Lake Czerniańskie in Wisła

In Wisła Czarne the Biała and Czarna Wisełka, the two streams that form the Vistula, meet, and it is right here that an earth dam holds back their waters. Lake Czerniańskie, also called the Czerniański Reservoir, is a mountain drinking-water reservoir surrounded by the slopes of the Silesian Beskids, with Barania Góra in the background. A promenade runs along the top of the dam, looking out over the water and the President's Castle on the hillside above the lake.

History and purpose

The dam was built in 1968–1973 to a design by Jan Stonawski. According to Wisła town council the reservoir holds about 4.9 million m³ and covers 36 ha, while the dam is about 280 m long and 30 m high (other sources give 270 m and 37 m). The permanent flood reserve is 1.56 million m³. The reservoir protects the valley from floods and supplies water to Wisła, Ustroń and Skoczów.

For almost half a century the facility had no comprehensive overhaul, and silt has reduced its capacity. The state water authority Wody Polskie is preparing to modernise the overflow spillway and build a service road around the dam with technical bridges over the Biała and Czarna Wisełka; the first stage is scheduled for 2026.

What to see

• The dam crest, which serves as a promenade and the best viewpoint over the lake.
• The mouths of both Wisełka streams: from the dam you can see where the streams that form the Vistula flow into the lake.
• The President's Castle, a 1930s residence of the Polish president on the slope above the water.
• A panorama of the Silesian Beskids with the Barania Góra massif.
• The Szarcula viewpoint, which looks down on the lake from above.

Interesting facts

The lake is sometimes simply called Lake Czarne, after the district of Wisła where it lies. The Vistula is considered to begin exactly where the two Wisełka streams meet, a point that now lies within the reservoir, while their springs rise a few kilometres higher up, on the slopes of Barania Góra. Because the lake is a drinking-water reservoir, it is not a bathing spot, and its shores are for looking rather than sunbathing.

Tripto tip

The dam is in Wisła Czarne at Czarne 10a, a few kilometres from the town centre. A walk along the crest takes 30–45 minutes, but the lake works best as a stop on a longer route: beyond it begins the Biała Wisełka Valley with the Rodło Cascades, and keener hikers can head up the trail to Barania Góra. Do not go into the water or swim, as this is a drinking-water intake. Because of the planned modernisation works, check for notices about access to the dam at the tourist information centre in Wisła (pl. Hoffa 3) before you go.