The Heritage Given: Cultural Landscape and Heritage of the Vistula Delta Mennonites as Perceived by the Contemporary Residents of the Region

All tangible and intangible elements of cultural heritage that the past has conceded to local communities create unique landscapes shaped by tightly connected anthropogenic and natural factors. This heritage is a keystone of local identity which plays a significant role in politics, economic development, society and world view. In some regions, such as in the Vistula delta in Poland, the cultural heritage has been created by consecutive groups of settlers who represented different values, beliefs and ways of life. On the one hand, such a rich heritage may be perceived as a valuable asset and become a landmark or tourism product of a region. On the other hand, it may be perceived as alien and unwanted by contemporary residents, especially when they are not descendants of the former communities. The main objective of the study presented herein is to analyse how the residents of the Vistula delta region, called Żuławy Wiślane, perceive and use cultural heritage of the Mennonites, representing the most extraordinary group of settlers who used to live in the region. The analysis covers original data gathered during survey research in the period of 2017–2018 under the project Miniatura I “Perception and usage of cultural heritage of the Vistula delta Mennonites” financed by the National Science Centre in Poland.

Analysis of the state of preservation the historic arcaded houses in Vistula Delta listed in the National Inventory of Historical Monuments

Historic arcaded houses are part of the material heritage of the Vistula Delta. Unfortunately, their number is decreasing year by year. The article is the result of a query of available sources and field research carried out by the author in 2015-2020. The paper presents the current state of preservation the historic arcaded houses in Vistula Delta listed in the National Inventory of Historical Monuments. Criteria for the selection of test objects are described. The author has prepared a tabular list of arcaded houses with information about their location, type according to Kloeppel statistics, date of construction, technical condition and functions. The summary of the analysis are pie charts with a statistical presentation of the data collected by the author during the research.

Crossover comparison of climate-change adaptation measures taken in the Gdansk (Baltic-sea) and Rotterdam (Nord-sea) deltas.

Gdansk in Poland and the Netherlands share a long-term relationship that started with the establishment of Dutch Mennonites in the Vistula delta in the 16th Century. Climate-change figures show that both the Polish Gdansk and DutchRotterdam deltas will suffer flooding due to sea level rise, with accumulating severe rainfall accompanied by high river levels; reasons that led to a comparison of the adaptation measures taken. On the basis of the crossover comparison studied, it can be concluded that Poland and the Netherlands have a virtually identical approach when it comes to climate-change impacts on their current situation. With regard to the long-term climate-change trend, the Netherlands in exploring for the future more ‘anticipatory’ measures with the development of new scenarios for the protection of land and cities. In the Netherlands the use of Hackathon approach is thereby used more often to explore such scenarios. The interaction between the experts and stakeholders of different expertise in this methodology show to lead to creative and new perspectives. This approach may also be recommended for the situation in Gdansk.

Cross-over analysis of the climate-change delta situation of the cities Gdansk (Baltic-sea) and Rotterdam (Nord-sea)

Gdansk and the city Haarlem in the Netherlands share a long-term relationship that started with the establishment of Dutch Mennonites in the Vistula delta in the 16th Century. A small city was founded called Holland and these immigrants reclaimed the surrounding delta area. This area of 1,000 km2, with hundreds of small ‘polders’ separated and defended by 17,000 dikes, has become an important agricultural area for the whole of Poland, similar to the Rhine delta in the Netherlands. Despite these civil defense works in the past, both coastlines nevertheless experienced floods: the Dutch southwest coast in 1953, Dutch Rhine riverbank in 1993 and 1995, and Vistula delta recently in 2001. Climate change figures show that both the Polish Gdansk and Dutch Rhine deltas will suffer flooding with sea level rises, with accumulating severe rainfall accompanied by high river levels. Although both the Baltic Sea and the North Sea are next to each other and coupled to the Atlantic Ocean, there are differences in how soon or severely climate change trends, such as seawater level rises and water thrust, become critical. From cross-over analysis it can be concluded that Poland and the Netherlands have a virtually identical approach when it comes to climate change impacts on their current situation. With regard to long-term climate change, the Netherlands is exploring the future in a planned manner with the development of new scenarios for the protection of cities. The enclosure of the Baltic Sea, on the other hand, probably offers more options for exchanging knowledge with neighbor states. In that respect, the Netherlands is more isolated in their situation with the North Sea and its Delta Plan. The situation of Gdansk and Rotterdam is quite similar; these cities can take steps forward by learning from each other’s actions.

Size structure and body condition of Ponto-Caspian gammarids in the Vistula estuary (Poland)

Over the past few decades, Ponto-Caspian gammarids Pontogammarus robustoides, Obesogammarus crassus and Dikerogammarus haemobaphes have colonized the European inland and coastal brackish waters. Previous experimental studies of P. robustoides, O. crassus and D. haemobaphes indicated that the salinity optimum for the species is about 7 PSU. We examined whether salinities below 5 PSU in the Vistula estuary – the Vistula Lagoon and the Vistula Delta, create a favorable environment and have a positive effect on Ponto-Caspian gammarids. The objective of this work was to determine the population parameters (size structure) and biological indicators (condition) of the studied gammarid species at a low salinity level. Length–weight relationships can be considered as their body condition in the environment. These relationships were calculated for each gammarid species according to the exponential equation y = axb, where: y – wet weight, x – total length, a – intercept, b – slope. The results clearly show responses of Ponto-Caspian gammarids to the low salinity habitat and indicate that such environment provides excellent conditions. The results of analysis show that the condition of gammarids is good. The optimal strategy of the examined alien gammarids may help them to maintain a strong competitive position in the environment and affect the colonization process in non-native waters with low salinity.

Hazard identification of factors affecting the operational safety of the ship on inland waterways in the Vistula delta

Every year in Poland, on the inland waterways, accidents and incidents are registered by the Offshore Shipping Offices, the State Fire Service and the Police. Improving the level of security requires indepth analysis and drawing conclusions from emerging emergency situations. It is important to identify and systematize the threats occurring in inland waterway, which will allow for the selection of effective methods of counteracting them and increasing the level of safety on restricted waters. The aim of the work is to analyze the course of proceedings when conducting the analysis of identification of threats affecting the safety of ship operation and analysis of the source and consequences of accidents and incidents that took place on the inland waterway in the Vistula delta in recent years. The course of action in solving the research problem posed involves three stages: an analysis of the current state, hazard identification and model verification. Knowledge of the causes and consequences of accidents in inland navigation may be used to create safety standards and procedures, as well as to improve their functioning. It is very desirable to eliminate similar adverse events in the future. One of the methods al-lowing for the detection and proper verification of sources, course and consequences of events occurring in inland navigation is the analysis of sources of causes and consequences. It allows the identification of initiating agents and a further sequence of events, which in turn contributes to the improvement of the level of navigational safety.

Research of the changeability of the vessels traffic intensity of inland waterways – case study for Lower Vistula

The article presents an analysis of the changeability of traffic intensity of inland waterway vessels in the Vistula Delta. The concept of traffic intensity was defined, traffic flows and disturbances were identified in the studied area. The characteristics of the inland waterway traffic model are presented. The results of the analysis indicate the need to carry out modernization of inland waterways for the needs of inland waterway transport: introduction of a traffic control system, unification of the navigational marking system and strict correlation of renovation/modernization works of hydrotechnical structures with a navigation period.

Revitalization of the Narrow-Gauge Żuławy Commuter Railway and its effect on shipping conditions in the Vistula delta

The article presents the Żuławy Access Railway and the effect of its revitalization on the change of navigational conditions in the Vistula delta. One of the problems analyzed in the article is the intersection of two different transport branches - the inland waterway and rail transport branches. A solution to the problem of their functioning is presented, without any major restrictions. Possible changes in navigational conditions have been described on Martwa Wisła and Przekop Wisły after revitalization of a narrow-gauge railway. The aim of the work is to indicate the optimal solution, taking into account the needs, benefits and possible limitations, and the method of their leveling. The current conditions prevailing in the Vistula delta have been described, obstacles and navigational difficulties, as well as the intensity of unit traffic have been characterized.