Lakes

Beach in Czernichów

On the bank of the Soła river, just below the outflow of Lake Międzybrodzkie, lies a beach that in summer becomes one of the most popular bathing spots of the Żywiec region. The tidy grassy slope descends to a sheltered cove, and the whole scene is overlooked by Góra Żar hill with gliders circling above. Lake Żywieckie spreads out nearby as well.

Beach facilities

The infrastructure is complete: loungers for hire, a bar, toilets, a playground and water equipment. Entry and parking are free of charge; fees apply only to bringing tourist coolers onto the site. From the beach you can paddle out on a pedal boat to the open water of the reservoir. On hot days the crowds arrive around noon, so it is better to come in the morning.

The dam of 1937

All this recreation rests on serious engineering. Lake Międzybrodzkie is a reservoir on the Soła, dammed by a barrier raised in 1928–1937 to a design by Professor Gabriel Narutowicz and engineer Tadeusz Baecker. The reservoir, with an area of 3.8 km² and a length of about 5 km, was created chiefly for flood protection. Its ceremonial opening took place on 13 December 1936 in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister Eugeniusz Kwiatkowski. A hydroelectric plant stands at the dam, and since 1979 a pumped-storage power station has operated on the summit of Żar.