Nature

Lake Łuknajno Nature Reserve near Mikołajki

Five kilometres east of Mikołajki lies a lake with one of the richest protection records in Poland. Łuknajno — 680 ha of shallow water at 115 m above sea level, connected by a channel to Lake Śniardwy — has been protected since 24 July 1937, and since 1977 it has also been covered by the Ramsar Convention. A year earlier it was designated a biosphere reserve under the UNESCO-MAB programme.

The kingdom of the mute swan

The reason for protection is simple: this is the largest gathering of mute swans in Poland and one of the largest in Europe. The breeding colony numbers around 2,000 birds in some years, with up to 2,500 gathering during migrations. Together with coots, grebes, bitterns and bearded reedlings this gives 170 recorded bird species. White-tailed eagles and ospreys hunt over the lake.

How to visit

The reserve can only be walked along a designated route — the reed beds are a breeding zone. The viewing tower stands about 200 metres from the car park at Folwark Łuknajno (the address is Łabędzia Street in Mikołajki). Cycle routes R1 and R2 make getting there easy. The best light and the most birds are recorded in spring and early summer; binoculars greatly improve your chances of observing without disturbing the nests.