It was established in 1977, and is a Natura 2000 EU Special Protection Area.

The Landscape Park protects an area of 536.55 square kilometres (207.16 sq mi) in the Masurian Lake District.

Other bigger lakes include Bełdany (9.41 km2), Mokre (8.15 km2), Łuknajno (6.92 km2), Mikołajskie (4.98 km2), Warnołty (4.65 km2) and Zdrużno (2.52 km2).

There are also over 20 smaller dystrophic lakes in the Krutynia river basin.

Within the Landscape Park are 11 nature reserves, including that of Łuknajno Lake, a Ramsar site also designated by UNESCO as a biosphere reserve due to its unique bird habitat.