“Wietrznia” nature reserve

Nature reserve “Wietrznia im. Zbigniewa Rubinowskiego” with an area of 17.95 ha comprises three former quarries: “Wietrznia,” “Międzygórz” and “Międzygórz Wschodni,” cutting across the former Wietrznia and Międzygórz hills belonging to the eastern part of the Kadzielnia Range. This huge post-mining area, which is a string of three interconnected excavations, is the result of mining of the Upper Devonian limestone deposit, which started
in the 19th century and concluded in 1974. In 1999 the nature reserve “Wietrznia im. Zbigniewa Rubinowskiego” was established, which protects one of the longest profiles of the Upper Devonian in Poland. The Upper Devonian rocks (limestone, dolomite, marl and shale) that can be seen in the reserve contain a rich fossil record in the form of fossilised remains of marine animals (sponges, corals, brachiopods, snails, crinoids, trilobites,
cephalopods and armoured fish), as well as numerous geological phenomena in the form of tectonics, mineralisation and karst. Apart from inanimate nature, the reserve is also distinguished by an extraordinary diversity of the plant and animal species living today, including the occurrence of rock and limestone-loving vegetation directly connected with the rocks exposed in the subsoil. At present, Wietrznia is one of the most important geotourist sites in the region, managed by Geopark Kielce and made accessible by a network of educational trails and vantage points. The Geopark Kielce — Geoeducation Center is located in the south-eastern part of the reserve. The facility houses a modern, interactive exhibition with a 5D cinema
aimed at children and young people, didactic rooms housing the Geology Amateurs Club
and a temporary exhibition room. The building is open to the public all year round (http://centrum-geoedukacji.pl/pl/).