Tuesday, 11 February 2025
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The weather is not spoiling and it is difficult to go somewhere for a dive. This does not mean, however, that you should sit idle, after all, we can always do a little reconnaissance and look for places worth visiting. One of such positions on the list of national diving sites, can be easily the Szmaragdowe Lake in the West Pomeranian Province.
Emerald Lake is an artificial reservoir located in Szczecin’s Zdroje district and forming part of the Bukowa Forest Landscape Park. It owes its name to the characteristic colour of the water, similar to that found in another well-known diving site, namely the quarry near Piechcin.
In the past, there was a chalk mine workings here. On 16 July 1925 the mine was flooded when water suddenly burst out of the southern wall. Fortunately, all the workers were rescued in time. The reservoir is 289 m long, 165 m wide and occupies an area of 4.5 hectares. The maximum depth is 18m. Groundwater constantly feeds the lake and the excess water flows into a drainage sump, located by a characteristic bridge.
Due to the high calcium carbonate content, the lake waters are rather poor in all forms of life. There are no reeds or rushes, which are a shelter for birds. Instead, the lake is surrounded by a palisade of forest trees which over the years have taken over the area of the old mine. As far as fauna is concerned, it inhabits the surrounding forest rather than the lake, but of course you will meet here fish characteristic for Polish lakes.
The dive itself is best conducted outside the summer season, when visibility is very poor. During the underwater reconnaissance we will come across trees that have collapsed under the water surface over the years and remains of an old mine (a brick chimney or tools). There is also a platform where you can practice this and that as part of a course or self-development.
A great place for an outing in the colder months, when visibility is at its best. When planning a trip to this body of water, you can take your family and spend a pleasant day with them, as there are many interesting places in the area, such as: the “Szmaragd” inn, the ruins of Baresel’s tower, the “Widok” hill, the basement of an old military building, or the ruins of Toepffer’s palace.
Various legends have also grown up around the lake. The best known is the story of the sly gnome Skarbek, who gathered his enormous treasures in the area. Supposedly, miners from a chalk mine came across his treasure trove and decided to pour water over everything…
Source: bukowa.szczecin.pl
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