It is hard to imagine today, but before the Second World War Masuria belonged to East Prussia. The region operated within the German administrative system and had been part of the Prussian state for a very long time.
Towns such as Ryn, Mikołajki and Giżycko had German names back then. Ryn was Rhein, Mikołajki was Nikolaiken, and Giżycko was called Lötzen.
The region was home to both Germans and Masurians — a local population that often spoke a mixture of Polish and German. Many Masurians were Protestants and had lived in the same villages for generations.
The lakes served a far more practical purpose than they do today. Timber, goods and people were transported across them. Regular passenger boats even operated on the water.
The Tałty and Grunwald Canals were also built as part of the Prussian water infrastructure. They were not created for tourism, but for the functioning of the entire region.
In 1920, a plebiscite was held here to decide whether Masuria should belong to Poland or remain part of Germany. In many places, almost all votes were cast in favour of staying in Prussia.
This shows how complex the history of the region was. For a long time, Masuria existed between different languages, cultures and identities.
Today many traces of that world still exist, though one often has to learn to notice them.