West Pomeranian Lake Land

The West Pomeranian Lake Land is the northern part of the South Baltic Lake Lands, characterized by its lake-rich landscape. Covering an area of 9,700 km², it accounts for approximately 3.1% of Poland's administrative territory. The region features a series of terminal moraines formed during the Pomeranian phase of the Weichselian glaciation, with Siemierzycka Góra in the Bytów Lake Land as its highest point at 256.5 m above sea level. Soils in the macroregion primarily developed from glacial deposits – clays, sands, gravels, and silt from meltwater. Predominant soil types include brown earth, podzolic soils, and podzols, with hydric soils characteristic of the region. The area boasts a well-developed river network, including major coastal rivers such as the Rega, Parsęta, and Słupia, and the sandur plains of the South Pomeranian Lake Land with rivers like the Brda, Drawa, and Gwda. The region has a high lake density, exceeding 10% in some mesoregions. The largest lake, Drawsko Lake, a multi-channel lake, spans 19.6 km² with a maximum depth of 79.7 m. Most lakes in the lake land are classified as eutrophic based on their trophic state. The macroregion is underlain by substantial groundwater reserves, while soil water is of marginal importance due to its limited volume and poor quality. The climate is strongly influenced by the Baltic Sea, resulting in milder winters and cooler summers compared to most of Poland. According to Poland's climatic regionalization, the West Pomeranian Lake Land encompasses three climatic zones: the West Pomeranian Region in the west, the Central Pomeranian Region in the center, and the East Pomeranian Region in the east.

The flora is dominated by Central European vascular plants. Forest habitats include fresh mixed forest, fresh mixed coniferous forest, and fresh forest. Fertile beech forest and mixed coniferous forests are prominent in terms of potential natural vegetation. Some plant species in the region are glacial relicts from the Ice Age. The fauna is primarily composed of species typical of the North European Plain, with a migratory character.