DOCSLIB.ORG

1 Transboundary Cooperation Experiences In

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
1 Transboundary Cooperation Experiences In "INTEGRATED WATER MANAGEMENT OF TRANSBOUNDARY CATCHMENTS: A CONTRIBUTION FROM TRANSCAT" Palazzo Zorzi, Venice, Italy, 24-26 March 2004 TRANSBOUNDARY COOPERATION EXPERIENCES IN THE VISTULA LAGOON BASIN GAINED DURING MANTRA-EAST RESEARCH PROJECT Małgorzata BIELECKA *, Andrzej LEWANDOWSKI ** *Institute of Hydroengineering of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Kościerska 7, 80-953, Gdańsk, Poland, (E-mail: [email protected]) **GEOMOR - Geoscience and Marine Research & Consulting Co. Ltd, Kościerska 5, 80-328, Gdańsk, Poland, (E-mail: [email protected]) Keywords: transboundary water management, WFD, water quality, modelling, data base, monitoring ABSTRACT The Vistula Lagoon is one of the largest transboundary lagoons in the Southern Baltic Sea. It is shared by two countries: Poland (EU-accession state) and Russia (non-EU state). Within just recently finalised EU FP5 research project ’Integrated strategies for the management of transboundary waters on the Eastern European fringe’ (MANTRA-East) issues of transboundary water management and cooperation in the Vistula Lagoon drainage basin were analysed. This was an additional case study area in the project as the main one was Lake Peipsi. The main objective of the project was implementation of the common water management system that will allow achieving goals of WFD. The project focused on analysis of existing monitoring systems, long-term changes in water quality and biota, and uses modelling tools for assessment of ecological status and forecasts in the WFD context. The participation of end-users from both countries assured proper realization of the project and dissemination of the project results to water managers in order to support decision-making in the basin. In this paper we focus on experiences gained from the project and recommendations that were proposed for water managers of the Vistula Lagoon, as a result of scenario approach and the experiences. INTRODUCTION The Vistula Lagoon (Fig. 1) is one of the largest transboundary lagoons in the S. Baltic Sea. Figure 1: Location of the Vistula Lagoon and main discharging rivers. Primor:skaya Nelma POLAND it Grayevka a tr Pregel S sk Kaliningrad iy lt a B Prokhladnaya Vileyka Mamonovka RUSSIA Krynica Morska Pasleka POLAND Bauda Szkarpawa Frombork Tolkmicko Nogat Elblag 1 "INTEGRATED WATER MANAGEMENT OF TRANSBOUNDARY CATCHMENTS: A CONTRIBUTION FROM TRANSCAT" Palazzo Zorzi, Venice, Italy, 24-26 March 2004 It is a shallow (av. depth 2.7 m) coastal ecosystem. The Lagoon has an elongated shape, going from south-west to north-east, with a length of 91 km. The average width of the Lagoon is about 9 km, at the widest point - 13 km. The surface area is 838 km2, of which 473 km2 belongs to Russia, and the remaining part to Poland (Łomniewski, 1958). The length of the coastline is of about 270 km, and the volume of water in the Lagoon is about 2.3 km3. The average depth of the Lagoon is 2.7 m, and the maximum natural depth is 5.2 m close to the Baltiysk Strait. The Vistula Lagoon is separated from the Baltic Sea by the Vistula Spit - a sand peninsula 55 km long. The Lagoon exchanges water with the sea through the Baltiysk Strait, which has a width of approximately 400 m, length of two kilometres and the average depth of 8.8 m. Baltiysk Strait continues up to the harbour of Kaliningrad as a fairway (navigation channel) crossing the Lagoon. The channel is twice deeper than the largest natural depth in the Lagoon. Despite its relative narrowness, it plays an important role as a way of salt transport from the Gulf to the Lagoon. With respect to salinity the Vistula Lagoon is found to be a transitional area. The average salinity (1950 -1965) for the eastern part of the Lagoon (spring-autumn) is 2.5-4.3 PSU, for the central part 3.9-5.0 PSU, and for the southern part 1.0-3.4 PSU (Lazarenko and Majewski, 1975). This is a result of salt water inflows from the Baltic Sea that influence all aquatic areas of the Lagoon, including the mouth of the Pregola River. At the Baltiysk Strait salinity may reach 7 PSU (Bocheński et al., 1999). The catchment area of the Vistula Lagoon is 23,871 km2 and the average retention time is about 6-7 months. There are more than 20 rivers discharging directly to the Vistula Lagoon. Among them the most important are: Pregola, Elbląg, Pasłęka, Nogat, Prokhladnaya, Mamonovka, Bauda, Primorskaya and Szkarpawa (Fig. 1). The main part of the annual fresh water inflow (40%) is coming from the Pregola River. The Vistula Lagoon with its drainage basin is shared by two countries: Poland and Russia. Poland is the EU member starting from May 1st 2004 but Russia is not, therefore they face different obligations with regard to water management of the lagoon drainage basin. Poland has to implement WFD but Russia does not have such obligation. Described situation may result in potential transboundary conflicts. The lagoon itself is subjected to point and non- point sources of nutrient loads so only close cooperation and integrated management would provide successful solutions. Within EU Mantra-East project main focus was put on analysis of existing monitoring systems, long-term changes in water quality and biota, and use of modelling tools for assessment of ecological status and scenarios in the WFD context. Four basic scenarios where considered: 1 – Business As Usual which was the same as Crisis Scenario, 2 – Not Optimal Target Development Scenario, 3 – Optimal Target Development Scenario, 4 – Isolationists Scenario (Przedrzymirska, Lewandowski, 2004). The participation of end-users from both countries was crucial to assure proper realization of the project and dissemination of the project results to water managers in order to support decision-making in the basin. The general Mantra-East approach was given by Stalnacke and Gooch (this volume). That approach was followed in the Vistula Lagoon case study. Some serious water management problems became evident as the project progressed. The main problems defined concerned: 1. Water management structure, which is not clear and effective in both countries. Cooperation problems exist between water managers. There is no common strategy formulated for the lagoon management. In both countries institutional structure and legislation are different. 2 "INTEGRATED WATER MANAGEMENT OF TRANSBOUNDARY CATCHMENTS: A CONTRIBUTION FROM TRANSCAT" Palazzo Zorzi, Venice, Italy, 24-26 March 2004 2. Data collection comprising problems of data availability, comparability, quality, exchange possibility. As a consequence establishment of common monitoring programme and database was proposed. 3. Ecological modelling, as there were not enough data to calibrate models properly and available data were inaccurate causing calibration problems. In search of solutions to those problems usage of operational modelling tools, to which both countries have free access (HIRLAM, HIROMB), was proposed. In order to facilitate effective Vistula Lagoon drainage basin management, one modelling system was recommended and installed at Polish and Russian end-users’ institutions, what was justified by the project results. THE VISTULA LAGOON HIGH-LIGHTS Main results of research conducted within a project may be summarized in form of high- lights. The most important ones are listed below. · Light availability is a very important factor governing the primary production in the Lagoon. Very important factor governing the primary production is light availability in water column depending on the amounts of suspended matter. Its concentrations are very high, several times higher than values observed in rivers. Such large amounts of suspended solids result from frequent resuspension of the bottom sediment, which is a typical feature for water bodies as shallow as Vistula Lagoon and exposed to winds. Due to the dominant influence of resuspended matter on the light extinction in the water, only moderate changes in water transparency may be expected as a result of nutrient loads reduction (Zalewski et al., 2004). · The Vistula Lagoon is, in general, limited by nitrogen. Model simulations indicated that the limiting factors for phytoplankton growth in the Vistula Lagoon were inorganic phosphorus in short periods in spring and inorganic nitrogen in summer and early autumn. Changes of phosphorus loads first of all may influence the spring phytoplankton bloom, while changes of nitrogen loads will affect phytoplankton biomass in summer season (Zalewski et al., 2004). It was also confirmed by N/P ratio analyses and bioassay experiments of nutrient limitation presented by Margoński et al. (2003). · Nitrogen fixation by cyanobacteria may annihilate efforts of nitrogen load reduction, if phosphorus concentrations in summer are not reduced. At present excessive phosphate concentrations are observed in the lagoon in summer period, partly as a result of the release from bottom sediments. This creates favourable conditions for nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria development, which occasionally form blooms over 100 mg chla m-3. Therefore reduction of phosphate concentrations in summer is needed, in addition to nitrogen reduction, if summer phytoplankton blooms are to be suppressed. · There is little retention of phosphorus in the Lagoon. Nitrogen retention is more substantial. Nutrient budget calculations suggest, that there was little retention of phosphorus in the Lagoon, while the retention of nitrogen was more substantial. The important pathway in nitrogen cycle in the Lagoon appears to be the denitrification (Zalewski et al., 2004). · The Vistula Lagoon ecosystem may quickly react to changes in nutrient loads. Due to short freshwater residence time (ca. 7 months) the Vistula Lagoon ecosystem 3 "INTEGRATED WATER MANAGEMENT OF TRANSBOUNDARY CATCHMENTS: A CONTRIBUTION FROM TRANSCAT" Palazzo Zorzi, Venice, Italy, 24-26 March 2004 may quickly react to changes in nutrient loads. According to the model simulations, the pelagic system may stabilize at new levels within 2 years. However, at the present state of model development, the reaction of bottom sediments cannot be reliably predicted (Zalewski et al., 2004). · The present ecological status of the lagoon may be estimated as “moderate”.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Pomorskie Voivodeship Development Strategy 2020
    Annex no. 1 to Resolution no. 458/XXII/12 Of the Sejmik of Pomorskie Voivodeship of 24th September 2012 on adoption of Pomorskie Voivodeship Development Strategy 2020 Pomorskie Voivodeship Development Strategy 2020 GDAŃSK 2012 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS I. OUTPUT SITUATION ………………………………………………………… 6 II. SCENARIOS AND VISION OF DEVELOPMENT ………………………… 18 THE PRINCIPLES OF STRATEGY AND ROLE OF THE SELF- III. 24 GOVERNMENT OF THE VOIVODESHIP ………..………………………… IV. CHALLENGES AND OBJECTIVES …………………………………………… 28 V. IMPLEMENTATION SYSTEM ………………………………………………… 65 3 4 The shape of the Pomorskie Voivodeship Development Strategy 2020 is determined by 8 assumptions: 1. The strategy is a tool for creating development targeting available financial and regulatory instruments. 2. The strategy covers only those issues on which the Self-Government of Pomorskie Voivodeship and its partners in the region have a real impact. 3. The strategy does not include purely local issues unless there is a close relationship between the local needs and potentials of the region and regional interest, or when the local deficits significantly restrict the development opportunities. 4. The strategy does not focus on issues of a routine character, belonging to the realm of the current operation and performing the duties and responsibilities of legal entities operating in the region. 5. The strategy is selective and focused on defining the objectives and courses of action reflecting the strategic choices made. 6. The strategy sets targets amenable to verification and establishment of commitments to specific actions and effects. 7. The strategy outlines the criteria for identifying projects forming part of its implementation. 8. The strategy takes into account the specific conditions for development of different parts of the voivodeship, indicating that not all development challenges are the same everywhere in their nature and seriousness.
    [Show full text]
  • Impact of the Artificial Strait in the Vistula Spit on the Hydrodynamics
    water Article Impact of the Artificial Strait in the Vistula Spit on the Hydrodynamics of the Vistula Lagoon (Baltic Sea) Michał Szydłowski * , Tomasz Kolerski and Piotr Zima Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Gda´nskUniversity of Technology, Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233 Gda´nsk,Poland; [email protected] (T.K.); [email protected] (P.Z.) * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +48-58-347-1809 Received: 25 March 2019; Accepted: 8 May 2019; Published: 10 May 2019 Abstract: In the Vistula Lagoon, storm surges are induced by variable sea levels in the Gulf of Gda´nsk and wind action. The rising of the water level in the southern part of the basin, exceeding 1.0 m above mean sea level, can be dangerous for the lowland area of Zuławy˙ Elbl ˛askie,causing the inundation of the polders adjacent to the lagoon. One of the potential possibilities to limit the flood risk is to decrease the water level in the lagoon during strong storm surges by opening an artificial canal to join the lagoon with the Gulf of Gda´nsk.The decision to build a new strait in the Vistula Spit was made in 2017. In order to analyze the impact of the artificial connection between the sea and the lagoon during periods of high water stages in the southern part the lagoon, mathematical modelling of the hydrodynamics of the Vistula Lagoon is required. This paper presents the shallow water equations (SWEs) model adapted to simulate storm surges driven by the wind and sea tides, and the numerical results obtained for the present (without the new strait) and future (with the new strait) configuration of the Vistula Lagoon.
    [Show full text]
  • Sediment Transport Along the Vistula Spit (The Baltic Sea)
    Russian Science Foundation Project No 14-17-00547 “A forecast development for evolution of accumulative Russian coasts of tideless seas” Laboratory for Coastal Systems Study Sediment transport along the Vistula Spit (the Baltic Sea) Boris Chubarenko, Aleksander Babakov Laboratory for Coastal System Study, Atlantic Branch of P.P.Shirshov Institute of Oceanology Russian Academy of Sciences EMECS11 – Sea Coasts XXVI Joint Conference, August 22-27, 2016 Study area Vistula Lagoon and Vistula Spit belong to the sediment-system of the Gulf of Gdansk Gulf of Gdansk Kaliningrad RUSSIA (Kaliningrad Oblast) Gdansk POLAND Chubarenko B.V., Babakov A.N. Sediment transport along the Vistula Spit (the Baltic Sea). EMECS11 – Sea Coasts XXVI Joint Conference, Sain-Petersburg (Russia), August 22-27, 2016 Study area Historical changes in hydrographic scheme of the Visula Lagoon New outlet of the Vistula River was artificially Pregola River constructed between 1889 and 1895 and officially opened on 31 March 1895 RU Nogat River took up to 85% from the Vistula PL River discharge. Sluice ‘Biala Gora Lock’ was constructed Old Vistula River Delta at the Visla-Nogat divergence point in 1915. It finally separated the Vistula Lagoon from the Vistula River. (Presentation of P. Margonsku, MIR, ARTWEI Project) Motivation Convergence of fluxes at the Yantarny- Unidirectional flux to south Convergence of fluxes at the Baltiysk concave [Beloshapkov, [Zenkovich, 1958] Vistula Lagoon inlet [Boldyrev, Beloshapkova, Brasavs, 1984] Zenkovich, 1982] [Ostrowski, Pruszak, Skaja, [Leontjev, 2012] Convergence of fluxes at the Szmytkiewicz, 2010] central part of the Vistula Spit [Babakov, 2003] Convergence of fluxes at the southern part of the Vistula Spit Chubarenko B.V., Babakov A.N.
    [Show full text]
  • The Lower Vistula in the Aspect of the E40 and E70 International Shipping Routes
    Ż. Marciniak | Acta Energetica 2/15 (2013) | 153–161 The lower Vistula in the aspect of the E40 and E70 international shipping routes Author Żaneta Marciniak Keywords shipping route, waterways, inland navigation, E40 international waterway, E70 international waterway Abstract Throughout the history of Europe and the world, shipping routes have determined the develop- ment of many civilisations, since it was along them that settlements and commerce developed, goods and people were transported, and later, industry was located. Currently, shipping routes are an important element in inland transport corridors. The European Union puts particular emphasis on the development of inland and rail transport to balance road transport, which is drastically expanding. Development of inland waterway transport routes in Poland has allies in intensely developing sea ports. The allies of the lower Vistula (dolna Wisła) are the ports in Gdańsk and Gdynia, for which construction of inland ports up-country is an opportunity to increase the trans-shipment capacity. Poland uses the potential of international inland waterways poorly when compared to other European Union countries, which results for instance from the bad technical condition of river engineering structures and from years of neglect in water management. The situation is further amplified by the lack of consistent laws regarding inland navigation and water management, as the responsibility for those issues is shared by several ministries, the institutions they are in charge of and local governments. Governments of the voivodeships situated along the planned international waterways E40 between Warsaw and Gdańsk (Mazowieckie, Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Pomorskie voivodeships) and E70 (Lubuskie, Wielkopolskie, Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Warmińsko-Mazurskie, Pomorskie voivode- ships) can see both the transport and the tourism potential of Polish waterways.
    [Show full text]
  • Vistula Lagoon
    Slide 1 Vistula Lagoon Piotr Margo ński Sea Fisheries Institute, Gdynia, POLAND Slide 2 Piotr Margo ński Vistula Lagoon Area: 838 km 2 (Russia – 56%, Poland – 44%) Length: 90 km Pregola River Width: 10-19 km RU PL Baltic Sea Vistula River Old Vistula River Delta Nogat River Slide 3 Piotr Margo ński Vistula Lagoon Connection with the Gulf of Gdansk: narrow, dredged channel near Baltiysk (Russia) - width - 400 m - depth - 10-12 m - minimal vertical transect - 4200 m 2 Slide 4 Piotr Margo ński Vistula Lagoon Navigable channel, the Kaliningrad Marine Canal Kaliningrad Kaliningrad Marine Canal Baltiysk Kaliningrad - length 43 km Marine Canal - depth 9-12 m - separated by a set of artificial islands - built in 1901 by traders (depth of 6 m) - needs a permanent maintenance dredging. Slide 5 Piotr Margo ński Vistula Lagoon The new Vistula River mouth was artificially created between 1889 and 1895 and it was officially opened on 31 March 1895, on the personal order of Emperor Pregola River Wilhelm II. RU PL Vistula River Old Vistula River Delta Nogat River Slide 6 Piotr Margo ński Vistula Lagoon ‘Biala Gora Lock’ finished in 1915 cut off the Vistula Lagoon from the Vistula River. In 1550 about 85% of river runoff was reaching the sea through the Pregola River Nogat River. Now it is reduced to less than 5% RU PL Vistula River Old Vistula River Delta Nogat River Slide 7 Piotr Margo ński Vistula Lagoon Average depth: 2.7 m Water volume: 2.3 km 3 54.8 Primorskaya Pregola 54.7 5 4.5 54.6 Prokhladnaya 4 3.5 54.5 3 Mamonovka 2.5 Pasleka 54.4
    [Show full text]
  • DRAINAGE BASIN of the BALTIC SEA Chapter 8
    216 DRAINAGE BASIN OF THE BALTIC SEA Chapter 8 BALTIC SEA 217 219 TORNE RIVER BASIN 221 KEMIJOKI RIVER BASIN 222 OULUJOKI RIVER BASIN 223 JÄNISJOKI RIVER BASIN 224 KITEENJOKI-TOHMAJOKI RIVER BASINS 224 HIITOLANJOKI RIVER BASIN 226 VUOKSI RIVER BASIN 228 LAKE PYHÄJÄRVI 230 LAKE SAIMAA 232 JUUSTILANJOKI RIVER BASIN 232 LAKE NUIJAMAANJÄRVI 233 RAKKOLANJOKI RIVER BASIN 235 URPALANJOKI RIVER BASIN 235 NARVA RIVER BASIN 237 NARVA RESERVOIR 237 LAKE PEIPSI 238 GAUJA/KOIVA RIVER BASIN 239 DAUGAVA RIVER BASIN 241 LAKE DRISVYATY/ DRUKSHIAI 242 LIELUPE RIVER BASIN 245 VENTA, BARTA/BARTUVA AND SVENTOJI RIVER BASINS 248 NEMAN RIVER BASIN 251 LAKE GALADUS 251 PREGEL RIVER BASIN 254 VISTULA RIVER BASIN 260 ODER RIVER BASIN Chapter 8 218 BALTIC SEA This chapter deals with major transboundary rivers discharging into the Baltic Sea and some of their transboundary tributaries. It also includes lakes located within the basin of the Baltic Sea. TRANSBOUNDARY WATERS IN THE BASIN OF THE BALTIC SEA1 Basin/sub-basin(s) Total area (km²) Recipient Riparian countries Lakes in the basin Torne 40,157 Baltic Sea FI, NO, SE Kemijoki 51,127 Baltic Sea FI, NO, RU Oulujoki 22,841 Baltic Sea FI, RU Jänisjoki 3,861 Lake Ladoga FI, RU Kiteenjoki-Tohmajoki 1,595 Lake Ladoga FI, RU Hiitolanjoki 1,415 Lake Ladoga FI, RU Lake Pyhäjärvi and Vuoksi 68,501 Lake Ladoga FI, RU Lake Saimaa Juustilanjoki 296 Baltic Sea FI, RU Lake Nuijamaanjärvi Rakkonlanjoki 215 Baltic Sea FI, RU Urpanlanjoki 557 Baltic Sea FI, RU Saimaa Canal including 174 Baltic Sea FI, RU Soskuanjoki Tervajoki 204
    [Show full text]
  • Inventory of Existing Treatment Technologies in Wastewater Treatment Plants
    Inventory of existing treatment technologies in wastewater treatment plants Case studies in four coastal regions of the South Baltic Sea Poland, Sweden, Lithuania and Germany Project MORPHEUS 2017 - 2019 Deliverable 5.1 Lead Authors: Luczkiewicz A., Fudala-Ksiazek S., Jankowska K., Szopinska M. Gdansk University of Technology, Poland Co-authors: Björklund, E., Svahn, O., Kristianstad University, Sweden (Lead partner) Garnaga-Budrė G., Lithuanian EPA; Langas V., Klaipeda University, Lithuania Tränckner J., Kaiser A., University of Rostock, Germany Contact information: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Cover photo Lundåkraverket Landskrona Skåne, Sweden, © Erland Björklund Key facts of the MORPHEUS project MORPHEUS (Model Areas for Removal of Pharmaceutical Substances in the South Baltic) is a project financed by the European Union Interreg South Baltic Programme 36 months. The project duration is January 2017 – December 2019, with a total budget of EUR 1.6 million with a contribution from the European Regional Development Fund of EUR 1.3 million. The project has a total of 7 partners from four countries; Sweden, Germany, Poland and Lithuania: Kristianstad University (Lead Partner) – Sweden, EUCC – The Coastal Union Germany – Germany, University of Rostock – Germany, Gdansk Water Foundation – Poland, Gdansk University of Technology – Poland, Environmental Protection Agency – Lithuania and Klaipeda University – Lithuania. The project also has a total of 10 associated partners from these countries. For additional information on the project and activities please visit the MORPHEUS homepage at: www.morpheus-project.eu The contents of this report are the sole responsibility of the authors and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union, the Managing Authority or the Joint Secretariat of the South Baltic Cross-border Cooperation Programme 2014-2020.
    [Show full text]
  • Possibilities of Inland Waterway Transport Development on the Lower Vistula River from 2020–2030, Considering River Basin Management Plans
    Scientific Journals Zeszyty Naukowe of the Maritime University of Szczecin Akademii Morskiej w Szczecinie 2019, 59 (131), 120–126 ISSN 1733-8670 (Printed) Received: 13.08.2019 ISSN 2392-0378 (Online) Accepted: 21.09.2019 DOI: 10.17402/359 Published: 30.09.2019 Possibilities of inland waterway transport development on the Lower Vistula River from 2020–2030, considering River Basin Management Plans Dawid Szatten, Michał Habel, Zygmunt Babiński, Marta Schoeneich Kazimierz Wielki University in Bydgoszcz e-mail: {szatten; hydro.habel; zygmunt.babinski; m.schoeneich}@ukw.edu.pl corresponding author Key words: River Basin Management Plans (RBMP), Water Framework Directive (WFD), inland waterway transport development, inland management strategies, Water Law Act, environmental pressures of the invest- ments, environmental impact assessment, Lower Vistula River Abstract The Lower Vistula River is a Polish part of inland waterways E40 that has a comparatively low waterway class (Ib – III; excluding Wloclawek Reservoir part – Va), and projects and works should be undertaken to improve the waterway class conditions. This also depends upon the ratification of the AGN agreement by Poland, which obliges the country to adapt the main waterways to at least the fourth class of navigability. A catalog of invest- ment activities must contain environmental objectives due to the inclusion of Lower Vistula River in the Natura 2000 protected areas network. This research includes an analysis of the impact on the inland waterway transport of the investments included in the Vistula River Basin Management Plans (RBMP). These documents make it possible to rationally manage water resources (also in the waterway transport) and indicate actions aimed at maintaining them for future generations.
    [Show full text]
  • 1. Region of Warmia and Mazury
    1. Region of Warmia and Mazury The beauty of the region is the charming and picturesque greenery, more than 2000 lakes and a large area of forests. That’s why our region is called The land of thousand lakes (Inspired by tales of One Thousand and One Nights). The area of Warmia and Mazury are in fact two historic provinces, joined into one because of their location close to each other. They are located in northern Poland, near the border with Russia and east of the lower Vistula River. Region is a paradise for sailors, joined into several sailing routes, it offer excellent conditions not only for sailing, but also canoeing and other water sports. Once there, you can find historical signs dating back to the times of the Crusader Knights, Prussian rule and World War II. Links: o http://www.warmia.mazury.pl/index.php?lang=en o http://www.lonelyplanet.com/poland/warmia-and-masuria o http://info-poland.buffalo.edu/web/geography/regions/warmia/link.shtml o http://www.en.atrakcje.olsztyn.pl/ 1.1 History of region Warmia (Varmia) This historic region in the North of Poland was ceded to Poland from Prussia in 1466 by the Crusader Knights, later passed to Prussia in 1772, and reverted to Poland after the second World War. Through the Yalta Conference and Potsdam Conference of 1945 the victorious Allies divided East Prussia into the two parts now known as Oblast Kaliningrad (in Russia) and the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship (in Poland). People was evacuated or fled the advancing Red Army in 1945.
    [Show full text]
  • Potamonyms of the Vistula River Basin As a Part of Cultural Heritage
    Potamonyms of the Vistula River Basin as a Part of Cultural Heritage Urszula BIJAK* There are many ways in which cultural heritage can be defined, depending on the branch of science that is dealing with this term. With no doubt, a language, including proper names, is a medium of the non-material cultural heritage. The aim of my article is to present a “hydronymic map” of the Vistula basin from the linguistic point of view. I will focus on: 1/the cultural heritage reflected by the river names, which are chronologically and genetically differentiated and represent several layers: archaic Pre- Slavic names, so-called “Old-European”, Polish, other Slavic (Czech, Slovak, Boyko, Lemko, Ukrainian, Belarusian) and non-Slavic (Baltic, German, Vlach, Latin); 2/ the image of the lingual reality constructed by the river names, the creation of names which is a result of action of a number of different motives, incentives, ways of thinking and experiencing the reality; 3/the changes of hydronyms, variability (so called polyonymy) characteristic for this onimic category coming from the lack of naming memory, collapse of naming tradition through the centuries. 1. Introduction There are many ways in which cultural heritage can be defined, depending on the branch of science that is dealing with this term. The conceptual and territorial range of the term can also differ (Lewandowska 2007). With no doubt, a language, including proper names, is a medium of the non-material cultural heritage. Hydronymy occupies a significant position within the realm of geographical names and from the beginning of the 20th century it played an important role as a research topic for linguists.
    [Show full text]
  • Strategic Documents in Development of Inland Navigation on the Polish
    ORIGINAL ARTICLE Bulletin of the Maritime Institute in Gdańsk Strategic documents in development of inland navigation on the Polish and Belarusian section of E40 Dokumenty strategiczne w rozwój żeglugi śródlądowej w polskiej i białoruskiej części E40 Wkład autorów: ABCDEFG ABCDEFG A – Study Design Marcin Kalinowski , Rafał Koba , B – Data Collection ABCDEFG C – Statistical Analysis Urszula Kowalczyk D – Manuscript Preparation E – Literature Search F – Funds Collection Instytut Morski w Gdańsku. Zakład Ekonomiki i Prawa Article history: Received: 10.01.2016 Accepted: 06.05.2016 Published: 16.05.2016 Abstract: The international waterway E40 is incorporated into the network of inland waterways of transnational importance. It’s a kind of link between the two water basins of the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea. The route runs through three countries, Poland, Bela- rus and Ukraine. The article shows a review of strategic documents regarding the revitalization of this connection at regional, national and international levels. Due to the fact that the sections running through the territory of Poland and Belarus requ- ire major modernization works, the authors of the article focus mainly on the analysis of the selected documents related to those countries. The entire section of the Ukrainian stretch of the waterway is basically navigable and does not require major modernization works. The article will be useful to create a strategy for the revitalization of the international waterway E40 in Poland, and will facilitate any decision on accession and signing of the European Agreement on the Main Inland Waterways of International Importance (AGN) convention by Poland. The article can also provide material to support development policies of companies conducting their business based on infrastructure located along the E40 waterway.
    [Show full text]
  • Europa XXI T. 20 (2010), Selected Problems on Polish-Russian Cross
    EUROPA XXI 2010, 20: 55-63 SELECTED PROBLEMS ON POLISH-RUSSIAN CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION BASED ON THE EXAMPLE OF THE VISTULA LAGOON TADEUSZ PALMOWSKI Institute of Geography, University of Gdańsk Bażyńskiego 4, 80-952 Gdańsk, Poland e-mail: [email protected] Abstract. This paper presents selected problems on Polish-Russian cross-bor- der cooperation based on the example of Vistula Lagoon (historical, political and economical background, environmental factors, relationships after May 1st 2004, when the boundary has been the external European Union border). Key words: Vistula Lagoon, cross-border cooperation, border and Baltic shipments INTRODUCTION The Vistula Lagoon is a wide spread water basin on the Polish Russian border- line separated from the Baltic waters by the narrow Vistula Spit. The only link with the sea runs through the Strait of Baltiysk, which lies beyond the country’s border, seriously hindering operations. The Polish side covers approximately 328 km2, i.e. a basin 40 km long and 7 to 9 km wide. Several rivers fl ow into the Lagoon, enjoy- ing shipping traffi c of fi shing, trade and sport vessels: Nogat, Wisła Królewiecka, Szkarpawa, Elbląg. The Vistula Lagoon, one of the greatest coastal water basins in the southern Baltic has considerable economic signifi cance, primarily as an important link in the inland and marine water communication system, as an area of successful fi shing and a fresh water basin. The adjacent land features certain natural mineral and power resources, and well developed agricultural and industry sectors as well as environmental tourism and recreational attractions. http://rcin.org.pl 56 Tadeusz Palmowski The Vistula Lagoon is a natural link joining the east and central European river network.
    [Show full text]