The patchwork of scenery on Usedom island is characterised by its serene beauty and delightful contrasts. This sunny island with more than 40 kilometres of fine sandy beaches, the open sea and high cliffs represents nature at its best. Szczecin lagoon - a habitat for storks - is like an enchanted world from days gone by.Usedom island nature reserve
The entire island is a fascinating nature reserve. Densely wooded and cosily rural, it also has glacial moraine hills, swathes of pine and beech forests, dark fens and glittering lakes. The roads, often cobbled, are lined with rows of trees, and hens and geese still have right of way in the village streets. The coastline is beautiful, idyllic even. With 1,900 hours of sunshine a year, the island and its flora and fauna are just waiting to be explored on horseback, by bike, on foot, or by boat.Achterland region and Achterwasser lagoon
The Achterland region around the imperial resorts of Ahlbeck, Heringsdorf and Bansin, between Achterwasser and Szczecin lagoons is a particularly beautiful part of the world. Achterwasser lagoon is an inlet stretching into the island from the Peenestrom strait which leads into the Baltic Sea. The seabed here is stony but the water is shallow, so it is a popular place for sailing and windsurfing. The reedy southern part of the bay called Balmer Lake is the location of the island's only golf course, which is a 27-hole links course.Szczecin lagoon nature reserve
The nature reserve covers an area of 573 square kilometres up to the Polish border. It is an idyllic region incorporating the woodland areas of Ueckermünde Heath, natural, unspoilt stretches of lagoon coastline with beaches of fine sand and small inlets, saltmarshes edging the lagoon and the Brohmer Berge nature park. The houses in the little fishing villages on the lagoon coast of Western Pomerania typically have roofs thatched with reeds. The landscape varies from bio-diverse dry grassland, isolated moorland, inland dunes, reed beds and juniper copses. It's a wonderful region for exploring on foot, by bike, on horseback or by boat.