PiĹawa is the biggest tributary of Gwda. It flows into it in the village Dobrzyca, flows out of lake Komorze on the Drawskie Lake District. The river, 82 km long, splits into two parts. In the upper course it connects several picturesque lakes, then it changes direction and flowing south among great forest area it flows into the River Gwda. In its upper course PiĹawa passes the following lakes: Komorze, Rakowo, Brody, Strzeszyn, Kocie, Pile. The biggest and deepest lake in the PiĹawa basin is lake Pile (maximum depth 54 m).
The PiĹawa trail belongs to a very picturesque and interesting rivers. It flows through:
Borne-Sulinowo: a German military training ground built before the Second World War.
Nadarzyce: a village known since the 16th century. In 1602 there was a water-mill. During the Second Worid War a prisoner-of-war camp in which kept were, among others: Leon Kruczkowski, StanisĹaw Dobrowolski, Stefan Mossor. War events are commemorated by village commemorative boulders.
Zdbice: a summer village on lake Zdbiczno with a historic church dating back to 1888 and monuments of nature, among others a five-standard lime tree (circumference 730 cm), lime tree (circumference 450 cm), fir tree (350 cm). On the pass between lakes Zdbiczno-SmoIno there is a reconstructed fragment of Pomorski Bulwark fortifications.
Pomorski Bulwark: built between 1934-37 and 1944-45 a system of German fortifications of reinforced concrete. It stretched from the Baltic Sea (near DarĹowo) through Miastko, Szczecinek, Nadarzyce, WaĹcz, Tuczno, Sanok near GorzĂłw Wielkopolski where it joined the MiÄdzyrzecki Fortified Region. The entire defense line was 275 km long.
Szwecja: a village founded in 1590. Famous for armed resistance of its inhabitants during the Swedish Deluge, and a church from 1876.
GĹowaczewo: founded in 1590. In the village a neo-roman church from 1865.
CzechyĹ: a village mentioned for the first time in 1599, first known as Czech, Czechy.
Zabrodzie: a village known since 1605.
Dobrzyca: a village in the 18th century known under the name Borki, derived from the family of Borki who were settled there. At the beginning of the 20thcentury a water-power plant was built on the River Gwda, above which there is a barrage lake of the area of 52.8 ha.
Dobrzyca: tributary of PiĹawa. It flows from the lake Machliny, enters PiĹawa near village Tarnowo. About 60 km long.
GĹomia: left-bank tributary of Gwda. It flows from the village GĹomsk. Enters Gwda in Dobrzyca. Length: 50 km.
PiĹawa waters in its entire length belong to the 2nd and 3rd water quality classes. The lack of non-quality class waters and the changeability of the landscape make PiĹawa one of the most attractive kayak trails in the Western Pomerania.
