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Lake Sniardwy, Warmia-Masuria, Poland

Lake Sniardwy is located in the Masurian Lake District of northeastern Poland and is the largest lake in the country. With 27,182 acres of crystal blue water, Lake Sniardwy offers ample room for aquatic activities such as fishing, boating, sailing, canoeing, and kayaking. The lake was formed nearly 12,000 years ago by a melting ice block during the last glaciation. In fact, many of the Masurian Lakeland…
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    • All About Lake Sniardwy, Poland

    Lake Locations: Poland - Northern Poland - Warmia-Masuria Region, Northern Poland -

    Lake Sniardwy is located in the Masurian Lake District of northeastern Poland and is the largest lake in the country. With 27,182 acres of crystal blue water, Lake Sniardwy offers ample room for aquatic activities such as fishing, boating, sailing, canoeing, and kayaking. The lake was formed nearly 12,000 years ago by a melting ice block during the last glaciation. In fact, many of the Masurian Lakeland lakes were formed this way. The area has more than 2,000 lakes, and most are connected by rivers and canals. Lake Sniardwy is a popular lake for boat tours as it connects to Tuchlin, Luknajno, Mikolajskie, Ros, Bialolawki and Tyrklo Lakes. The Masurian Lake District is a national treasure, nominated to be one of the “new seven wonders of nature.”

    The 57-mile shoreline surrounding Lake Sniardwy is covered with luscious forests filled with pine, spruce, birch, and other varieties of trees. Swans, herons, and waterfowl can be seen coasting the water, and eagles and beavers nest on the lake shore and bays. The lake reaches a depth of 77 feet and is brimming with roach, bream, white bream, perch, pike, and eel. Lake Sniardwy sits at the heart of the Masurian Landscape Protective Area that is a popular site for botanical, zoological, and ecological researches. The Protective Area is meant to preserve the postglacial terrain, forest and swamps with uncommon vegetation, as well as many lakes and pools.

    In the surrounding Masurian area you will find some of the largest forest complexes in Poland. The Augustow Forest is made up of mainly pines and spruce trees that are impressive in size and age. This forest is the remains of ancient forests that once covered the area with many trees over a century old. European bison, elk, boars, wolves, and beavers inhabit the area. The Piska Forest has a private park with wild animals such as elk, tarpans, miniature goats and muskrats. There is also the Lake Luknajo Reserve, a breeding ground for the rare mute swan. The forest is the largest in Masuria and one of the largest in Poland. Complete with majestic landscapes and lakes dotted with islands, Piska Forest is ideal for hiking, biking, and kayaking. The route of the Krytunia River is famed as the most picturesque kayaking route in Poland.

    To the north of Lake Sniardwy is the town of Mikolajki and Mikolajskie Lake. Dubbed the “Pearl of Masuria,” Mikolajki is one of the largest tourist sites with one of the busiest waterfronts in the Masurian area. Hundreds of colorful yachts, motor boats, and pleasure boats are available to take you on breathtaking cruises, many of which run through Lake Sniardwy. To the east of the lake is the town of Orzysz. With canoeing and biking trails, beaches and lakes, Orzysz has a lot to offer. The entire Masurian Lake District is full of historical castles and fortresses. Czarci Ostrow, one of the islands on Lake Sniardwy, has the remains of a stronghold erected in 1784-96.

    The winter months bring sports such as ice-boating and ice skating. These sports are popular on Lake Sniardwy because of its large size. The lake is perfect for travel year-round. There are plenty of vacation rentals and real estate property for sale as well as holiday homes and cottages for friends and family. Come to Lake Sniardwy and experience a piece of Poland that is sure to capture your heart.

    Things to Do at Lake Sniardwy

    These are some activities in the Lake Sniardwy, Poland area visitors can enjoy:

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Boating
    • Sailing
    • Swimming
    • Beach
    • Canoeing
    • Kayaking
    • Hiking
    • Ice Skating
    • Biking
    • Wildlife Viewing
    • Birding

    What Kind of Fish Are in Lake Sniardwy?

    Lake Sniardwy has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Eel
    • Perch
    • Pike
    • Roach
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    Find Places to Stay at Lake Sniardwy

    If you’re considering a Lake Sniardwy lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

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    More Sites to Book a Lake Sniardwy Vacation

    Our interactive Lake Sniardwy lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

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    Lake Sniardwy Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Natural Freshwater Lake, Not Dammed

    Surface Area: 27,182 acres

    Shoreline Length: 57 miles

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 381 feet

    Average Depth: 19 feet

    Maximum Depth: 77 feet

    Water Volume: 516,458 acre-feet

    Water Residence Time: 1.4 years

    Drainage Area: 44 sq. miles

    Trophic State: Eutrophic

    Lake Sniardwy Map

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