The Wonderful Wisla
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?
Comments
Aye from Burma Reply
I never forget walked a long side in Vistula River. I had been visited Poland last November.That place is always memorial in my mind!
Brian Hill from United Kingdom Reply
i 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...
oliwia from United Kingdom Reply
hi my name is oliwia and i chose this river for a school project, and ilove this river because was born in poland!:)
abram from Canada Reply
Hi, 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.
dima from Hong Kong Reply
Many people can't pronounce the Polish letter' £' so they use'Vistula' instead of Wis³a.
Xyra from United Kingdom Reply
HI 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
julia from Poland Reply
ja 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
julia from Poland Reply
ja 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
julia from Poland Reply
ja 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
julia mazur from Poland Reply
hi 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
Alex Harris from Poland Reply
Gziendobry, I now am living in poland next to the wisla in Krakow and it great!
Amin Hanifi from United Kingdom Reply
I 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.
Josie from United Kingdom Reply
well 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
Alex Harris from United Kingdom Reply
I Loved the whole experience, the air is so clean!!! I enjoyed it so much i'm going again this year! Poland's FAB!!!!!!
Kasha from United States Reply
I 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!
harvey t lyon from United States Reply
my nephew and i are thinking about bicyling along the vistula this summer. any help would be much appreciated
Rodney Walton from United States Reply
From 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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