A lake in the Drawsko Lakeland in Czaplinek municipality, the second deepest in Poland after Hańcza, with 12 islands, beaches and sailing bases.
Lake Drawsko is the largest lake of the Drawsko Lakeland, lying in Czaplinek municipality. The Drawa River flows through its waters, and on its shore stands Czaplinek, the main base for sailors, canoeists, divers and anglers. The dimensions of the lake are given differently: the Wikipedia entry gives an area of 1781.5 ha and a maximum depth of 82.2 m (according to a publication of 1991), the town office in Czaplinek 1871 ha and 83 m. Both sources agree in calling Drawsko the second deepest lake in Poland after Hańcza.
The lake formed where several deep glacial channels cross, which is why it has long, narrow bays. The municipality counts 14 of them, from the narrow Henrykowska and Owcza to the round Basen and Plaża, and estimates the shoreline at about 75 km. There are 12 islands on the water, including Lelum, Polelum, Czapla and Kacza. The largest is Bielawa, the fifth largest lake island in Poland. A medieval castle, Drahim, also stood on the shore, recorded in a description of 1480; today its history is described in the entry for Drahim Castle in Stare Drawsko.
People have sailed on Drawsko for at least a hundred years, and the first sailing courses began here in 1946. According to the municipality, long bays converge from every side, so sailing boats and windsurfing boards have good conditions in any wind. The same expanse means that the wind can be very strong, and waves reach a metre and can be dangerous for canoes and small boats.
The canoeing route of the Drawa begins in the lake. The main sailing bases are in Czaplinek and Stare Drawsko, and most trips set off from there. Drawsko is a separate sailing body of water: although the Drawa links it with Lake Żerdno and Lake Rzepowskie, you cannot sail a yacht to other lakes. Divers come for camps, and the Polish spearfishing championships are held in the lake. The deepest spot lies roughly by the Five Piers bay, where, according to the municipality, diving is most popular.
The municipality names the best beaches in Czaplinek (the Plaża bay), in Stare Drawsko and in Siemczyno. At the holiday centres there are hire points for pedal boats, rowing boats and canoes. The pleasure boats “Perkoz” and “Aquarius” sail to Bielawa and can also be hired for any route on the lake.
The lake belongs to the State Treasury, and the fishing rights are leased by the Fishing Farm in Czaplinek. It is stocked, and the municipality mentions perch and vendace, called the under-ice salmon. Smoked vendace is regarded in Czaplinek as a regional fish. In 2010 the municipality received a distinction in the European EDEN competition, in which Drawsko was the entry.
The lake has ecological problems. Wikipedia states that studies from 2009 assessed the ecological status as moderate, and in the overall assessment the state of the waters as poor. In July 2024 the mayor of Czaplinek appointed a team to draw up rules for the use of the lake and remedial measures, and one of the topics is cyanobacterial blooms. Before swimming, check the current announcements of the municipality.
Be the first! Add a comment.
You need to log in to add a comment.
Log in