Formerly known as the Jańsborska wilderness, Puszcza Piska bears the name of the Pisa river bordering the Forest along its west bank.

It covers the communes of Mikołajki, Mrągowo, Piecki, Sorkwity, Biskupiec, Biała Piska, Orzysz, Pisz, Ruciane-Nida, Dźwierzuty, Rozogi, Szczytno, Świętajno, Kolno, Turośl and Łyse.

Among them: Bełdany, Nidzkie, Jegocin, Warnołty nature reserve, Mokre, and the largest lake in Poland called Śniardwy.

The northern part of the complex borders on Masurian Lake District known in Polish as Kraina Wielkich Jezior.

[5] It is the home of the mute swan (pictured), native to temperate regions of Europe and western Asia, in time of moult arriving in numbers reaching up to 2,000 birds.