Polish Rivers Żeleźnica and Odra Reveal Environmental Strains on Summer Excursions

A thirteenth‑year excursion in Jaworzno traced the historic Żeleźnica river, noting its reddish, mine‑drainage‑fed waters, a beaver‑built dam, litter including tires, and the presence of the fungus Geastrum fimbriatum among the surrounding pine‑birch forest.

During a scouting voyage on the Odra, participants observed an unprecedentedly shallow channel, with water levels described as the lowest in decades. The boat ran aground on a sandbank and had to be pulled out by hand, underscoring drought conditions linked to climate change. Despite the low water, the river still hosted swans, eagles, and other wildlife, offering a stark contrast between natural beauty and vulnerability.