Dankowski Szlak - Strzelce Krajeńskie - Miasto i Gmina

A long time ago people of Pomerania built a mighty, wooden castle. The access to the castle
was impossible. From the north, the waters of the lake prevented anyone of entering the castle.
From the south it was guarded by vast, dangerous swamps. One day during a sever winter, the castle
was visited by an unnknown prince who arrived with his companions. A grand reception was
thrown to honor him. the drinks flowed freely and the residents did not notice that the guards also
took part in the feast forgetting about their duties. When the reception ended, everybody retired for
the night. So did the guards. Meanwhile, unseen through the frozen swamps came the enemy. The
castle was sieged and conquered and no one was spared. The place was burnt to the ground and
never rebuilt. As the time passed by, the forest covered the ruins and it is really hard to see its outlines
these days. But still at night, as the legend says, one can hear the yells of the murdered. These voices
might even be heard in Długie.
Next, we are on the lake Słowa- almost 6 ha, meters at its deepest. The difference
between the surface of the water and the hills surrounding it is up to 0 meters. The shores are
covered by ash and alder woods creating the so called riparian forests- precious „Nature 000”
habitats. It is a limestone lake and its waters are of emerald tint. Due to favorable conditions,
underwater meadows created by major algae colonies cover the bottom of the lake. A legend
connected with the lake says that lake Słowa appeared on the place where a devil once dug a
hole in the groung to build a bridge over lake Osiek. Moving along the reservoir to the south
we are able to see an overlook tower located meters above the sea level, near the „Słowi
Szlak” route- one of the units of the cycling route. To the west a fire-tower is visible. Paddling
directly to lake Osiek we reach a channel linking the two lakes. It is about . km long and
was broadened in 00 -0 for the needs of tourism. Along the banks of the channel riparian
forests grow giving shelter to many species of plants and animals. By the end of the channel
a little lake Błotne is located overgrown with flora creating a water-meadow. Later on, we get
the largest body of water in Pojezierze Dobiegniewskie-lake Osiek (Chomętowskie) which together
with Ogardzka Odnoga and Zatoka Żabia reaches the following sizes of 6 hectares,
meters of depth and the length of 9 kilometers. On the opposite shore an old Slavic village
Chomętowo is located (first noticed in 7, in the first half of the th century belonged to the
Order of the Teutonic Knights, a bricked-stony granary preserved to these days). Moving northeast
we pass the remains of a bridge burnt in 97 which shortened the way to Chomętowo.
Nowadays only some wooden piles are visible above the surface of the lake.
Passing the bridge we get to lake Ogardzka Odnoga which is overgrown with pine trees.
These areas are habitat of eagles and cormorants. The other value of the place are the beaver’s
lodges and the otter’s burrows settled there. Covering next . kilometers we finally arrive
at the rest spot equipped with sheltered benches, tables and a board with a map of the
canoeing route. More endurable canoers are welcome to try another canoeing route located
in the area of Dobiegniew Commune. A dozen
of kilometers of canoeing routes leading along
lakes are a great attraction for watersport lovers
and the possibility of getting to the Baltic
Sea through Lake Osiek, a small river Mierzęcka
Struga, Lake Wielgie and farther to the Drawa
River, the Noteć River and the Odra river is a
unique challenge for the most keen watersport
lovers.
TOURISTS! TAKE CARE OF OUR LAKES
AND RIVERS!