Śniardwy is the largest lake in Poland, located in the Province of Warmia and Mazury, in the Masurian Lake District, in the area of the Great Masurian Lakes. The lake was formed by the flooding of a depression created after the melting of a glacier. The lake has an area of 114 km², a length of 22.1 km, a width of 13.4 km, a maximum depth of 23.4 m and a mean depth of 6.5 m. It lies at an altitude of 117 m.
Śniardwa bottom
The bottom of the lake is covered with large boulders that hide under the surface and make navigation difficult.
The shoreline
Coastline is rugged, covered with pine forests or marshy. Of the many bays, the two in the south are called both Warnołty and Seksty lakes.
Śniardwy Islands
It has 8 islands, the largest of which are Szeroki Ostrów, Czarci Ostrów, Pajęcza and Kaczor.
Water regime
The lake is connected with lakes Tuchlin, Luknajno, Mikołajski, Roś, Białoławki, Tyrkło. Śniardwy in the south and Lake Mamry in the north of the lake area are connected by a system of lakes and canals, which together form the Great Masurian Lakes. The Pisa River flows from the lake into the Narew (Vistula basin).
Use
Śniardwy has a well-developed fishing industry, shipping and water tourism.
Water properties
Freezes for three months.
History of the Śniardwa
Śniardwy was formed by the retreat of the glacial escarpment and the outflow of floodwaters, which resulted from the melting of the ice in front of the retreating glacier. The eight islands include: Szeroki Ostrów, Czarci Ostrów, Wyspa Pajęcza, Wyspa Kaczor and others. The surrounding settlements include Popielno, Głodowo, Niedźwiedzi Róg, Okartowo, Nowe Guty, Zdęgowo and Łuknajno.
Among the many bays are separate lakes: Warnołty and Seksty. Śniardwy is connected with the following lakes: Tuchlin, Łuknajno, Mikołajskie, Roś, Białoławki and Tyrkło. It is surrounded by a system of canals known as Kanały Mazurskie (Masurian Canals) with numerous locks. Together they form the Polish Masurian Lake District.
