The Masurian Lake District or Masurian Lakeland (Polish: Pojezierze Mazurskie) is a lake district in northeastern Poland (Masuria) containing more than 2,000 lakes. It is currently in the run for being listed into one of the New7Wonders of Nature.
It extends roughly 290 km (180 mi) eastwards from the lower Vistula River to the Poland-Lithuania border and occupies an area of roughly 52,000 km² (20,000 sq mi). Administratively, the lake district lies within the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship. Small parts of the district lie within the Masovian and Podlaskie Voivodeships. The lakes are well connected by rivers and canals, to form an extensive system of waterways. The whole area has become a prime destination for yachtspeople and canoeists, and is also popular among anglers, hikers, bikers and nature-lovers. Many boating enthusiasts come to Masuria for their great freshwater salt lakes. The region gets a high number of tourists every year for its beautiful scenery.
The lake district was shaped by the Pleistocene ice age. Many of its hills are parts of moraines and many of its lakes are moraine-dammed lakes. The lakeland was successively part of the monastic state of the Teutonic Knights, the Duchy of Prussia, and the Prussian province of East Prussia. While part of the German Empire, it was the location of the First Battle of the Masurian Lakes (1914) and the Second Battle of the Masurian Lakes (1915) during World War I. In 1945 after World War II, it was placed under Polish administration according to the Potsdam Agreement and since then remains as part of Poland.
The Masurian Lakeland is thinly populated, with many forests, meadows, and pastures. Fertile black and brown soils are found in the western part of the district and produce wheat and sugar beets; sandy soils in the eastern part of the district produce potatoes and rye. The principal urban centres are Elblag, Olsztyn, and Elk. Resort towns include Gizycko and Mikolajki.
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