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Sailing near the border

POLAND

North-east edge of the Poland is characteristic for its picturesque, postglacial landscape, wooded areas and extremely raw for Polish conditions - climate. In the area of Litewskie Lake District (Wileńskie Lake District) which counts about 3375 square kilometres we can discriminate theRomnicka Primeval Forest (120 square km), Wschodniosuwalskie Lake District (1250 square km) and Równina Agustowska (1171 square km). The highest elevation of this area is Mt Rowelska (298 m above sea level), it is located in the neighborhood of Wiżajny Lake. In the northern and eastern part there are many beautiful lakes. The lakes usually fill the depressions in the postglacial troughs, and in the area of flat sandy regions - ‘basins’ created during the melting of continental glaciers. The biggest of those lakes are: Wigry, Gaładuś, Pomorze, Szelment Wielki, Serwy, Rospuda i Hańcza. In the area of the Romnicka Primeval Forest, where there are no bigger lakes, the landscape is constituted by peat bogs and swamps. Majority of Pojezierze Litewskie lies in the basin of Niemen which is inflowed by the Szeszup and the Czarna Hańcza. The northern edge belongs to the basin of Pregoły (inflowed by the Rominta), and only the western part of Zachodniosuwalskie Lake District where the Rospuda River flows – belongs to a basin of Wisla.

Sailing in Pomerania???

Lake Pomorze is located in north-east Poland, by the southern edge of the villagle Kukle, in the Giby commune (Sejneński county). Lake is a reservoir classified as a cave-in lake with a highly developed coastline, wooded by pine forest of the Augustów Primeval Forest. There are many bays - generally easily accessed, meanders with washed out shores, beaver dams, blown down trees, reed areas and shrubs. The lake bottom is constituted by the sand and gravel, with many depressions and rises with luxuriant underwater greenery. The shape of the lake reminds of a boomerang. In the old days the reservoir used to be called ‘morze’ (the sea). The name was an outcome of the language processes progressing in the area. (jaćwieskie word ‘mary’ meant ‘the sea’).

The area of the Lake Pomorze is 295,4 hectares, the length 4,9 kms, maximum width 1,4 kms, maximum depth 23,5 m (average depth 8,6m). The lake is located 123m above sea level. GPS data : N 54° 2' 4'' E 23° 24' 27''.

Lake Pomorze is excellent for any sports activities, including sailing. It is also a paradise for fishermen, it is well known for its large pikes, breams and perches. We can also fish here for roaches, eels and lavarets. The leaseholder of the lake is ‘Polski Związek Wędkarski’ (Polish Fishing Association).

The Marycha River is flowing through the lake. The valley of the river is very wide, wooded in the lower fragment (The Augustów Primeval Forest). North of the Czertok village it flows into the Czarna Hańcza, as its left side inflow. The Marycha River is not only the big challenge for the skilled canoeists but also for the survival fans – it is the alternative for the most well known canoe trail of Augustowski Land – Czarna Hańcza. It is also a paradise for the fishermen, as there are fishes like brook trout, grayling, European eel, pike, perch, dace, chub, ide, bream, burbot and roach.

The association of the Enthusiasts of Round Boats, Water Sports and Tourism ‘ALTERNATIV SAILING’ was created in 2005 from the initiative of the fans of sailing and unconventional ideas and solutions.

In the holiday resort ‘KUKLE’ on the Pomorze Lake there are organized Ogólnoświatowe Regaty Okrągłych Łodzi Żaglowych (Worldwide Regatta of Round Sailing Boats) under the patronage of professional Regatta Commission. The event is open for everybody who would like to try himself in this unusual, round boat sailing competition. It is the only place in the world where we can find round sailing boats !!!

The association has at its disposal 12 round boats what allows to organize regatta for about 50 people at the same time. For the people who are uninitiated in the sailing subject, during the reggatas we provide warding of experienced steersmen.Our boats are also perfect for sailing using electrical engines, which are to be rented at the spot. There is also a possibility of organizing regattas for companies, artists, journalists, touristic branch agents and many more.

Sailing on Wigry

Lake Wigry is a beeded lake located in the north-east Poland within Wigierski National Park. The area of the lake is 21,7 square kms, average depth: 15,4 m, maximum depth: 73m. The shape reminds of the ‘S’ letter. Because of the shape of the coastline, in the old days it used to be called ‘Wingry’ (from the jaćwieskie word wingris – curvy). The coast is high and wooded by the coniferous trees. The characteristic feature of Wigry are the numerous peninsulas, among them: 4 kms long Wysoki Wągieł, Rosochaty Róg, Klasztorny and the islands which area is about 70 hectares large. On the Klasztorny Peninsula, there is Wigry town with the historic monastery of Kamedułs – one of the biggest attractions of this area of borderlands.

By the straits and brooks Lake Wigry connects with 16 other lakes. Through the lake flows the Czarna Hańcza - the most well known canoe trail of Pojezierze Suwalsko-Augustowskie.

Long time ago the Wigry Lake was included in the complex called ‘Prawigry’ which, besides the Wigry Lake, included also few other neighboring reservoirs. The fishes living in this lake are mainly lavarets and European whitefishes. The Wigry Lake is one of the two Polish lakes where the lavaret spawns.

In the large weed areas there are about 140 species of birds, from which about 30 are water birds.

In 1975 Lake Wigry was booked by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as one of the most valuable bodies of water in the world.

There are following regattas on the Lake Wigry:

ANAGER OF WIGIERSKI NATIONAL PARK CUP

Regatta usually takes place in four classes: OMEGA standard and sport , cabin yachts and Żagle 500 (Sails 500).

http://www.wigry.win.pl

AZURE BAND OF WIGRY LAKE CUP

Regatta takes place in the PTTK centre in Stary Folwark, classes: OMEGA standard, sport, cabin yachts, MICRO

http://www.travelpolska.pl/regaty-o-blekitna-wstege-jeziora-wigry/

Sailing in Augustów

Augustów lies on the Równina Augustowska by the river Netta, between lakes: Białe, Necko, and Sajno. It is the centre of sailing on Suwalsko-Augustowskie Pomerania. There are many regattas taking place in Augustów in the summer.

Białe Lake

As the majority of the lakes by the Polish and Lithuanian border it is a beeded lake, length : 6 kms, maximum width: 1,35 kms average depth: 8m, maximum depth: 30m. The Lake is located 122 m above sea level, the area is 480 hectares, the coastline is well developed, there are many bays and peninsulas. The coast is high and dry, wooded by pine trees. On the lake there are 4 islands having the combined area of 1,5 hectares.Along the coast there is a stretched ‘oz’ – strongly extended hill, elevated by the deposition of sand and gravel by the waters flowing under the continental glacier or in the cracks within. Peninsulas Dąbek and Lisi Ogon are its peaks. Lisi Ogon is one of the most well developed forms of that kind in the area of Augustów. The name of the lake was stated in XVI century when the Białe (white) Lake surface was crowded by white water birds which inhabited the lake. The other theory of genesis says that the name is derived from the white color of the bottom of the lake.

The Necko Lake.

Postglacial beeded lake, the area of the lake is 400 hectares large, length : 5,4 km , maximum width 0,85km, average depth: 10 m, maximum depth: 25m. The lake is located 122 m above sea level. Well developed coastline with many sandy beaches. Necko is connected to the Rospuda Augustowska Lake from the north and with the Białe Lake by the river of Klonowica from the east. On the north of the Lake Rospuda, the Rospuda River inflows the lake, and from the south the lake is inflowed by Netta running through Necko which further flows into the Augustowski Canal. Lake is located in the area of Obszar Chronionego Krajobrazu ’Puszcza i Jeziora Augustowskie’ (protected landscape area). The name Necko derives from jaćwieskie word ‘to throw’ (methis). The lake was called Methis or Miecko in the old days.

Lake Sajno

The biggest in Augustów’s group of lakes – it is a beeded lake with extended and regular shape. Length: 7,1 km, width: 1,1 km, area : 522,5 hectares, maximum depth 27m (average 10m). Lake is located 118,7 m above sea level. Poorly developed coastline, wooded by mixed trees, the coast is high and dry. Fishing fans can count on catching fishes like pike, perch, pikeperch, eel, whitefish, bream or a beautiful roach. The name of the lake most probably was derived from a strong current leading through the centre of Sajno which in the Jaćwings language was name soia.

Gaładuś

Gaładuś lake (lit. Galadusys) – the border between Lithuania and Poland runs through the lake. It is the second by its size lake of Suwalszczyzna located in the Polish and Lithuanian borderlands, in the area of Sejny commune, the borders of Lithuanian Republic, in the region of Lazdijaj. It is characterized by not wooded, high coasts. The lake and its catchment are located in the basin of Niemen in the top area of the of Biała Hańcza catchment. The lake is the most beautiful body of water in Sejny land. It has a shape of an unfolded, long band veered towards north-west, widening as you sail south. The more south you go the higher the shores become, coasts are embellished by the beautiful trees and gorges. The lake offers beautiful views on a narrow surface of water, delicately outlined bays, peninsulas and bigger and smaller islands. The bottom of the lake is covered with sand and rocks with a uncountable number of underwater rises and depressions. Motor boats with the power higher than 5 KM are prohibited.

LITHUANIA

The country of, created by the glaciers, beautiful landscapes. The landscapes are very similar to the ones found in Suwalszczyzna.

Lithuania gets relatively few visitors from abroad – most of them from Poland, Russia, Germany and Sweden. Most of the foreigners visit main cities of the country such as Vilnius with the beautiful old city, Kaunas ‘the city with the most of Lithuanian character’ and Klaipeda a busy port-city with the Scandinavian and German décor. One of the biggest tourist attractions is the Wzgórze Krzyży near Šiauliai – spiked with crosses – the symbol of bloodshed in the stormy history of the country. Tourists like to spend time on the beaches on the Balitc shore and in Palanga where besides beaches we can find mineral springs and magnificent botanical garden. We can also visit Druskininkai for the health resorts.

Lithuania is called ‘Kraina Tysiąca Jezior’ (the land of thousand lakes). They constitute 1,5% of the area of the country. Most of them are small lakes or even smaller, miniponds.

In Lithuania there is no regatta sailing on the lakes. The idea of sailing trainings is also not spread on the smaller units. Of course there are organized sea regattas. We want to bring the people charms of sailing on the lakes. We created round boats which are capable of catching wind in the sails even on a very small lake. The great place for sailing our round boats is a small lake in the centre of Druskininkai and the neighboring beeded lakes. It is a great way to spend your time, allowing teaching the young people the responsibility connected with the water sports in spite of the fact that our round boat is very safe and practically impossible to keel.

Thanks to realization of the project, two cooperating round sailing boat harbours were created in Druskininkai and Kukle. Our round sailing boats do not require any sailing permits, they are safe, everybody who feels wind can sail them. We’ve got common trainings and regattas ahead of us… It is a great way of integration between our countries realized by tourism, fun, new touristic products …

The natural surroundings of most of the lakes are the pine woods. Usually they reach the shore creating one mutual nature system. They are extremely rich in fauna - forest animals as well as water animals – these are moose, badgers, foxes, deer and hares. There are also many fishes in the lakes.

Because of the animals a lot of the areas are preserved by the government law acts, e.g. the National Park in the neighborhood of Ignalina, covering about 200 lakes surrounded by hills and woods. From the hills you can see about a dozen of lakes. By some of them tourist bases were built. From the bases you can go on bloodless hunting with a camera, row a boat or just tan yourself in the rays of Lithuanian sun on one of the beaches.

The Zuvintas Lake (Zuvintas).

In the south of Lithuania, in about half of the road between Mariampol and Olita, there is a Lake Zuvintas. The value of its landscapes and ecological importance is measured in the highest European categories. It is called the kingdom of birds, one of the most important ornithological reserves in this part of Europe. There are also two charming lakes in the neighborhood Duś and Melele, creating very attractive complex together.

The Platelin Lake (Platelin).

‘Żmudź’ hasn’t got many lakes. However, there are few very unique bodies of water, one of them is Platelin Lake. The area of the lake is 12 square km, there are 7 islands without any trace of human activity, it is a fascinating nature reserve. It lies in a heart of Zemaitie National Park. There are many tourist attractions here: rock festivals and swimming marathons every year. Seven islands on the lake are the source of archeological treasures, castle was built on one of the islands. In the nearby forest there are remains of a Russian military base where atomic payloads were installed. This beautiful lake counts about 12 square km of a surface and quite impressive depth of 46 meters.

The Druksiai Lake (Druksiai)

The biggest Lithuanian lake with the area of 45 square km. Moraine lake has the maximum depths of over 33 m. Located in a direct neighborhood of a closed in 2009 atomic power plant in Ignalina. The water from the lake was used to cool down the powerplant’s reactors. The reservoir is located on a border with Belarus and the part of the coastline is on the Belarusian area. The lake is not touristically developed although it has good conditions for fishermen, sailors and nature fans.

Dusia Lake (Dusia)

The biggest lake in the south of Lithuania, in the region of Lazdijai and the third largest reservoir of the whole country. Over 23 square kms of area. Very clean and transparent water encourages to tourists to have a swim, have a canoe rally or sail a boat. There are few beautiful camping sites by the lake. On the southern shore in the Sutre (older Kryziai) village there is an impressive white church. It was built in the place of an old chapel from 1812 demolished by the Russian government after the Second World War.

Asweja Lake (Asweja)

The longest Lithuanian lake, area of 10 square kms, 20 kms long. over 50m deep beeded lake is very attractive for the tourists. There are boat and canoe rentals, along the coast there are great places for cyclists. One of the attractions is a built in 1934 wooden bridge, open to this day.

Vystytis Lake (Vystytis)

The deepest lake of Lithuania. The lake is not very large - area of 5 square km. It has a depth exceeding 61 m. Located in the north-east part of Lithuania in the neighborhood of a town Utena. Region is famous for its horse breeding. The best racing tracks are located here. During the winter there are organized horse sleigh races on the ice of the nearby lake - Sartai.