Lost village

There used to be a village here. The trees in the valley belong to old orchards, the ground holds numerous artefacts of former human activity. But the place is now deserted.

According to historical data, between 400 and 600 people lived in Krywe before World War II. Almost the same number - in '46. That was before Operation Wisła([link]). Polish communists weren't able to tame the Ukrainian uprising, so they came with a simple solution - the whole population of Bieszczady had been deported to Pomorze and other regions of Poland, and Bieszczady themselves became off-limits for almost 15 years. Without farmers to support it, the uprising died out.

So did Bieszczady. However, thanks to the grim fate of it's inhabitants, the mountains survived, unchanged, or precisely - returned to their wild state. Today, Bieszczady are still the most secluded place in Poland, their wildlife blooming without (almost) any human intervention.

Krywe Valley, now having only 2 inhabitants, is located on the outskirts of Bieszczadzki National Park. It is my place of refuge, where I regain my sanity after a year long contact with civilisation. The sight of abandoned orchards and memories of their history bring sad peace to a travellers mind.