Numerous floods in Żuławy and the financial losses they caused made the owners of those lands make the decision on regulating the Vistula River and creating its new section. Investing huge amounts of money, along the old Vistula stream channel, Przemysława, a new canal, was constructed. It was 250 - 400 m wide and surrounded by floodwalls, whose height amounted to 10 m.
Construction of the ditch
A couple of thousand people and 40 steam machines worked on the construction site every day. On 31 March 1895, acting on the sign given by the German Emperor via telegraph, the President of Western Prussia opened the way for the first waters of the new part of The Vistula River. Przekop made the Vistula River 10 km shorter.
Between the villages located on the banks of the Przekop the “Świbno” cable ferry runs on the lines fixed to both banks of the river. It is powered by a towboat which runs next to the ferry. The tradition of the crossing goes back as far as 1895, when the new crossing was constructed, and the ferry has run here since 1945.
To the North from Mikoszewo, the Mewia Łacha natural reserve, with an area of 131 ha, has been established. It protects the nesting sites of water birds and some rare bird species during spring and autumn passages.
Mikoszewo, the mouth of the Vistula, photo: UG Stegna
