Poraj Reservoir

Poraj Reservoir was built not for holidaymakers but for steelworkers: its job was to store industrial water for the Częstochowa steelworks. Yet the planners allowed for recreation from the start, and recreation won. According to Poraj municipality it is now the largest body of water in the Częstochowa region, with beaches, sailing harbours and a cycling loop around its shores.

History: water for the steelworks

The reservoir was created by damming the Warta valley at Poraj with a concrete dam. The municipality says it was built in 1969–1977 and filled in 1979–1980; the literature gives 1978 as the year it was created. Holiday centres appeared on its shores, at first for steelworkers, later followed by cabin colonies and bases for sailors and anglers. It is fed by the Warta, Ordonka, Boży Stok and Sarni Stok.

Facts and figures

Figures vary with the source and the water level:

• area: 450–550 ha (municipality), up to 5.5 km² (reservoir monograph),
• length: 4.9 km, around 6 km including the backwater,
• width: 600–1,400 m,
• capacity: about 25–26 million m³,
• depth: 3.9–6 m on average, 12–13 m at most,
• shoreline: about 15 km.

Things to do

The left bank has kept its natural character: it slopes gently into the water and has sandy stretches, which is why the municipality recommends it as the best area for relaxing. Pine forests around the lake give shade in summer. On the water you will see sailing boats from the shoreside harbours, and anglers.

The best way to see the reservoir is the green cycling route around it – 43.4 km: Poraj station – Choroń – Zaborze – Przybynów – Żarki Letnisko – Podkuźnica – Gęzyn – Jastrząb – Poraj station. It circles the whole reservoir, so you see both the dam and the quieter, forested shores.

Tripto tip

• By train: the cycle loop starts and ends at Poraj railway station, so you can arrive by train with your bike.
• Time needed: the cycling loop is a half-day trip; set aside a full day for the beach.
• When to go: summer gets crowded – the reservoir is a favourite with people from Częstochowa and the Silesian conurbation. In spring and autumn the shores are quiet and good for walks.
• Swimming: before going in, check whether a lifeguarded bathing area is open that season – Poraj municipality publishes the details.