Mysterious Suchar Lakes
Suchar lakes are small, dystrophic water reservoirs, constituting a natural curiosity of the Wigry National Park.
By Wigry National Park
Text: Paulina Pajer-Giełażys, Photos: Paulina Pajer-Giełażys, Wojciech Misiukiewicz
Suchar lake (2017) by Paulina Pajer-GiełażysWigry National Park
In the Wigry National Park, apart from the largest lake, Wigry, there are 41 smaller lakes that create a huge variety of aquatic ecosystems. The most interesting of them are also the smallest and hidden among dense forests.
Suchar lakes (2024) by Wojciech MisiukiewiczWigry National Park
Those lakes, called Suchary, are small, dystrophic reservoirs with brown, acidic water. There are as many as 19 such lakes in the Wigry National Park.
Suchar lake (2018) by Paulina Pajer-GiełażysWigry National Park
The aura of mystery around Suchary is created by frequent fog and dry trees surrounding the lakes. The name of the lakes comes from the word “suchy” meaning dry in Polish.
"Dry" lakes
Another theory is that the name of the lakes comes from the local fishermen's slang, where "dry lake" ("suche jezioro") meant a lake without fish. Indeed, most of Suchary have few or no fish at all.
Peat bog (2024) by Paulina Pajer-GiełażysWigry National Park
Floating moss mat
Suchary are surrounded by a floating layer of peat moss.
marsh Labrador tea (2013) by Paulina Pajer-GiełażysWigry National Park
Apart from the peat moss, there are many interesting plant species, such as bog-rosemary, cranberry, marsh Labrador tea, bogbean and various species of sedges.
Sundew (2015) by Paulina Pajer-GiełażysWigry National Park
Predatory plants, such as sundews can also be found here.
Sundews have adapted to life in a poor environment by obtaining nutrients from insects, which they capture using leaves covered with hairs secreting a sticky substance.
Suchar lake (2014) by Paulina Pajer-GiełażysWigry National Park
Sometimes, fragments of the moss mat break away and create islands floating on the surface of the lakes.
Suchar lake (2014) by Paulina Pajer-GiełażysWigry National Park
Even though there are no fish there, Suchary are a habitat for many other animal species.
Frog (2014) by Paulina Pajer-GiełażysWigry National Park
They are an important breeding place for amphibians.
They are a safe sanctuary for water birds.
Beaver lodge (2025) by Paulina Pajer-GiełażysWigry National Park
Beavers often build their lodges on the inaccessible marshy shores.
Suchar lake (2019) by Paulina Pajer-GiełażysWigry National Park
Small but precious
Although they are very small, Suchary are one of the most precious water reservoirs, both in terms of natural and landscape values.
Text: Paulina Pajer-Giełażys, Photographs: Paulina Pajer-Giełażys, Wojciech Misiukiewicz
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