TABLE OF CONTENTS Legal rules for travelling on water . 2 Mała Panew . 42 General guidelines for canoeists . 3 Stobrawa . 51 Oder . 6 Osobłoga . 60 Description of the Oder trail . 13 Nysa Kłodzka . 61 Gliwice Canal . 37 Marking of the waterway . 63 Kłodnica . 41 53 57 34 32 30 49 47 26 45 22 18 39 14 12 1 The Opole province is the borderland with rich history and multi-cultural heritage. At present, it covers the area of 9412 km² and is inhabited by slightly more than one million people. Majority of the area constitutes part of the Upper Silesia, and the whole region as such is often called Opole Silesia. The authorities of the province are based in one of the oldest cities in Poland, i.e. Opole, which has been known since the 9th century also as the major economic, scientific and cultural centre of the Opole region. The picturesque landscapes of the Opole province encourage practicing various forms of active tourism. Forests cover 26% of the area, and the height of the highest mountain -Biskupia Kopa - is 889 m above sea level. From the Opawskie Mountains, through the northern end of the Silesian Plain, there runs a network of marked tourist pedestrian and bicycle trails. Numerous tourist trails lead through interesting areas of the Mała Panew river valley - one of the most beautiful and naturally in- teresting river valleys of the province. As well as the canoeing trip itself, the entertainment park called “Jura Park” Krasiejów located nearby Ozimek is the greatest tourist attraction. It is the place where a 230 million year-old skeleton of a pre-dinosaur called Silesarurus Opolensis was discovered. The artificial Turawskie lake located at the Mała Panew river valley creates perfect conditions for practicing water sports, especially sailing and angling, as well as summer holidays. The large dam reservoirs of the Otmuchowskie Lake and Nyskie Lake at the Nysa Kłodzka river are distinguished by similar qualities. The Osobłoga and Stobrawa rivers can be recommended to those who look for more private forms of water relaxation. Especially the latter one, hidden among the vast forest complex of the Stobrawski Landscape Park will ensure excellent conditions for relaxation for those who look for peace and quiet in a cosy atmosphere, far away from the hustle and bustle of civilisation. The canalised section of the Oder river and Gliwice Canal is becoming the new offer oriented towards motorboat tourism. Barges and pusher crafts have not sailed here for several years. What has happened is that marinas and various water equipment rental facilities have developed instead. This is the future of our, not until recently, most modern water route. Not everyone knows that from the ports in Gliwice, Opole and Wrocław, it is possible to get not just to Szczecin and Świnoujście at the Baltic sea but also to Berlin - via Rhein - to the Northern Sea, via French canals - to the Mediterranean Sea, and via Danube - to the Black Sea. As such trip would be possible in both directions, the Opole Province, by virtue of the Schengen Agreement has been included in the system of water trails of the Western Europe. This guide contains descriptions of the water trails found on the territory of the Opole Province, both in terms of the requirements of the motorboat tourists listed above (the Oder with the Gliwice Canal), as well as typically canoeing rivers: Mała Panew and Stobrawa. Moving along the great water route by means of a small canoe, especially locking, is possible, but I would recommend doing this in larger organised groups. For this purpose, the All-Polish canoeing rallies are organised once a year. An individual canoeist will rather choose smaller rivers, where they will find the complex service present- ed in the further parts of this guide. Canoe rally along the Nysa Kłodzka river Photo: Jan Janota Jan Photo: 2 Legal rules for travelling on water In inland waters, they are regulated by the Inland Water Ship- ping Act (Journal of Laws No. 5/2001 item 43 as amended), and above all, the Regulation of the Minister of Infrastructure of 28 April, 2003, published in the Journal of Laws No. 212/2003, item 2072, containing detailed rules of the rights of way, shipping marks and lights. Janota Jan Photo: For travelling by sailing boats with the length of the hull below 7.5 m and motorboats with the engine up to 10 kW no licences are required. These rules also cover canoes, travelling with which on the waterways and all other water courses and reservoirs (rivers, canals, lakes) does not require any permissions. To use other boats than the sailing boats and motorboats, it is necessary to obtain sailing licences (yacht sailor, yacht helms- man) or motorboat licences (motorboat helmsman, senior mo- torboat helmsman, marine motorboat helmsman, motorboat captain) according to the Regulation of the Minister of Sport of 9 Prevention June 2006 (Journal of Laws 115/2006). A canoe, as the smallest boat, gives right of way to larger ves- ping marks that regulate the inland waterway navigation. The sels (yachts, motorboats etc.), which are obliged to reduce their following 6 groups of marks are distinguished: prohibitory marks, speed while passing by canoeists, so as not to cause the risk of mandatory action marks, limit marks, recommendation marks, accident, e.g. related to a big wave. informative marks and auxiliary marks. The basic marks will be presented on the cover of the guide. Annex No. 4 to the Regulation of the Minister of Infrastructure of 28 April, 2003 (item 2072) presents all the applicable ship- Water rescue demonstration Photo: Jan Janota Jan Photo: 3 General guidelines for canoeists Distress alerts on water signalled from the land by showing a yellow, rhythmically flashing light with the frequency of about 40 flashes per minute. As well as the generally available digital emergency call systems The direct coming of the dangerous meteorological phenome- using mobile phones, gps and laptops, there are also traditional non is signalled from the land by showing a yellow rhythmically systems which have been tried over the years. They include: flashing light with the frequency of about 90 flashes per minute. • The interrupted sound of any fog horn or repeated series of bell ringing. The fog horn is a brass tube, in which the sound A few practical remarks signal is produced as a result of blowing air through the mouth-piece. • Before locking, we need to communicate with the lock oper- • Rockets or missiles ejecting red stars, launched separately ator. There is such a custom that the willingness of locking is in short intervals. communicated to the operator, especially if these activities • The SOS signal consisting of a group of three dots, three lines take place during the same day. and again three dots in the following sequence: · · · — — — · • After landing in the water harbour, we approach the boat- · · (Morse code). The signals are transmitted by any signalling swain to report our arrival. The boatswain is person that is re- method, e.g. light or whistle. sponsible for everything and must have knowledge about our • The signal that consists of a square flag and a sphere or other needs. He will also inform us of all customs to be observed at object similar to a sphere located above or below the flag. the harbour and his other expectations. • Making circular movements with a flag, light or other similar • Canoeing in the life jacket increases safety of persons who do object. not feel secure in water; in the case of children, wearing the • Fire lit on the vessel, e.g. burning tar or oil barrel. life jacket is obligatory! • Parachute flare or manual flare burning with a red flame. • Camping in forest areas is allowed only at designated campsites, • Slow and repeated raising and lowering of both extended and lighting fires is allowed at sites intended for this purpose. shoulders. • Rubbish produced at the camp, should not be buried in soil, • Sound signals: ”Distress call”: repeated long sounds but rather packed into a foil bag and left at the place intended ”Man over board”: a series of double sounds for this purpose. • It is necessary to be provided with a sealed first aid kit con- Distress alerts sent by a canoeist taining bandages and painkillers, as well as creams against insect bites and excessive tan. • Rapid, repeated raising and lowering of forearms raised • Mobile phones and digital cameras must only be carried in above one’s head. tried water-tight packages. • Slow and repeated raising and lowering of both extended • People wearing glasses should have special rubbers holding shoulders. their glasses to the occiput. • Signal given by means of an oar– slow raising and lowering of • Water-proof bags for clothes and camping equipment are the oar held with both hands above the head. absolutely necessary, especially for those who take longer • Signal given with a red or orange material, e.g.: a sweater, a canoeing trips. For occasional canoeists, rubbish bags (blue jacket, a life jacket. or black) will suffice. • Sound signal, summoning help by using your voice or a whis- tle, etc. On the Smortawa river • Light signal – in order to send this signal, it is possible to use a mirror, when the weather is sunny and a torch can be used when the weather is cloudy. • Tourist activity at night in inland water is prohibited. However, Photo: Jan Janota Jan Photo: in the case of distress alerts at night, a torch, a whistle or voice must be used. Meteorological warnings The possibility of occurrence of dangerous meteorological phe- nomena without the indication of the time of their occurrence is 4 • In order to tie the canoe to the stopping place, a rope with the • A sun screen - at least No.