Solina Reservoir

The Solina Lake is the largest flood–surcharge collecting/energetic reservoir in Poland, with a record capacity of 474 million m³, area of 22 km² and 156 km of shoreline. It was design to protect the Solina Valley against floods. Its creation, just like the displacement of the locals in 1945–47, influenced the modern image of the Bieszczady, and it was necessary to write the region’s history all over again.
In the early 1960’s, the Solina neighborhood was turned into the largest construction site in the Peoples’ Republic of Poland. In the peak period, 2 thousand people from around the country worked here. One of them was Kazimierz Orłoś, solicitor working at the “Solina” water plant construction site, more known as the author of „Cudowna melina” (“A Marvelous Hangout”) novel. The book depicts the grotesque reality of rural Poland. Paweł Jasienica also wrote some of his books here, while visiting his daughter, Ewa Beyer, who worked on the reservoir construction site. The construction site itself was used as the stage design in the 1967 „Chudy i inni” („Skinny and Others”) movie, based on a novel by Władysław Dymny.
Almost since the very beginning, around the dam, a holiday/recreation infrastructure had been developed. There are many holiday resorts, all year and seasonal, and agritourism infrastructure is in place.
The Solina Reservoir is an ideal place for water tourism. There are over a dozen sailing clubs and marinas around the lake. The sailing season lasts from May until November. As far as the wind goes, the best months are May, June, September and October.

 SAILING EQUIPMENT RENTAL CENTERS 

•  OW MSW „Jawor” Polańczyk
  tel. (+48 13) 469 20 77
  mobile. (+48) 691 204 695, (+48) 608 292 961
  
•  WZW „Jawor” Solina
  tel. (+48 13) 468 81 45
  
• Hotel „Energetyk” Myczkowce
  tel. (+48 13) 461 80 31
  
• OW „Bieszczady” Myczkowce
  tel. (+48 13) 461 80 42
  
•  OSW „Organika–Sarzyna” Zawóz
  tel. (+48 13) 469 25 45, (+48 17) 241 32 31
  
• ZW „Wyspa” Polańczyk
  tel. (+48 13) 469 27 46, 469 27 47, 470 36 26
  fax (+48 13) 470 36 25
  
• OW „Zjawa” Polańczyk
  tel. (+48 13) 466 61 39
  mobile. (+48) 605 394 571
  
• KOZŻ „Krosno” Polańczyk
  tel. (+48 13) 466 61 38
  tel. kom. (+48) 604 246 569
  www.kozz.prv.pl
  e–mail: ozzkrosno@poczta.onet.pl
  
• CWS „Unitra” Polańczyk
  tel. (+48 13) 469 23 31
  fax (+48 13) 469 23 82
  www.unitra.of.pl
  e–mail: unitra@os.pl
  
• OLW „Dedal” Polańczyk
  tel./fax (+48 13) 469 20 08, (+48 13) 469 20 09, (+48 13) 469 20 30
  
• BWOPR Polańczyk – main base on the Cape
  mobile. (+48) 607 112 112, (+48) 607 384 523
  
• OUW „Biała Flota” Solina
  tel./fax (+48 13) 469 18 21
  mobile. (+48) 604109337, 601441017, 602639818
  www.bieszczady.net.pl/bialaflota
  e–mail: bialaflota@op.pl
  
• TRAMP Polańczyk – boat cruises
  mobile. (+48) 604 484 715
  

Huge attractions are the Bieszczady Fleet ship cruises from Polańczyk and Solina, organized by:

• OUW „Biała Flota” Solina
  tel./fax (+48 13) 469 18 21
  mobile. (+48) 604109337, 601441017, 602639818
  www.bieszczady.net.pl/bialaflota
  e–mail: bialaflota@op.pl
• TRAMP Polańczyk
  mobile. (+48) 604 484 715  

 However, the Solina Lake is not only sailing. For many centuries, the surrounding lands were a pot, with a mix of ethnical and religious variety, binding together in harsh, natural conditions, which were a challenge for all new settlers. This situation lasted for almost 500 years, until mid XX century. During the Second World War, especially during the mass exile operations, and the “Wisła” (“the Vistula”) operation after the end of war, the cultural continuity on these territories was broken. Russians and Jews, who once were the dominant ethnical groups, had left. All that was left was destroyed by savagery and time. Only a few souvenirs associated with Boykos (pl: Bojkowie) remain. The same goes for the signs of the Jew culture. The last remaining material relics of culture and history can be a travel target for the more reflective tourists.