Skałka Rogoźnicka Nature Reserve

The Skałka Rogoźnicka nature reserve lies between Rogoźnik and Maruszyna in Nowy Targ County. Geographically it belongs to the Gubałówka Foothills, and geologically to the Pieniny Klippen Belt. It was established in 1961 as a reserve of inanimate nature.

What the reserve protects

It consists of three parts: Rogoźnicka Skałka, rising to about 670 m above sea level, and two quarries, eastern and western. In the eastern one there are white crinoidal limestones and white and red micritic shelly limestones, in the western one mainly red, but also grey and green marls. In the shelly limestones one can see shells of ammonites, brachiopods and crinoids, and sometimes coral skeletons.

Geological significance

The rocks date from the Paleogene and Mesozoic and were strongly folded in the Late Cretaceous and Tertiary. Wikipedia calls the site unique in the world in geological terms. A sign by the reserve mentions inclusion on the UNESCO list of world geological heritage, but the official documents on the protection of the area do not confirm this.

Practical information

• No marked tourist trail leads to the reserve, and it is little known to tourists.
• Large meadows extend to the south, a wooded slope falls steeply to the north, and the reserve lies on the right bank of the Trawny stream.
• Check the rules of entry with the reserve's manager before your visit.