Turquoise Lake (Jezioro Turkusowe), Wolin

Turquoise Lake (Jezioro Turkusowe) on Wolin Island is a small, strikingly colored lake in a flooded chalk quarry at Wapnica (say "vap-NEE-tsah"), inside Wolin National Park in Poland's far northwest. On a sunny day its water glows an intense blue-green that looks more Mediterranean than Baltic. Surrounded by beech woods and steep quarry walls, it is one of the most photogenic spots on the Polish coast and an easy half-day trip from Międzyzdroje or Świnoujście.

Where it is

Wapnica is a village a few kilometers south of the seaside resort of Międzyzdroje, on Wolin Island, about 20 km from the German border town of Świnoujście. Berlin is roughly 165 km away as the crow flies, and the nearest airports are Szczecin-Goleniów in Poland and Heringsdorf on the German island of Usedom. Wolin National Park, created in 1960, protects the island's cliffs, beech forests and lakes.

How the lake was formed

The quarry supplied chalk to the cement works of Johannes Quistorp in nearby Lubin until World War II. The works stopped in March 1945 and were dismantled after the Red Army arrived, and groundwater began to seep into the pit. Mining resumed in 1948 but ended for good in 1954 when the deposit ran out. Groundwater and rain slowly filled the hole, and by about 1960 the water level matched that of the Szczecin Lagoon.

The lake now covers 6.74 hectares (17 acres) and is up to 21.2 m (70 ft) deep. Because the surface is only 2.6 m above sea level, the bottom lies about 18.6 m below sea level.

Why it is turquoise

No dye and no algae: sunlight scatters in the very clear water and bounces off the white, calcium-carbonate chalk on the bottom. The color is strongest on sunny days when you look down from the rim; under gray skies it turns darker and greener.

Things to do

• Sandberg viewpoint (Piaskowa Góra, 53 m): an official national park lookout on the high southern shore, with views over the lake, the village and the surrounding hills.
• Lakeside trail: a marked path, in place since 2005, loops around the lake with several viewpoints.
• Hike in from Międzyzdroje: the blue trail toward the town of Wolin passes nearby; guides put the walk at about 6 km.

Allow 1–1.5 hours for the loop and the viewpoint. Paths are partly steep and sandy, so strollers will struggle. Guides say swimming and fishing are banned, and park rules allow swimming only in designated waters. Dogs are not allowed in the national park, and you should stay on marked trails.

Practical information and getting there

As of October 2026:

• Access: open year-round during daylight; national park entry fees are charged on some trails (tickets online or from machines at trailheads) – check whether your route requires one.
• Parking: a paid Wolin National Park parking lot at the lake in Wapnica, charged seven days a week.
• Money: fees are in Polish złoty (PLN).
• Best time: late spring to early fall in sunshine; in winter the trails can be slippery.
• Is it worth visiting? Yes, if you are in the area – it is a short, rewarding walk with a genuinely unusual view.