Masuria has had its legends for a long time. Many of them are directly connected to the lakes and to water.
One of the best-known stories is the legend of King Sielaw. According to old tales, a huge fish wearing a golden crown was said to guard the Masurian lakes.
King Sielaw punished greedy fishermen by capsizing their boats and destroying their nets. Only when people began to use the lakes with greater moderation did the situation calm down.
The legend is still very much alive in Mikołajki today. The symbol of King Sielaw can be seen in the town's coat of arms, on bridges and in various local features.
It is an interesting story, because beneath the fairy-tale layer lies a simple moral about respect for nature.
Masurian legends often work in exactly this way. They connect water, nature and old beliefs with the everyday life of the region's inhabitants.
In the evening, when the lakes grow silent and dark, such stories begin to sound entirely plausible.