Rożnow Dam

The Dunajec is a river in southern Poland, one of the right tributaries of the Vistula. According to its mountainous origins, the Dunajec can be unpredictable and has caused damage over the years to the areas through which it flows. To tame its rebellious nature, it has been crossed by three dams – in Niedzica, Rożnów, and Czchów. The oldest of these is the Rożnów dam.

Its construction was started by Poles in 1935, but it was completed during the war in 1941 by the Germans. At the time construction began, it was one of the largest hydraulic engineering structures in the country. It was built in the narrowest part of the Dunajec mountain gorge, between the steep slope of the Ostra Góra elevation and the promontory of the Łazy hills. It is slightly over half a kilometre long (exactly 550 metres) and 9 metres wide at the top, and 32 metres at the base. An important technical element is a series of step pools at its eastern edge. These are fish passes that assist fish swimming upstream to reach their annual spawning grounds. It is worth taking a look at them, as they are a unique phenomenon in the country, and the sight of trout or grayling swimming upstream in late autumn is truly fascinating.

The structure has created an artificial reservoir – the Rożnów Lake, covering an area of 1,600 hectares. It is currently one of the more well-known recreational bodies of water in Lesser Poland. A well-developed accommodation and gastronomy base ensures that tourists frequently visit this place. The nearby area also offers a wealth of attractions. Medieval castles and fortifications can be found by the lake, including in Wytrzyszczka, Czchów, and Rożnów itself. Wine enthusiasts will also find something for themselves here. Few people know that vineyards have settled around Rożnów. In Zbyszyce, Tęgoborzy, or Iwkowa, visitors can not only see vineyards but also taste local products.

Author of the photos and text - Bogusława Bandyk