- Masurian Lakeland
-
Lake district, northeastern Poland, containing more than 2,000 lakes.It extends 180 mi (290 km) eastward from the lower Vistula River to the Poland-Belarus border and occupies an area of 20,000 sq mi (52,000 sq km). It was the scene of Russian defeats in 1914–15 during World War I. It came under Russian control in January 1945 but was later granted to Poland by the Potsdam Conference.
* * *
Polish Pojezierze Mazurskielake district, northeastern Poland. It is a 20,000-square-mile (52,000-square-km) area immediately to the south of the Baltic coastal plains and extends 180 miles (290 km) eastward from the lower Vistula River to the borders with Lithuania and Belarus. It lies within the provinces of Warmińsko-Mazurskie and Podlaskie. There are more than 2,000 lakes (with Śniardwy being the largest), originally formed by meltwaters from the Vistula ice sheet, in the district. Shallow proglacial stream valleys in the region contain marshes and sand dunes. The morainal Dylewska Hill, which rises to about 1,000 feet (300 metres), is southwest of the city of Olsztyn.The Masurian Lakeland is thinly populated, with many forests, meadows, and pastures. Fertile black and brown soils are found in the western part of the district and produce wheat and sugar beets; sandy soils in the eastern part of the district produce potatoes and rye. The principal urban centres are Elbląg, Olsztyn, and Ełk. Resort towns include Giżycko and Mikołajki.* * *
Universalium. 2010.