Wda

The Wda is a river in Poland. It has a lowland character. The Wda is one of the 15 main canoe trails in Poland. It is 198 km long and the surface of its catchment area amounts to 2325 km₂. The Wda's average gradient is 0.7‰ and its flow is 6.52 m₃/s. The Wda begins its course at Krążno Lake and ends in the Wisła in Świecie. The Wda is one of the longest rivers in Bory Tucholskie and one of the most important of Pomorze's river routes.

Characterization

This lowland-woody river is a tourist interest route. Wda meanders among the forests and it forms a lot of bays. Its bottom is mainly sandy-stony. Wda has variable character. Once is like a mountain stream then again like a wide, lazy river.

In the upper reaches the river is not good for canoeing because of capriciousness and arduousness of the river. It is really obstreperous and it has fast current. It flows through over 350 lakes.

The middle part of Wda is a more rapid river and meanders through deciduous forests in the low-cut valley in Bory Tucholskie. In the lower region of the river, Wda flows through artificial lakes near hydroelectric power stations. Here it becomes a fast and untamed river, with many bends and high steep banks.

Geography

The source of Wda is on Równina Charzykowska in Krężno Lake. The river flows through the area of Bory Tucholskie, Wdzydzki Landscape Park and Wdecki Landscape Park. There is one river's canal below Wdzydze Lake. The river reaches Tleń, then flows across Wysoczyzna Świecka and ends in Wisła in Świecie on Dolina Fordońska.

Lakes

• Krężno
• Wieckie
• Lubiszewskie
• Schodno
• Radolne
• Wdzydze
• Żurskie

The Wdzydze Lake along with lakes Gołyń, Jeleń and Słupinek are called Morze Kaszubskie.^[1] This lakes take a shape of the cross made of postglacial channels. Wdzydze Lake is dangerous for inexperienced canoeists during strong winds.

Towns

• Lipusz
• Borsk
• Wojtal
• Czarna Woda
• Wda
• Błędno
• Tleń
• Żur
• Świecie

Flora and Fauna

Wda runs through many multispecies deciduous forests, in which contains diverse lichens. The river meanders also through riparian forests and alder forests. Rare mountain ash brekinii can be found in the Zygmunt Czubiński Reserve “Brzęki” in Szczerkowo. Next rare and protected plants on Wda's route are: lycopodium clavatum, diphasiastrum complanatum, lycopodium annotinum, sundew, western marsh orchid, heath spotted orchid, lesser butterfly-orchid, broad-leaved helleborine, european common twayblade and arctostaphylos uva-ursi, which are found in Wdecki Landscape Park. This region of Poland houses species like: cranes, common goldeneyes, goosanders, western marsh harriers, ruffs, kingfishers, trouts, common vipers, fire salamanders, tree frogs and great crested newts.

History

The name “Wda” has been already used in the Middle Ages, but the river is also known as Czarna Woda. This name comes from dark brown colour of water caused by marshy banks, mineral molecules in water and sludge from tar factories in 19th century. After World War I tourism started developing on Wda and about 40 years later Wda earned its title of The Queen of The Rivers of Kociew and The Beauty of The Land of Kociew.^[2]

Hydroelectric power stations

On the Wda's route are three hydroelectric power stations located in Żur, Gródek and Kozłowo. In this area canoeists need to carry their canoes to the further part of the river.

Attractions

Along the route of Wda some attractions can be found. First of them is a 19th-century Neogothic church in Lipusz. Next Kaszubski Park Etnograficzny, containing wooden dwelling houses, farms and windmills. The oldest once date back to the 17th century. The archeological reserve “Kamienne Kręgi”^[3] near towns Odro i Miedzno consists of 12 mysteriouse stone circles and 20 burial mounds, which are remains from Goths and Gepids. Błędno has a memorial for the victory of Polish and Soviet guerrilla fighters over the German army (27 X 1944). Next monument on Wda's route is a castle of the Teutonic Knights in Świecie. This is a building surrounded by water. From two sides by Wda and Wisła, and from the third side by the moat. There are also remains of defensive walls in the Old Town of Świecie and monumental Gothic parish church.

See also

• Rivers of Poland

References

• http://visitkujawsko-pomorskie.pl/rzeka-wda,178,2,1109.html
• http://www.splywy.pl/wda/wda_dok.htm
• Galiński Z., Przewodnik dla kajakarzy. Wda, Pascal, 2003.

Coordinates: 53°24′42″N 18°28′45″E / 53.4117°N 18.4792°E / 53.4117; 18.4792