Osadnik Gajówka

Osadnik Gajówka is a constructed water basin in Przykona Municipality, Poland, born from an old coal mining site. The turquoise surface covers roughly 100 hectares (247 acres) and sits surrounded by sharp banks built from piled waste material left after extraction ended.

The basin formed during coal extraction by the Adamów mine and served from the 1950s onward as a dumping site for ash and slag from the nearby power station. Deposits stopped in the 1970s when operations ended and the ground gradually filled with water over the following years.

People in the area call this spot Lazurowe Jezioro, a name that refers to the intense color caused by minerals left behind from past mining work. The shoreline draws photographers and walkers who come to see the water change tone under different light, turning the former industrial site into a recognizable local landmark.

A paved access road leads to a lookout platform at around 115 meters (377 feet) elevation where you can see the whole basin spread out below. Free parking sits at the end of the approach, so visitors can reach the viewpoint without a long walk from the car.

The water reaches a pH near 12, making it strongly alkaline and causing cemented layers to form from old power station residue below. These hardened deposits stretch down around 40 meters (131 feet) and seal the bottom like a solid plate, fixing the waste material in place for decades.

Location: Gmina Przykona

GPS coordinates: 52.00020,18.58030

Latest update: December 13, 2025 17:25