Colorful Lakes

The Colorful Lakes (Kolorowe Jeziorka) is a complex of four ponds located at the foot of Wielka Kopa in the Rudawy Janowickie Mountains, in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship. These ponds, known as the Yellow, Purple, Blue, and Green Lake, were formed as a result of the activity of former mines that operated between 1785 and 1925. The largest of them, Hoffnung, extracted pyrite, which was processed into sulfuric acid in the nearby village of Płoszów. Each of the lakes has a distinct color due to the chemical composition of the substrate: the Purple Lake owes its hue to iron compounds, while the Blue Lake gets its color from copper compounds. Around the lakes, there are mounds of crushed rock, and the surroundings are characteristic of the region, dominated by metamorphic rocks such as amphibolites and various types of schist. The Colorful Lakes are not only a tourist attraction but also a point of interest for geologists and nature enthusiasts. The region features a hiking trail from Wieściszowice to Wielka Kopa and a cycling route, making access to this picturesque location easy. A parking lot is available near the lowest lake, and convenient access is provided by signposts from road No. 5. Although relatively small, the four-lake complex is full of natural charm and history linked to its mining origins. Additionally, the changing colors and periodic drying of the lakes spark the curiosity of nature lovers and tourists who come to admire this unique landscape.