Lower Odra Valley Landscape Park

The Lower Odra Valley Landscape Park, established on April 1, 1993, encompasses the area of Międzyodrze between the fork of the Odra River into the East and West Odra, stretching from Widuchowa to the Leśny Canal. With an area of 6,009 hectares and a buffer zone of 1,140 hectares, the park is part of the Complex of Landscape Parks of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship and co-creates the International Park Lower Odra Valley with Germany's Nationalpark Unteres Odertal. The park, rich in fluviogenic peatlands and wetlands, is noteworthy for its unique flora and fauna, featuring plant species such as the yellow water-lily and floating watermoss. Much of the area is covered by sedge marshes and reed beds, as well as willow riparian forests and alder carrs. The park serves as an important refuge for birds, including many endangered species such as the white-tailed eagle, osprey, and aquatic warbler. Beavers and otters are also protected here, and the diverse aquatic environment supports many fish species, including rare ones like the river lamprey. Within the park, there are nature reserves—Kurowskie Błota and Kanał Kwiatowy—which protect unique flora and fauna, including cormorant breeding grounds and endemic vegetation. The history of the area is linked to its marshy nature, which prevented full human colonization; the network of canals and oxbow lakes, originally intended for land reclamation, is undergoing naturalization, transforming the area into wild wetlands. Past agricultural investments did not yield the expected results, and after World War II, hydrotechnical efforts were abandoned. The park features historic hydrotechnical structures that once regulated water levels, adding an interesting architectural and historical aspect to the region. The valley, with its high banks reaching up to 70 meters above sea level, offers spectacular views of the Międzyodrze islands, further highlighting the scenic value of this area.