A 95-hectare reserve located near the village of Tabórz (Warmian-Mazurian Voivodeship, commune of Łukta, Miłomłyn Forest Division).
The reserve encompasses a 230-year-old forest stand, with the European red pine (Tabórz ecotype) being the major species. The world-famous Tabórz pines, which can grow up to 30-40 meters high and 1 meter in diameter, were once used to build masts for sailing ships. They were a sought-after raw material as early as the 16th century, and were floated down the Vistula to Gdańsk, then exported to Western Europe. The trees impressed Napoleon himself, who had their seeds shipped back to France. The cross-sections of the pines were exhibited at the 1900 Paris World’s Fair, and in 1914 were 50% more expensive than other pine trunks.
Research on forest stand longevity is conducted within the reserve. A 1.5 km educational trail with information boards serves as an added attraction.
fot. Jarosław Kowalski
