The Tanew river in the Nad Tanwią Nature Reserve has chrystal clear, ice-cold water and a soft sandy bed. Perfect to cool down on a hot summer day.
Spanning about 180 kilometres (112 miles) from East-central Poland into Western Ukraine near Lviv lies a series of rolling hills called Roztocze. Not the height of its peaks (up to 390 metres/1280 feet ASL), but the gems within this landscape are worth a visit. Highlights include the UNESCO Roztochia Biosphere Reserve in Ukraine, the Rocztocze National Park in Poland and the Tanew river valley. The latter has its spring in the hills, feeds the San river further upstream and - with its 114 kilometre (71 miles) in length, extends to far beyond the Roztocze landscape.
Nad Tanwią Nature Reserve
The Nad Tanwią Nature Reserve is a pure diamond in the flow of the Tanew river. Here it rushes over two dozen rocky thresholds, creating a picturesque sight and marking the geological border between Western and Eastern Europe. In fact, those tiny waterfalls make it the only place in Poland where one can visually see this partition. The sound of the rustling water ("szumy") is even reflected in the name of the nearby village of historic ironworks: (Huta) Szumy.
The 24 rocky steps ("szypoty" in Polish) spread over about 400 metres (437 yards) in the Tanew river are the result of the tectonic movements of the earth, and mirror the Earth's making of the Tatra Mountains hundreds of millions of years ago.
The rocky thresholds near Bar u Gargamela are popular for a wet walk on hot summer days. However, the water is ice-cold, stopping most potential full body dippers.
The Nad Tanwią Nature Reserve is popular among locals and tourists alike, and visitors love to step into the ice cooling water on hot summer days. Especially near the car park of restaurant Bar u Gargamela. It is named after the now senior owner, who in the face visually resembles the grumpy wizard villain character of the Belgian cartoon hit series The Smurfs. The bar/car park is the best spot to start discovering the meandering river valley and its banks.
This might be Gargamel's ride, found it parked besides the popular restaurant.
Higher up and a bit further away from the river, the landscape turns into a vast mix of pine tree forest and open clearings. The blue trail (Szlak Szumów) is the best to see the most of it all. The 17-kilometre-long (10.5-mile) hike gives visitors the perfect route through the Nad Tanwią, ever since the reserve of 41 hectares was established in 1958 to preserve parts of the Jeleń and Tanew rivers.
