Dziki Waterfall

Dziki Wodospad (Dziki Waterfall) is a debris-catching weir on the River Łomnica in Karpacz, built as flood protection. Despite the technical nature of the structure, the cascade of falling water attracts walkers and is one of the more popular destinations for walking trips in the town.

Why the weir was built

The Łomnica is a small river, especially in its upper course, but has a steep gradient, about 927 metres over a length of less than 19 kilometres, and flows along the bottom of a deep valley with steep slopes. During heavy rain or snowmelt the river rises quickly, and the swollen water carries large quantities of stones and fallen trees.

Floods that led to the construction

In the nineteenth century the Łomnica caused serious damage three times. In 1816 a cloudburst caused a flood, and flood losses in Miłków and the rest of the Jelenia Góra Basin reached more than 109,000 thalers. In 1844 a wave carrying ice floes, stones and trees, triggered by an avalanche falling into the Great Pond, destroyed a mill in Karpacz. Another flood in 1897 damaged and destroyed many houses, roads and bridges.

Construction of the weir

After the flood of 1897, a decision was taken to build structures to limit the scale of future flooding. One of them was a debris-catching weir above Karpacz, built between 1910 and 1915, which over time became known as the Dziki Waterfall. The structures built at the start of the twentieth century proved their worth during the flood of 1997.

Practical information

• Location: on the Łomnica, above Karpacz.
• Access: check the exact route and trail markings before setting out; Karpacz's local tourist materials give the current route.
• What to expect: a cascade of water flowing over the concrete weir, a spot popular with walkers, without the infrastructure typical of paid attractions.
• Nearby: Wang Temple, Śnieżka, Karkonoskie Tajemnice and the Gravity Anomaly.