Drawskie Lake District
Drawskie Lake District forms the central part of West Pomeranian Lake District, which in turn is a part of South Baltic Lake District (phew!).
The landscape is diversified, with multiple overlooks, excellent for hiking, cycling, horseback riding, and canoeing. Numerous lakes are a base for sailors and anglers. Its northern-central part is labelled “The Switzerland of Połczyn”. Drawsko Forest extends to the South. In small towns, there are historic sacral structures, palaces with parks and cemeteries. In Stare Drawsko, there are ruins of Drahim Castle. In Połczyn Zdrój - a health resort. (from: Wikipedia)
Drawsko Forest and Drawa National Park
Drawa National Park, Drawsko Landscape Park, Ińsko Landscape Park, nature reserves, and right in the middle - Gudowo and Lubie Lake. For those who love nature it’s an extremely interesting, splendid location.
From the webpage of Drawa National Park:
“Those who like forests and water, silence and bird-songs, contact with nature and beautiful views will be deligted with the beauty of this land. Here, you can admire the attractive landform, the waterline and the color of water in midforest lakes, old trees, erratic boulders, precious plant and animal species, and many other values of wildlife, as well as historic places. Drawa National Park is worth visiting mainly by lovers of nature and qualified tourism.
The terrain will surely please those who like wandering through forests and by the water. Tourist trails will allow pedestrians, cyclists, and lovers of horseback riding to cover larger distances, and Drawa River will provide canoeists with numerous thrills. Anglers are awaited on the northern shore of Sitno Lake and the western shore of Ostrowieckie Lake, where you can find fishing platforms, and by Drawa (from Drawno to “Kamienna” power plant).
Two Tourist Information Points - in Drawno and Głusko - deal with tourism and hospitality management. There, you can gather information, pay tourist and fishing fees, buy maps, publications on Drawa National Park and the whole region”.
Lubie Lake
In terms of size, it is the 19th biggest natural lake in Poland (1.488 ha), the third biggest lake in Drawskie Lake District and, at the same time, in the whole West Pomeranian Lake District. It’s slightly bigger than Nidzkie Lake in Masuria (1.431 ha).
There are 5 islands on the lake.
The southern shore is overgrown with Drawa Forest and Drawa River flows through the lake. The lake is surrounded by small sandy beaches.
There are only three villages situated by the lake: Gudowo, Lubieszewo, and Karwice. The southern shore of the lake (from the direction of Karwice) is overgrown with Karwice Wood, which accomodates Drawsko Proving Ground - this part is inaccessible for civilians.
The Cardinal Karol Wojtyła canoe trail runs through the lake and about 50 km of a bicycle trail run around it.
The lake abounds in fish: pike, perch, zander, bream, and by virtue of its deep and clear waters also in whitefish and vendace. Crawfish can also be seen, although they are very rare. The Drawa River flows through the lake.
SAILING | ANGLING | MOTORBOAT SPORTS | CANOEING | SUNBATHING
The Drawa River
The Drawa is famous all over Poland thanks to its natural and scenic virtues. Canoeing on the Drawa is listed among the most charming in Poland. The river is 186 km long and debouches into the Noteć. It’s a river that runs from the North to the South (sic!), i.e. “from the sea to the mountains.” It’s spring is situated at 200 meters a.s.l. in a hamlet called Zdroje (in Połczyn-Zdrój Community), and its mouth at about 30 meters a.s.l., near Krzyż Wielkopolski (Greater Poland region).
Within the section between Dąbie Wielkie Lake and the Borowo hydro-electric power plant, the river flows through a closed part of Drawsko Proving Plant. Canoeing on this section of the Drawa is forbidden, which stems from the fact that it is the central point of projectile impacts and the river is not cleared from unexploded shells and other dangerous materials. The Drawa also flows through Drawa National Park, here and there resembling a mountain river (sic!).