Vistula Fens
River delta of the Vistula / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about Żuławy Wiślane?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
Żuławy Wiślane (plural from "żuława", meaning fen), in English known as the Vistula Fens, is the alluvial delta area of the river Vistula, in the northern part of Poland. It is a flat and deforested region comprising wetlands and agricultural plains that cover approximately 1,700 squared kilometres, with much of the land being situated below sea level. Poland's lowest point (1.8 metres below sea level) is located at Raczki Elbląskie in the Żuławy region.
Żuławy Wiślane | |
---|---|
Vistula Fens | |
Location | Pomeranian Voivodeship and western parts of Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, Poland |
Nearest town | Nowy Dwór Gdański and Nowy Staw |
Coordinates | 54.16667°N 19°E / 54.16667; 19 |
Area | 1,700 km2 (170,000 ha) |
Elevation | >10 metres above sea level[1] |
Official name | Vistula River Mouth |
Designated | 9 April 2015 |
Reference no. | 2321[2] |
The area was largely reclaimed artificially by means of dykes, pumps, channels and an extensive drainage system. Its shape is similar to a reversed triangle formed by branching of Vistula into two separate rivers, Leniwka and Nogat at its height, confined by rivers themselves, and closed by the Vistula Lagoon at its base.
Żuławy Wiślane extend from Poland's Pomerania Province in the west to the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship in the east, roughly between the cities of Elbląg, Malbork, Tczew and Gdańsk. The two largest towns which belong to the region are Nowy Dwór Gdański and Nowy Staw. Żuławy are also categorised as an ethnographic region, historically settled by immigrant Mennonites from Germany and the Netherlands (Friesland) who became collectively known as Hollanders, or Olęders in Polish. Much of the local architecture and other cultural aspects have been shaped by those communities.