The Wonderful Wisla
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The longest river in Poland, the Vistula (Wisla) winds its way from the Beskidy mountains of southern Poland, through Krakow and Warsaw and up the the bay in Gdansk to the Baltic Sea. At 1,047 kilometers (678 miles) long and draining an area of 194,424 km (75,067 sq. miles), no wonder the Vistula has become the stuff of Polish legend.
While the written history of the Vistula is sketchy at best, speculative at worst, we do know that the origin of the river's name is probably Indo-European, though its current moniker is the Polonized version. In past times, the Vistula used to be connected to the Dnieper River, and through it to the Black Sea, where it was part of the Amber Road, an ancient river trade route from the Black Sea to the Baltic.
Today, it's part of the landscape of Poland's most important cities, and while it used to be a point of recreation for Poles young and old, we wouldn't recommend dipping even your toes in it today - the communist era has rendered it as dirty as the Hudson or Thames unfortunately. However, if you really want to explore Poland's mighty river up close, why not take a Vistula cruise, or check out the Vistula River Museum in Gdansk?
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I loved reading the other facts from this site about Vistula/Wisła and I am also Polish!
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ReplyMy ancestor, Herman Levinson, was born, 1823, according to family records, in "Slewzewo on the Vistula." I can't find this town. Was it destroyed? Is the spelling so off? Anyone know what was happening there at the time? I heard he left the country at age 12 because his mom died and he didn't like his step mother.
ReplyI think the spelling would be Slezewo
ReplyI am really interested in other cultures n how they live or nationalities if i must, Well i really just like exploring for new facts n conversations too come up with. Hahaha, I enjoy just looking at the scenery and listen too the history about far places like this, Anyway Great River dudes! :)
Replyhi i chose this river for my adopt a river project this has really helped but for the future type in rivers of poland revolvy.
Replydziekuje
ReplyI am Polish, well I was born in England however my whole family is Polish and I am proud to be Polish too. I am 11 in 2017. Our homework was to do a representation about rivers I picked Wisła! Cześć uwielbiam Wisłę!!!! :)
ReplyI am home schooled and i have lived in England all my life. I have been doing presentations on each country in Europe. I am 11 years of age and i am going into year 6. This has really helped!
ReplyI am Polish, and I came to England when I was 2. Now, I am 10 and in year 5 we are doing a homework project about Rivers! I chose the River Vistula as it is an very wonderfull river. My friend, Emily, is also doing it but she is from England so that means she will find out quite alot about Poland!
ReplyI saw the Vistula when I visited Poland in April 2011. What impressed me most was the love my tour guide had of the river. I was there a few weeks after the river flooded the fields and we had to wear boots to walk around and see the animals. Most impressive to me were the storks.
ReplyI never forget walked a long side in Vistula River. I had been visited Poland last November.That place is always memorial in my mind!
Replyi had the great pleasure of living in poland, in modlinska.. next t this river... its a beautiful place and even was there t see the huge tide tht came in 2010.. amazin.. took the oppotunity t av a swim in it to.. (not advisable less u a good swimmer) but jus the greatest days had along side the river.. u av t visit the rural type pubs dotted along the way for best exp.. i even had the great pleasure of attendin a concert at 1 my fav drinkin places adjacent t the river.. the time are beyond words and will remain some my best liftime experiences.. i definately will be goin back t visit my many friends and enjoy times by the river...
Replyhi my name is oliwia and i chose this river for a school project, and ilove this river because was born in poland!:)
ReplyHi, I am 89 years old. I left warsaw, poland when I was 18 years old. Looking at the view of the wisla river reminds me of my youth. I used to swim here.
Replyit is purely Indian (INDO) Name "Vistula" Sanskrit name, Mritwa Vistula mean dead Vistula
ReplyHI i'[m 9 years old and my friend Julia told me this river is great and she's doing it for her river project.I also think its great too
Replyja mam 10 lat hi my name is julia and i chosse this river for project to the shool. ja siê urodzi³am w polsce i przyjecha³am na jersey ja mieszkam na jersey jeden rok
Replyja mam 10 lat hi my name is julia and i chosse this river for project to the shool. ja siê urodzi³am w polsce i przyjecha³am na jersey ja mieszkam na jersey jeden rok
Replyja mam 10 lat hi my name is julia and i chosse this river for project to the shool. ja siê urodzi³am w polsce i przyjecha³am na jersey ja mieszkam na jersey jeden rok
Replyhi my name is julia i come from Poland ive been in england for 3 years . czesc mam na imie julia , pochodze z Polski i mieszkam w anglii od 3 lat
ReplyI have travelled to Wisla during the summer and also during the winter time, i love this place, it's beautifull,clean air, nice food and drinks lovely peole.
Replywell im doing a River Project on this river,I chosse this river becuasee its got an unusaul name,Intill i looked in the atlas i didnt know that this River actually was around !! its shows how use ffull things like that are ...:D
ReplyI Loved the whole experience, the air is so clean!!! I enjoyed it so much i'm going again this year! Poland's FAB!!!!!!
ReplyI am curious about the River: I just finished the Novel "Push Not the River"...I recommend it highly! (James Conroyd) author....one becomes connected with the history of it. My Grandparents came over (to the US) in 1890 from Poznan. We visisted Poland two yrs ago; I LOVED being there!
Replymy nephew and i are thinking about bicyling along the vistula this summer. any help would be much appreciated
ReplyFrom the Old Town there are steps down to the river. You can take a nice walk along the concrete path North to the Citadel. "Watch out for the speeding guys on bicycles". The Citadel is a Russian fort built by Tsar Nicolas I to quell the Polish rebellion of 1830. Most of it is still a miltary base but there is a very good museum about the Polish quest for freedom from Russia from then thru the Cold War. Great visit for history buffs!
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