The Great Masurian Lakes have always had a special place in the heart of local people. Prussians, for instance, greatly appreciated the location of the region as they were engaged in fishing. Teutonic knights, in turn, had their own fishing fleet in the port of Ryn. In 1379 the Great Commander Winrich von Kniprode set off on a ship from Ryn along the Pisa, the Narew and the Vistula rivers and got to Malbork. It was as early as in those times that the first projects of building a system of canals appeared. The waters of the Pisa and the Węgorapa rivers, however, had been used to transport wood long before. The process of building canals liking the local lakes was first initiated between 1765 – 1772. The hydrotechnic works, however, were not continued until mid 19th century. It was then that the Jegliński Canal was created, making the water way from Pisz to Ryn shorter and easier. The history of navigation over Masurian lakes is abundant in intriguing pieces of information. The first steam ship Masovia appeared on the Masurian lakes route in 1854. The navigation passenger service has been in operation since 1891. In Giżycko by the Łuczański Canal you can admire a swing bridge from 1889. The difference in the water level among lakes is overcome due to three sluices – Guzianka, on the way to Ruciane-Nida, Karwik, on the way to Pisz and Przerwanki, on the way towards the lake Gołdopiwo. What cannot be overlooked in the land of Masurian lakes are the natural miracles which appear here in great amounts. One of such treasures is the Cormorant Island on the lake Dobskie. Near Mikołajki, in the reserve of the lake Łuknajno you can admire beautiful swans and listen to the sounds of many other bird species. The land of the Great Masurian Lakes is also famous for some impressive geographical records, for instance two biggest lakes in Poland - Śniardwy (113,8 km2) and Mamry (104 km2). The deepest lake of the region is Tałty (51 m deep). What is also worth mentioning is the unusual sport discipline which has been practised here for 100 years now – ice sailing. The best places for practising this sport are large lakes, such as Śniardwy, Niegocin or Święcajty. The lake Śniardwy is of postglacial origin – it is characterised by a large area, small depth, and gentle lake shores. There are eight islands on the lake; the biggest include Szeroki Ostrów, Czarci Ostrów, Pajęcza and Kaczor. Śniardwy is also abundant in small bays, two of which (in the southern part) are considered as separate lakes called Warnołty and Seksty. The lake Śniardwy is linked with other lakes, such as Tuchlin, Łuknajno, Mikołajskie, Roś, Białoławki and Tyrkło. This kind of network, interwoven with a system of canals makes up what has come to be known as the Great Masurian Lakes.
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