![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/polish\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/18\/2012\/02\/01-kana-300x198.jpg\")
<\/a>August\u00f3w Canal is maturing into one of the most attractive canals in Europe. Flowing through the Puszcza Augustowska, Poland\u2019s largest forest complex, you can easily canoe down this route during spring and autumn, and are more likely to come into contact with wildlife rather than other humans, as you paddle along the waterways. The canal does not form a continuously straight route with regular banks – it is unique in that it flows through a variety of lakes, some large, some small, and that it continues its way through the royal town of August\u00f3w and eventually onto the Biebrza National Park, forming part of the famous papal canoe route.<\/p>\nThe canal adjoins several nature reserves which form part of Natura 2000, a network of ecologically protected areas, which means that there is no disturbance from barges or mechanical water traffic. The lock keepers\u2019 cottages, probably some of the most attractive in Europe, are listed buildings and are located deep in the forest.<\/p>\n
The canal is now settling down into old age with grace and beauty; it has been through war and destruction and now is the time to enjoy and explore it. There is however one final hurdle, or some may say \u2018opportunity,\u2019 to overcome as with most things in life: the canal is approximately 100 kilometres long and has 18 locks along its entire length; however three locks and about 2 kilometres of the canal are located in Belarus, and form the only border crossing in Europe which has been specially created for canoeists. This border is presently tightly controlled and a visa is required to travel further along the canal, however this may change at some point in the future. Belarus may eventually join the EU, which would mean that one could paddle all the way from August\u00f3w to the Baltic via Belarus and Lithuania, and the canal will once again receive the international recognition that it deserves, and may even become listed in the UNESCO World Heritage List.<\/p>\n
Do nast<\/strong>\u0119pnego razu… <\/strong>(Till next time…)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Images of the Suez Canal flowing through the desert and the Panama Canal weaving its way through dense jungle in Central America are known worldwide, however few people are familiar with Poland\u2019s most famous man-made waterway, which is perhaps one of the oldest in Europe. The August\u00f3w Canal (Kana\u0142 Augustowski) was already flowing through dense…<\/p>\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/polish\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/18\/2012\/02\/01-kana.jpg\")
<\/a>August\u00f3w Canal is maturing into one of the most attractive canals in Europe. Flowing through the Puszcza Augustowska, Poland\u2019s largest forest complex, you can easily canoe down this route during spring and autumn, and are more likely to come into contact with wildlife rather than other humans, as you paddle along the waterways. The canal does not form a continuously straight route with regular banks – it is unique in that it flows through a variety of lakes, some large, some small, and that it continues its way through the royal town of August\u00f3w and eventually onto the Biebrza National Park, forming part of the famous papal canoe route.<\/p>\n