Water and Energy Security – a Case the Czorsztyn–Niedzica Dam and Retention Reservoirs
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WATER AND ENERGY SECURITY – A CASE THE CZORSZTYN–NIEDZICA DAM AND RETENTION RESERVOIRS 1. CHARACTERISTIC OF THE AREA - NATURAL VALUES AND CULTURAL HERITAGE The Pieniny Mountains – a small(35 km long, 6 km wide), distinct mountain range located on the southern Poland, on the border between Poland and Slovakia. The Pieniny Mountains lie between the Karpaty Zewnętrzne (Outer Carpathians), which are made up of soft sedimentary rock (so-called flysch), and the Karpaty Wewnętrzne (Inner Carpathians), comprised of hard crystal and limestone rocks. The Pieniny Mountains are characterized by unique and different from other parts of the Carpathian landscape – rocky canyon Dunajec river, rugged turn the most famous massif Trzy Korony (Three Crowns, 982 m a.s.l.), picturesque rocky gorges dissecting gentle slopes as well as high biodiversity of flora and fauna, preservation of relict biocenoses and high representation of rare and endangered species of flora and fauna. The conditions for the development of unique flora and fauna are closely related to the limestone and dolomite rock strata. The most attractive part of the mountain range, from both natural and scenic points of view, is the central part called Pieniny Właściwe range. Pieniny Właściwe – extends between Czorsztyn and Szczawnica and culminates with the Okrąglica peak (982 metres a.s.l.) in the Three Crowns massif. By climbing this summit, a splendid, panoramic overview of the vast area can be gained and enjoyed. The peaks here are beautifully jagged and the valleys often form rocky gorges. The northern faces slope gently into the valleys; the southern and eastern picturesque limestone cliffs (which are up to 300 metres high) drop down suddenly to the Dunajec river. Because of these unique natural values of the mountains the Pieniny National Park was created in 1932. The Dunajec is a right-bank tributary (247 km) of the Vistula river, running through the central part of the Pieniny Mtn. range. It begins in Nowy Targ at the junction of two short mountain rivers, Czarny Dunajec and Biały Dunajec (Black and White Dunajec). Dunajec forms a border between Poland and Slovakia (27 km) , east of the Czorsztyn reservoir. It is the only river taking waters from the Slovak territory to the Baltic Sea . It has a basin area of 6.804 square kilometres (4.852 in Poland, and 1.952 in Slovakia). 1 The Dunajec river valley in 1997 was flooded by water, as a result of construction of a river dam around Niedzica and Czorsztyn villages. Below the dam, the river flows through the beautiful Pieniny Gorge following a winding course. The Dunajec River Gorge is characterized by some of the most interesting geological and geomorphological structures and area specific natural ecosystems with little anthropogenic influence. It is featured on UNESCO's Tentative List of World Heritage Sites. The bottom of the gorge is very narrow, tapering points to several meters, surrounded by abrupt, craggy rock walls ascending average of 300-500 meters above the river. The 8 km section covers a straight line distance of just 2.8 km. The Gorge makes 7 loops in its length. The raft trip down the Dunajec river through the Pieniny Gorge is one of the greatest tourist attractions in Poland. Wooden canoe trips have been organized by aboriginal highlanders since the early 19th century. For many centuries, the Dunajec valley served as an important trade route from Poland to Hungary and so Czorsztyn and Niedzica castles were built as strategic strongholds high on the cliffs on either side. The Czorsztyn castle belonged to Poland, and on the southern riverbank, the Hungarians built their own – Niedzica (today it belongs to Poland). For centuries the fortresses were a border-posts on the Polish-Hungarian border. Czorsztyn village and Czorsztyn Castle The village was founded in XV th century and was connected with the castle and the trade route between Poland and Hungary. Ruins of this royal castle are situated on top of a steep hill, on the left bank of the Dunajec river. Czorsztyn castle played an important role as a stronghold on the trade route from Krakow to Hungary. The origins of the castle are not entirely clear. According to recent theory, Czorsztyn was founded as a small wooden fortification probably by Princess Kinga in the last quarter of XIII th century. Large development of the Czorsztyn Castle took place during the reign of Polish king Casimir III the Great. Since the great fire of 1790 the stronghold has remained in ruins. Following the Second World War several attempts at restoring the castle were made, but the ruins have only been open to tourists since the 1990s. Nowadays, the whole area (ruins and castle hill) is called „Nature Reserve – Czorsztyn castle” and since 1996 it has been an integral part of the Pieniny National Park. After the Czorsztyn reservoir was constructed at the foot of the castle, its precincts have altered irrevocably. History shaped 2 the border and crossing on this part of the royal trade route to Hungary, but both have been destroyed for ever. Niedzica Castle (also known as Dunajec Castle) is located in the southern part of Poland in Niedzica village (Nowy Targ County in Lesser Poland). The Niedzica Castle stands at an altitude of 566 m, on a hill 300 m upstream from the Dunajec River mouth, measured from the center of the dam on Czorsztyn Lake. The castle was an important centre of Polish- Hungarian relations since the 14th century. It was built by a Hungarian known as Kokos from Brezovica between the years 1320 and 1326. In 1470 it became the property of the aristocratic Zápolya family. At the end of the 16 th century the castle was bought by Ján Horváth from Plaveč. The fortress was renovated many times in the fifteenth, sixteenth, eighteenth and in the beginning of the 19 th century by its successive owners. The last Hungarian inhabitants remained there until in 1943 when the coming of the front in World War II inspired the Salamon family to abandon it. The last countess left with her children two years before the Red Army marched in. The final reconstruction of the castle was completed in 1963 under the supervision of the Polish Ministry of Culture. It has served as a historical museum ever since. The outline of Niedzica Castle can best be viewed from the ruins of Czorsztyn Castle on the other side of the lake. It is known as one of the most picturesque castles in the country and adorns the covers of many books. A new artificial reservoir, the Czorsztyn Lake, was created in 1994 by damming the Dunajec River downstream of the Niedzica Castle. The castle hill consists of limestone rock saddled on shale and marl found much below the current bed of the Dunajec River. Studies and analyses show that rock strata forming the limestone bank are weather-resistant, and provide secure foundation for the castle in spite of visible surface deterioration. In order to secure the stability of the hill, a number of reinforcing works were effected in the strip between the high- and low-water marks. The works include concrete reinforcement of rocks, substratum (weathered shale and marl) replacement, and surface protection elements on the hill. The castle and the hill are subject to constant monitoring. 2. DAM AND RETENTION RESERVOIRS ON THE DUNAJEC RIVER In 1934 a catastrophic flood in the Dunajec river’s catchment basin caused economic and social damages and took a toll of many human lives. To alleviate similar floods in the future, 3 the Czorsztyn – Niedzica dam and reservoir were built. Appropriate documentation was developed in 1938-1939. In the post-war history, the opinions about the project evolved in parallel to the overall problems of water management and environment protection issues, which were crucial in the area of high natural and cultural value. The dam Czorsztyn – Niedzica is largest earth-concrete dam in Poland (length 404 m, max. height 56 m, width of dam crest 7 m). Construction of the dam and the retention reservoir was controversial, however despite vehement protests from inhabitants and warnings from scientists, the Polish government proceeded to build the dam in 1964. The Czorsztyn – Niedzica dam, after being under construction for more than 20 years, was completed in 1997, just before another high flood wave struck. Dam and retention reservoirs protected surrounding area and inhabitants before the dramatic consequences. Thanks to dam wave of flooding has been reduced by 58%. Czorsztyn – Niedzica – Sromowce Wyżne complex of water reservoirs. The complex consists of two artificial water reservoirs: Czorsztyn – Niedzica (main retention reservoir, also called Czorsztyn Lake) and Sromowce Wyżne (smaller, compensatory reservoir). Czorsztyn Lake – artificial water reservoir on the river Dunajec, formed by building Niedzica earth dam. The surface is 1 147 km 2, the total capacity of 234.5 million m 3. These days in the summer dozens of white sails and canoes can be seen on the lake surrounded by limestone rocks. 3. HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER PLANTS Niedzica (built partially in dam) is a pumping plant – i.e. the power plant which releases electric energy to the grid in the highest demand hours. The pumping capacity is used in night hours when energy is cheap and abundant. Water is pumped from the lower reservoir to the upper one - to be used next day in propelling the turbines. Such power plants have a very short start-up time. In this case it is 3 – 4 minutes. The power of turbine sets at active turbine operation, and 42-48 m head –2 x 46375 MW, generated voltage – 15.75 kV. Sromowce Wyżne is a river power plant, using the steady outflow from the Sromowce reservoir to the Dunajec.