| Andrzej Wo\u017anica, PhD, DSc, Associate Professor and Damian Absalon, PhD, DSc, Associate Professor |<\/span><\/p>\n The idea of \u200b\u200borganising the kayaking expedition on the Odra River was born last year, after the trip down the Vistula River, which was carried out as part of the “Clean Vistula? Why Not\u201d Project. The Odra expedition, like the Vistula expedition, was organised by the Silesian Water Centre (\u015aCW) of the University of Silesia in Katowice and the \u201cWhy Not\u201d Foundation.<\/span><\/p>\n The expedition started on 15 July from Ostrava (Czech Republic) near the zero kilometre of the Odra River, which is situated at the mouth of the Opava River. This year’s kayaking route from Ostrava to Szczecin was 752 kilometres long.<\/span><\/p>\n Three teams participated in the expedition trip<\/span>:<\/p>\n \n<\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>[vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″]\r\n Morning on the Odra River in Racib\u00f3rz | Photo by Andrzej Wo\u017anica<\/span><\/p>\n \n<\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″]\r\n Measurement of the Odra River flow in the Milsko cross-section | Photo by Weronika Kapusta<\/span><\/p>\n \n<\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner]\r\n The formal opening of the kayaking expedition in Ostrava was attended by: Prof. Ewa Jarosz, Vice-Rector for Staff Development of the University of Silesia, Marian Rojek, Chair of the Council of the \u201cWhy Not\u201d Foundation, Andrzej Wo\u017anica, PhD, DSc, Associate Professor, Director of the Silesian Water Centre, Damian Absalon, PhD, DSc, Deputy Director of the Silesian Water Centre, Aleksandra G\u0142owacz, Associate Professor, Director of the Delegation of the Inland Navigation Office in K\u0119dzierzyn-Ko\u017ale, Mariusz Przybylski, Director of the Regional Water Management Board in Wroc\u0142aw, J\u00f3zef Tobola, president of the Posejdon Association (Doln\u00ed Lutyn\u011b, Czech Republic), and Marek Barbara, shipping supervision inspector.<\/span>.<\/p>\n The teams of the \u201cWhy Not\u201d Foundation and the University of Silesia “threw” their kayaks onto the water and started the expedition at 12 p.m. On the part of the University, the first few kilometres were covered by Prof. Ewa Jarosz and Prof. Damian Absalon, as well as the “water” team of the University of Silesia, who covered the first 105 kilometres by kayak.<\/span><\/p>\n In K\u0119dzierzyn-Ko\u017ale, we moved with all our belongings to the U\u015aKA II research boat. The Odra River from K\u0119dzierzyn-Ko\u017ale to Szczecin can be divided into two sections. The first one is the Odra Waterway \u2013 205 kilometres long, where the water depth is regulated by 25 water barrages (25 locks). The second section of the Odra River is 440 kilometres of free flowing river from Malczyce to Szczecin. There is no depth regulation along this part.<\/span><\/p>\n Behind the Malczyce lock, we encountered very unfavourable hydrological conditions, and the transit depth of this section was 9 centimetres. Numerous logs protruding from the bottom and banks of the Odra River were also a threat, and on the S\u0142ubice \u2013 Widuchowa section, the depth was 20 centimetres (transit depth \u2013 the smallest navigable depth of a given section of the waterway). It was a serious challenge for U\u015aKA II and her steersmen. We didn\u2019t experience safe navigation conditions until 650 kilometres into the expedition.<\/span><\/p>\n \n<\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>[vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″]\r\n U\u015aKA II and the kayaks reached Szczecin on 23 July, at 3 p.m. | Photo by Damian Absalon<\/span><\/p>\n \n<\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″]\r\n Szczecin from the perspective of U\u015aKA II | Photo by Damian Absalon<\/span><\/p>\n \n<\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner]\r\n During the expedition, online analyses of 12 physicochemical parameters of water were conducted every kilometre, and diatoms (algae) samples were collected for laboratory analyses at selected points. Photographic documentation of this section of the river was also made.<\/span><\/p>\n The hydrological team visited the water gauge stations on the Odra River, where they took readings of the water levels and compared them with the data available online. Measurements of the river flow intensity outside of the water gauge sections were also carried out. They were carried out using a research boat and \u2013 in one case \u2013 a ferry. Unfortunately, the use of ferries for measurements was practically impossible this year due to low water levels, which meant that most of them were suspended from cruising.<\/span><\/p>\n The hydrological team also collected 31 water samples at key points of the expedition, which were sent for detailed laboratory analysis. In addition to standard markings, we will check whether heavy metals, pharmaceuticals or other hazardous substances are present in the waters of the Odra River.<\/span><\/p>\n The research team and kayakers of the \u201cWhy Not\u201d Foundation would like to thank everyone who helped during the kayaking expedition: Ms. Gabriela Tomik and Ms. Aleksandra G\u0142owacz, and inland waterway employees, Mr. Mariusz Przybylski and his team at the RZGW Wroc\u0142aw facilities, as well as the local government officials who we had the opportunity to meet during the expedition and who hosted us in their communities. Thanks to their help, the expedition on the Odra River became safer and we were able to finish it successfully.<\/span><\/p>\n \n<\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>[\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″]\r\n Start of the expedition in Ostava | archive of Prof. Andrzej Wo\u017anica<\/span><\/p>\n \n<\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" [vc_row][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row] […]<\/p>\n\n
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<\/p>\n![\"Uczestnicy](\"https:\/\/us.edu.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/obrazek-wyrozniajacy\/08_Odra.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Widok](\"https:\/\/us.edu.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/obrazek-wyrozniajacy\/09_Odra.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Widok](\"https:\/\/us.edu.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/obrazek-wyrozniajacy\/10_Odra.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Uczestnicy](\"https:\/\/us.edu.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/obrazek-wyrozniajacy\/01_Odra.jpg\")
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