The Starunia collections in the Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals, Polish Academy of Sciences in Kraków

In the Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Kraków there is a collection of remains connected with the discovery of the famous Pleistocene rhinoceros Coelodonta antiquitatis (Blum.), the so-called “second rhinoceros” of Starunia which has been World’s only nearly completely preserved fossil woolly rhinoceros so far. The carcass of that rhino was found in October 1929, i.e. 80 years ago in a shaft of an ozokerite mine near the village Starunia (the Eastern Carpathian Mts.) together with parts of skeletons of two other (“third” and “ fourth”) woolly rhinoceroses. Those finds were the results of an Expedition of the Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences. Beside the rhinoceroses abundant remains of flora and fauna, especially insects, were encountered in this locality

The oil and ozokerite mine in Boryslav and historical monuments of petroleum and salt industries in the vicinity of Boryslav (Ukrainian Fore-Carpathian region)

The Boryslav region was one of the world largest petroleum basins, discovered in the second half of the 19th century. Situated southwest from Drohobych, it includes several localities: Boryslav – Tustanovychi – Mraznytsa – Banya Kotyvska with their rich and long history of brine and salt industry dating back to the 12th century. Rapid development of mining activity has commenced with the implementation of the new, Canadian method of drilling for oil by the Canadian MacGarvey Company. The decisive date in the activity of the MacGarvey Company was 1893 when exploration drilling for oil commenced in Boryslav and then, in 1895, in Tustanovychi. Discovery of an oilfield in Boryslav was the beginning of the “golden age” of the oil industry in the Fore-Carpathian region and many people amassed fortunes. From the geological point of view, the Boryslav region covers the three Carpathian structural units: Skyba (Skole), Boryslav−Pokuttya and Sambir (Stebnik). The Boryslav−Pokuttya Unit is the main oil reservoir in the Ukrainian Carpathians with multi- ayered oilfields, including the largest one – Boryslav. In this region ozokerite deposits are also known, hosted in the salt-bearing Lower Miocene Vorotyscha Beds. The city of Drohobych has become famous for its long tradition of salt trade. In the 19th century the period of rapid development started when the oil industry flourished in the vicinity, although the town was still in the shadow of Boryslav. The city of Truskavets, the famous health resort, has several mineral waters, also related to the oilfields, including the famous “Naftusia” spring. Another interesting site is Urych – the place where patients from the Truskavets resort travelled in order to admire scenic crags of the Yamna Sandstones and ruins of the Tustan Castle. The region of Boryslav and its surroundings was the site of the most effective petroleum exploitation in the territory of Poland in the past. This place is connected with the activity of Stanisław Szczepanowski (1846-1900), pioneer of oil industry and industrialization of the Galicia province

Tourist attractions of partner Orange cities (France) and of Jarosław (Poland)

In the article showed most interested tourist and attractions of Orange and Provence which became presented by the French national team of the Polish delegation within the framework of of the cooperation and the cultural of based on partnership cities Orange (France) and Jarosław (Poland). Described also most interested tourist objects of Jarosław against the background of the characterization of the natural environment

Geodiversity and geotourism in post-exploitation areas for the example of the Chęciny – Kielce region

The article discusses the matters of management of post-exploitation areas of the Chęciny-Kielce region. Changes in surface features and other elements of the natural environment, caused by mineral exploitation of resources, are usually recognized in terms of high threat and associated with landscape devastation. The author deal with the issues of necessary protection not only of the geographical environment, but also of the landscape, especially in areas where post-mining forms do not threaten the condition of the natural environment. It presents geological values and the need to protect them in order to increase the scenic values and for the purposes of geological didactics and specialist tourism

Idea of the ecological and geological tourist centre in Starunia (Fore-Carpathian region, Ukraine)

In Starunia village ozokerite deposit was mined in the years 1868-1960. In 1907 remnants of woolly rhinoceros and mammoth were discovered in one of the shafts. A second discovery was made in 1929, in a special shaft digged by the Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences, where remnants of three woolly rhinoceroses were found including one, a unique in the world, almost completely preserved specimen of this extinct species. In the 1970s, mud volcanoes were formed in relationship to seismic activity. In the vicinity of Starunia Paleolithic settlements were found of human population which might have inhabitated this area in the same period as large mammals. Geological, palaeontological and archaeological factors along with beautiful landscape of the Ukrainian Carpathian region make the Starunia village exceptional, world-class geotourist attraction. Hence, the concept of ecological and geological tourist centre has been proposed, located at the abandoned ozokerite mine in Starunia village