On October 8, 2026, the Landsat 9 satellite, equipped with the Operational Land Imager (OLI), captured an image showing the autumn transformation in Bieszczady National Park, located in the Carpathian Mountains in southern Poland, reports NASA.
This region is dominated by European beech forests (Fagus sylvatica), accompanied notably by sycamore maples (Acer pseudoplatanus), which contribute to the characteristic red and golden autumn palette. The drop in temperatures and reduction in daylight lead to decreased chlorophyll production—the green pigment in leaves—revealing yellow and red pigments.
The European beech, a descendant of survivors from the Ice Age, spread across Europe after the glaciers retreated, playing a crucial role in reforesting lands formerly covered by ice. Some parts of Bieszczady National Park are included in the UNESCO network of ancient and primeval beech forests, which spans 18 countries.
At altitudes above 1,000 to 1,260 meters, forests give way to poloninas—subalpine meadows and thickets of hawthorns, willows, and green alders—that appear tawny after losing their summer greenery.
Beyond its landscapes, the Bieszczady Mountains are known for remarkable wildlife. European bison, reintroduced in the 1960s after disappearing from the wild, now number in the hundreds here. The region also hosts populations of brown bears and Eurasian lynx, which find refuge and food within these forests.
