Location
In the south Pieniny border on Magura Spiska range, in the north they reach Gorce and Beskid Sadecki. Two gorges of the Dunajec divide Pieniny into three parts:

• Pieniny Spiskie, between the Bialka valley and the Dunajec's gorge at Niedzica. The highest peak - Zar (Branisko) - 879 m. a.s.l.;
• Pieniny Srodkowe (Pieniny Proper), often simply called Pieniny, from Niedzica to the Dunajec's gorge between Sromowce Nizne and Szczawnica. The highest peak - Trzy Korony - 982 m. a.s.l.
• Male Pieniny (Lesser Pieniny) - stretching to the Poprad valley. The highest peak - Wysoka - 1052 m. a.s.l.

Landscape
Pieniny are made of hard limestones set in very soft formations made of schists and marles. This has influence on diversity of landscape - there are many rock formations, deep gorges

Pieniny are cut through by the Dunajec's gorge which has vertical walls, in some places 50 m high, and meandering course. The river carries waters from Slovakia to the Baltic Sea. Its source streams Bialy Dunajec, Czarny Dunajec and Biala Woda, as well as its tributary on the right bank - Jaworzynka, take away waters from the Pieniny area. From Nowy Targ the river flows east. In Slovakia Dunajec receives its tributaries on the right bank - Ostrunianski (Kacwinski) Potok, Rzeke and Lipnik.

Climate
In comparison to surrounding mountain ranges: Tatry, Spiska Magura, Gorce and Beskid Sadecki, Pieniny have much milder climate. Average annual temperatures reach from 4.0ºC on Wysoka to 6.3ºC in lower parts. Annual rainfall is about 690-850 mm (1090 mm on Wysoka). Snow cover is thin (10-12 cm on average). Most of the sunny days occur in early autumn. A characteristic feature of Pieniny climate, especially after a barrage and a water reservoir in Czorsztyn was built, are temperature inversions and appearance of fogs in valleys.

Types of habitats
Among types of natural habitats important for Europe which are mentioned in 1 Appendix of the Habitats Directive we can find here:

• Alpine rivers and their ligneous vegetation with Myricaria germanica
• Alpine rivers and their ligneous vegetation with Salix elaegnos
• Alpine and subAlpine calcareous grasslands
• semi-natural dry grasslands and scrubland facies on calcareous substrates (Festuco Brometalia) (important orchid sites)
• hydrophilous tall herb fringe communities of plains and of the montane to Alpine levels
• lowland hay meadows (Alopecurus pratensis, Sanguisorba officinalis)
• alkaline fens
• Medio-European calcareous scree of hill and montane levels
• calcareous rocky slopes with chasmophytic vegetation
• caves do not open to the public
• Lazulo-Fagetum beech forests
• Asperulo-Fagetum beech forests
• Medio-European limestone beech forests of the Cephalanthero-Fagion
• Galio-Carpinetum oak-hornbeam forests
• Tilio-Acerion forest of slopes, screes and ravines
• alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior (Alno-Padion, Alnion incanae, Salicion albae).

Flora
Pieniny are characteristic for their diverse plant cover. It is determined by many factors, such as: calcareous ground, specific climate, lack of glacier cover during the Tertiary glaciations; steepness of many slopes which blocks expansion of forests, finally neighbourhood of Tatry.

Due to all these factors relicts of the Tertiary flora (such as Dendranthema zawadskii, Savin Juniper, mountain avens) have survived here. There are also endemic species (montane dandelion, Pieniny wallflower), alipne plants, semi-natural dry grasslands and specific rocky grasslands communities on south slopes.

Vegetation of the refuge is represented by plants important for Europe, specified in 2 Appendix of the Habitats Directive, including priority species: green shield-moss, slender green feather-moss, Pieniny wallflower, lady's slipper orchid. In the park's flora 1100 species of vascular plants occur, including 52 protected species (such as Hart's tongue, Mortagon lily, elder-flowered orchid, western marsh-orchid).

Forest cover deserves special attention because of its diversity which depends on exposure. Steep, south slopes, heated during sunny weather, offer different condition for vegetation development than gentle north slopes built of easily weathered rocks. North slopes vegetation is dominated by Carpathian beech forests with fir and beech, whereas south slopes are occupied by thermophilic beech and fir forests, specific for Pieniny. Another community which deserves special attention are relict little pine forests - the most xerothermic forest community in the park. Short, strangely twisted old pines which grow on tops of rocks are almost a symbol of Pieniny nature.

Fauna
Diversity of habitats influences the richness of fauna. It is thought that half of the total number of species known in Poland (13-15 thousand species) occur in Pieniny. Most of them are ivertebrates, among which we can find ground beetle and Ophiogomphus cecilia - species protected by European directives.

In area of Pieniny there live 10 species of amphibians, including: newts, frogs, toads, fire-bellied toads, fire salamander, and reptiles: lizzards - sand and viviparous, slow worm, snakes - common viper, smooth snake, grass snake.

Pieniny forests are habitats of rare species of birds. There live species of European importance such as: red-backed shrike, red-breasted flycatcher, collared flycatcher, three-toed woodpecker, white-backed woodpecker, grey-faced woodpecker, black woodpecker, Boreal owl, Eurasian pygmy-owl, Ural owl, Eurasian eagle-owl, common tern, hazel grouse, peregrine falcon, lesser spotted eagle, black stork.

Mammals are represented by otter, lynx, lesser horseshoe bat, barbastelle bat, pond bat, mouse-eared bat, European beaver and wolf.

Nature Protection
In order to protect fauna and flora of Pieniny on the 23rd of May 1932 the Pieniny National Park was established. Together with the Slovakian Nature Reserve it was the first international nature park in Europe. After the war the park was reconstructed, in Poland on the 1st of January 1955, in Slovakia on the 16th January 1967. In Poland the Park covers area of 2246.16 ha, 777 of which is under strict protection. Around the park a protection zone was marked out on area of 2682.00 ha. In Male Pieniny there are a few nature reserves.

Sensitive ecosystem of Pieniny can be harmed by a barrage in Niedzica built in 1976-1997. Results of the barrage's influence are difficult to trace and remain unpredictable.