How Estyjska Island Became a Bird Sanctuary

Born from the construction of the Vistula navigation, canal Estyjska now stands as an engineering and ecological marvel in the heart of Poland’s Vistula Lagoon.

This artificial island, spanning between 180 and 200 hectares, was created entirely through the clever reuse of the tons of sediment and excavated material removed during the dredging of this strategic waterway.

Originally designed as a storage site for construction spoil, the island has transformed into a true haven of biodiversity—a strictly protected nature reserve that serves as a prime nesting and stopover site for countless species of wild and migratory birds.