The dam in Solina

The concept of damming the waters of the San and Solinka rivers for the purposes of a hydroelectric power plant was drawn up in 1921 by Karol Pomianowski, a professor of hydro engineering from Lviv, who also initiated the construction of the Rożnów Dam on the Dunajec. The favourable geological and tectonic conditions were the reason why the gorge along the San between Mounts Plasza and Jawor near the village of Solina was chosen as the location for the future hydropower plant. The old village of Solina does not exist today as it was submerged along with other nearby settlements. Today the names Teleśnica Sanna, Horodek, Sokole, Chrewt, Zawóz, Paraszczachówki, Jutrynia and others can only be found on old military maps. In some cases the newly established villages around Lake Solina received the names of the old settlements whose relics are at the bottom of the reservoir.

According to Karol Pomianowski's design, two power stations were to be built as a complex: a larger one in Solina and a smaller one in Myczkowce, located downstream. Due to a lack of funds, the works which had started in Myczkowce were then interrupted in 1925. They were resumed in 1956 and completed in 1960. Only then the construction of the main dam in Solina began. The work continued for almost nine years and over 2,000 workers were involved. In the process the nearby Mount Koziniec almost disappeared. It was used as a quarry which delivered over 1,200,000 tonnes of sandstone, the basic aggregate used for the construction of the dam. The Solina power plant was put into operation in July 1968.

The barrier restricting the flow of the San and Solinka rivers created the artificial  lake that soon became a popular tourist destination. However, the dam itself is also worthy of attention. The walkway along the top of the structure is open to the public and is a popular attraction during the season. What is more, you can also take a guided tour inside the structure. Indeed, a walk along the tunnels inside the dam is a thrilling experience particularly if during the tour you keep in mind the fact that on the other side of the thick walls there is a 60-metre deep body of water.

The microclimate inside the dam, the high humidity, temperature of 7 degrees Celsius and the smell of mineral water add to the experience. It is also fascinating to look deep into one of the gaps inside the dam. Then your gaze travels far into the darkness. These gaps are a structural element of the dam, which is not a monolith but a segmented construction. You can find out about that and about other secrets of the Solina power plant from the guide and from the film which you will see at the start of the tour.

The picturesquely situated Solina-Myczkowce Hydroelectric Power Station is located on the San River. The concrete dam in Solina is part of the largest pumped storage power station in Poland. It consists of 4 hydro plants and the usable gradient is as high as 60 metres.