Dolina Pięciu Jezior Nature Reserve

The Dolina Pięciu Jezior (Valley of Five Lakes) landscape reserve covers 228.78 ha in Połczyn-Zdrój municipality, about 7 km south-east of the town. The reserve was established on 29 December 1987. It stretches along provincial road no. 163 Połczyn-Zdrój - Czaplinek, on both sides of it, over a stretch of 4.2 km. The area is also called Połczyn Switzerland (Szwajcaria Połczyńska).

The sources of the Drawa and five lakes

The reserve includes the sources of the Drawa River and its upper course with a chain of lakes: Krzywe (Górne), Krąg (Okrągłe), Długie, Głębokie and Małe. The lakes lie in a deep glacial channel, 30-55 m deep, covered with beech forest with an admixture of spruce and larch. The nickname Połczyn Switzerland comes from the surroundings: moraine hills more than 200 m high, covered with forests and pastures.

What the reserve protects

The aim of protection is the source ecosystem of the Drawa: Pomeranian beech wood, fens and communities of aquatic vegetation. Growing here are, among others, yellow water-lily, white water-lily, mezereon, greater butterfly-orchid, early purple orchid, sweet woodruff and common hepatica. The reserve lies in Drawsko Landscape Park, in the Drawsko Lakeland protected landscape area, and also in two Natura 2000 sites: the bird site Ostoja Drawska and the habitat site Jeziora Czaplineckie. Supervision is carried out by the Połczyn Forest District. In the area lie Lake Kłokowskie and Drawsko Landscape Park.

Trails through the reserve

Two waymarked hiking trails from Połczyn-Zdrój to Czaplinek run through the reserve: the blue Połczyn Switzerland Trail and the red Salt Trail. Nature protection rules apply in the reserve, set by its manager, the forest district.

Practical information

• Location: 7 km south-east of Połczyn-Zdrój, on both sides of provincial road no. 163.
• Access: along the blue and red trails; check the rules for moving around the reserve with the Połczyn Forest District.