Vistula – the longest Polish river

Vistula - the most important and the longest river in Poland, and the largest river in the area of the Baltic Sea. The length of Vistula is 1047 km.

The river has hundreds of beaches, flows through many beautiful cities and, above all, offers excellent sailing conditions. Wisła is called the pearl of Polish architecture.


Some facts about the river

  • the sources of the river are at a height of 1106 meters above the sea level
  • on the western slope of Barania Mountain in the Silesian Beskid Mountains (White Wiselka and, considered as a primary source, the Black Wiselka rvier)
  • The basic direction of the Vistula is southern.
  • the average annual flow (at the mouth of the river) is 1054 m³/s, with a maximum difference of water level – 10 m.

EuroVelo 9 / WTR - Panorama Wisły, fot. T. Legutko / Pomorskie.travel

In the village of Biala Gora near Sztum about 50 km from the mouth of the river, Vistula forms a wide delta called Żulawy. It splits into two arms Leniwka (left one) and Nogat (right one). In the town of Gdanska Glowa from Leniwka it separates towards the east another arm called Szkarpawa, in order to protect against the flood, and closed with a sluice. The third arm of the Dead Vistula separates in Przegalina, where it flows into the Bay of Gdansk.

Śluza, Biała Góra, fot. Pomorskie Travel/M.Ochocki

Śluza, Biała Góra, fot. Pomorskie Travel/M.Ochocki

Branches of Vistula

Szkarpawa River and Gdanska Glowa

Szkarpawa branch and the lock of Gdanska Glowa( Eng. the Head of Gdansk), this way you can continue to flow in the direction of the Vistula Lagoon (approx. 25 km). The outer port does not protect against the strong current of the Vistula, which hinders the entrance to the airlock. Mooring possible on the right bank.

Gdańska Głowa Lock, photo: Pomorskie.travel

Gdańska Głowa Lock, photo: Pomorskie.travel

Przegalina Lock

At this point, we can take a course on the Baltic Sea (straight) or Gdańsk (to the left) the Dead Vistula.

Dead Vistula

Dead Vistula despite its name, is the right natural mouth of the river to the Baltic Sea. Its “dead” character (lack of current) is the result of the Vistula dig in Swibno and separation from the mainstream with a sluice in Przegalina.

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