Today the lakes are associated mainly with holidays, sailing and relaxation. In the past, they were above all roads.
Before the arrival of the railway and modern roads, water was one of the most convenient ways to move people and goods. In Masuria this was particularly significant, because the natural lakes formed a vast, interconnected system.
The Prussians began developing canals as early as the 18th century. These made it possible to link separate lakes into one great waterway running through a large part of the region.
Timber, grain and various goods needed to keep old East Prussia functioning were transported along these routes. Water was not an addition to the life of the region — it was its primary infrastructure.
In the 19th century, passenger vessels also began operating on the Masurian lakes. One of the best known was the steamship Masovia, which connected Ryn, Mikołajki and Pisz, among other places.
Sailing between the lakes today, it is hard to immediately notice that beneath the holiday atmosphere lies an old communication system. And yet many of today's sailing routes follow the historical waterways.
The Tałty and Grunwald Canals are still in use. It is quite remarkable when one realises that part of this infrastructure is over 250 years old and still functioning.
Masuria is unique in this respect. In few places in Poland can one so clearly see the combination of nature, history and ancient hydraulic engineering.
Looking at the calm lakes today, it is easy to forget that for hundreds of years they were a working road rather than a place of holiday rest.