NATURAL VALUES OF THE VEGETATION OF SPRINGS IN USTROŃ SURROUNDINGS AND ITS IMPORTANCE TO ECOTOURISM

Abstract

Ustroń is a spa town in Southern Poland in area of the Western Carpathians (attitude range: 360–480 m a.s.l.). It is very popular with tourists due to its proximity to biggest urban area of Poland – Upper Silesian Metropolis (about 50 km). The objects of study were surroundings of 3 popular mineral springs in Ustroń: Karol Spring, Ferruginous Spring and Spring on Równica Hill. Field research concerned vegetation and florawithin 100 m of each spring. Results show occurrence of 21 different vegetation types from 8 vegetation classes and 167 vascular species. Many of them are rare and legal protected. Natural values of study area could be use in promotion of ecotourism in Ustroń. What more, each plant community have specific influence to a human health and local bioclimatic properties, so it is necessary to recognize vegetation of spa towns.

Keywords

• spa
• springs
• Ecotourism
• bioclimate
• Western Carpathians