Jeziorko Imielińskie

Hidden within Warsaw’s urban embrace lies Jeziorko Imielińskie, a glacial relic whispering tales of a time long past. Jeziorko Imielińskie is a unique body of water, a designated ecological haven. It’s estimated to be around 200,000 years old. Imagine this: during the last ice age, a massive chunk of ice broke off and settled here. Over time, the ice melted, leaving behind a depression lined with impermeable clay. This depression, filled with water-saturated sands, became what we know today as Jeziorko Imielińskie. The lake’s average diameter spans between 120 and 140 meters, a modest size that belies its ecological importance. Jeziorko Imielińskie sits nestled amidst the streets of Stary Imielin, surrounded by Makolągwy, Bekasów, Pileckiego, Zięby, Mewy, Łukaszczyka, Perkoza, and Roentgena streets. It forms a vital link in a chain of ecological connections that stretches from Kabacki Forest to the Vistula Escarpment, Służewiecki Stream, and the Raszynka Valley. Fed by groundwater, Jeziorko Imielińskie overflows into a small stream, contributing to the larger watershed of the Grabowski Canal via the Imieliński Canal. This seemingly small lake plays a significant role in the local ecosystem. The lake’s surface covers a little over one hectare, accompanied by a smaller pond, Staw przy jeziorze Imielińskim, measuring about 0.16 hectares. In 1993, Jeziorko Imielińskie and its surrounding ten hectares were declared an ecological haven. Sadly, this protection was rescinded just three years later. This opened the door to development, which has led to the lake’s gradual decline. The lowering of groundwater levels due to construction has caused the lake to shrink. The diverse flora and fauna that once thrived here are also diminishing. Thankfully, in 2002, a smaller area of nearly four hectares surrounding the lake was again designated as an ecological use area. This is crucial for protecting the breeding grounds of rare bird species. Jeziorko Imielińskie teems with life. The reeds that cover more than half its surface provide shelter, feeding grounds, and nesting sites for numerous waterbird species. Some of these birds are legally protected. Keep an eye out for little grebes, red-necked grebes, horned grebes, mute swans, tufted ducks, pochards, marsh harriers, water rails, Eurasian coots, mallards, reed warblers, common snipes, common sandpipers, and northern shovelers. Jeziorko Imielińskie serves as a vital reminder of the delicate balance between urban development and environmental preservation.