A reservoir founded in Poland in 1976. Great Polish monarchs had always hunted for these animals. Hunting in Białowieża Forest Władysław II Jagiełło was preparing his supplies for an expedition of the Teutonic Knights. Also Casimir IV Jagiellon and Sigismund I the Old hunted bison. As many as 42 animals were shot during one of such hunting in the reign of Augustus III the Strong. The queen herself killed 20 bison, reading a French romance meanwhile. For fear of the danger of bison extinction, king Sigismund I the Old issued a decree in which he threatened to kill anyone who will ever wilfully try to shoot a bison. After partitions, Alexander, the tsar of Russia prohibited cutting out trees in Białowieża Forest because of bison which led to a growth in their number which reached almost 1900 in the middle of the 19th century. Before World War I broke out, around 700 bison were still alive, however only 9 of them survived the war. In 1923 the Bison Protection Association (Towarzystwo Ochrony Żubra) was founded to regenerate the species on the verge of extinction. During a World Convention of the Environmental Protection Union in Paris, Jan Sztolcman, a Polish zoologist put forward a proposal in his speech concerning saving of bison species. Saving bison is an undoubted work of Polish scientists. Bison became the symbol of Poland in the world and was placed as a symbol in the emblem of Liga Ochrony Przyrody (the Environmental Protection League).

 

In the centre of Międzyzdroje there is a modern sports stadium which has been awarded all required IAAF and PZPN certificates. The complex covers a football pitch with artificial surface perfect for matches and training classes, as well as a MONDO athletics track. The stadium is equipped with artificial lighting.

 

The trip /4.3 km/ is to be started from RYBAK HOTEL, at the eastern edge of the promenade, at the foot of the hill of Kawcza Góra. Following the marks of the red trail go to the peak /0.7 km/. Following the marks of the black trail, direct towards the road from Międzyzdroje to Dziwnów. Turn left /100 m/ to reach Kwasowo car park /2.8 km/ and then follow the black trail /0.8km/. Turn left into the green trail /4.3 km/. Come back to the centre of Międzyzdroje following the green track.

The trail starts at the WPN gate of the Bay of Szczecin in Międzyzdroje. It leads through Lubin and Góry Mokrzyckie mountain range to Wolin /33km/. There it crosses Dziwna River and runs along to Dziwnówek /75km/. The trail belongs to the most interesting ones due to its abundant historical, natural and geological attractions, e.g. V3 German weapon posts, wonderful views of the Bay of Szczecin and the reverse delta of Świna River and the famous town of Wolin.

The trail runs through the most attractive places of the town of Wolin. It is 6.5 long.

Length: 54 km: Świnoujście - Warszów – Ognica – Przytór – Łunowo – Międzyzdroje – Świętouść – Międzywodzie – Dziwnów. In the western part of the island the trail leads through the lowland Przytorski Peninsula of 15 km. Mostly pine forests cover the island as far as the Baltic and the southern overflow areas of the Bay of Szczecin. To the East of Międzyzdroje the trail runs through the area of Wolin National Park to Wisełka, then through Kołczewo to Dziwnówek where it reaches mainland.

The green “forest” trail starts at WPN gate in Międzyzdroje and leads through the forests of Międzyzdroje to Świętouście. It stretches along the belt of postglacial lakes creating Wolin Lake District (Pojezierze Wolińskie). Total length of the trail equals 19 km and it runs as follows: Międzyzdroje – Rezerwat Pokazowy Żubrów (Bison Reservoir) – Warnowo – Jezioro Czajcze – Żołwino – Kołczewo – Świętouść.