Swoboda Lock, Historical lock system in Augustów Forest, Poland.
The Swoboda Lock is a water control structure on the Augustów Canal with a height difference of 1.7 meters (5 feet 7 inches) and extends about 46 meters (150 feet) in length. It connects the Biebrza River to Lake Studzienskie and is part of a larger canal network in the region.
The lock was built between 1826 and 1827 under the supervision of Lieutenant Colonel Jan Paweł Lelewel as part of the major Augustów Canal project. This structure was an important step in making the waterways in the region more usable for navigation.
The lock keeps its original manual operation system with traditional drawbars that show how water routes were controlled in the nineteenth century.
The lock is located about 10 kilometers from other nearby structures and is best reached on foot or by bicycle along the canal paths. This location has little tourist infrastructure, so plan ahead and bring water and supplies.
Metal crank mechanisms were installed in the 1960s to operate the lock but proved impractical and were abandoned. The original drawbar system was then restored and continues to be used today.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
