

Ethnic Groups

• Carpathian Germans
• Slovaks
• Poles
• Polish Uplanders
• Rusyns
• Lemkos

Hiking trails

• European walking route E8
• Somár - sedlo Baba - Dolná Rakova - Končini - Brezová pod Bradlom - Polianka - Myjava - Veľká Javorina - Nové Mesto nad Váhom - Machnáč - Trenčín - Košecké Rovné - Fačkovské sedlo - Kunešov - Kraľová studňa - Donovaly - Chopok - Čertovica - Telgárt - Skalisko - Štós-kúpele - Skalisko - Chata Lajoška - Košice - Malý Šariš - Prešov - Miháľov - Kurimka - Dukla - Iwonicz-Zdrój – Rymanów-Zdrój - Puławy – Tokarnia (778 m) – Kamień (717 m) – Komańcza - Cisna - Ustrzyki Górne -Tarnica - Wołosate.

Literature

• Prof. Jerzy Kondracki. Geografia fizyczna Polski Warszawa : Państ. Wydaw. Naukowe , 1988, ISBN 83-01-02323-6.
• Prof. Jadwiga Warszyńska. Karpaty Polskie : przyroda, człowiek i jego działalność ; Uniwersytet Jagielloński. Kraków , 1995 ISBN 83-233-0852-7.

References

Rural landscape pictures