Lake Mamry

Why visit?

Mamry is officially Poland's second-largest lake, but in reality it is something far more interesting: a complex of six connected basins — the Northern Mamry, Kirsajty, Kisajno, Dargin, Święcajty and Dobskie — which together form the heart of the Masurian Lake District. A web of bays, peninsulas and narrow straits means you can sail here for days, choosing a different route every time. At its northern edge lies Węgorzewo with its busy harbour and the Masurian Shipping pier, while to the south the waterway runs through Giżycko all the way to Mikołajki. The numbers are impressive: over 100 km² of surface, a maximum depth of almost 44 m and no fewer than 33 islands covering 213 ha — the largest of them, Upałty, is among the biggest in all of Masuria. The islands of the Mamry and Kisajno lakes form an ornithological reserve where cormorants and herons nest, and Wysoki Ostrów is nicknamed Cormorant Island. Until 1945 the lake bore the German name Mauersee, and traces of old East Prussia can still be spotted along the shores — the water level, raised in the 16th–17th centuries, submerged old cemeteries and fragments of former roads. The best time to visit is May to September, when cruises, marinas and equipment rentals are running. A boat trip from Węgorzewo is the easiest way to see the lake from the water; more active visitors will choose a kayak, a SUP board or a pedalo. Watch out for the wind, which can pick up very quickly on the open water, and remember that landing on the reserve islands is forbidden. In high season the harbours get crowded — book a berth in advance.

What you’ll see

• Kompleks sześciu połączonych jezior o łącznej powierzchni ponad 100 km²
• 33 wyspy, w tym największa mazurska Upałty
• Rezerwat ornitologiczny z koloniami kormoranów i czapli
• Rejsy Żeglugi Mazurskiej z portu w Węgorzewie
• Maksymalna głębokość blisko 44 m

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