15 Sep Porąbka – description, location, history
Porąbka – a village in Poland located in the Silesian province, in the district of Bielsko, Porąbka municipality, at the Soła River, between Zywiec and Kęty in the Beskid Mały mountains.
The village was first mentioned in 1445 as Poramka in the deed of Oświęcim Duchy division. The Chronicles of Jan Długosz (1470) mention Porambka, however, they do not contain any data regarding its population. On a map dating back to 1563 one can see the panorama of Porąbka named Porąbka. A list dating back to 1581 mentions Porąbka belonging to the parish of Kęty.
The best source of the history of Bujakowo, Kobiernice and Porąbka are subsequent lustrations showing in detail the monetary and in-kind tributes that had to be given by pheasants to the castle of Oswiecim. According to a picture dating back to 1508, there were 17 pheasants in Kobiernice, 14 pheasants in Porąbka and 4 in Bujakowo. It follows from the lustration dating back to 1564 that the number of pheasants changed. However, it additionally mentioned ponds and a grange in Kobiernice.
Vlach shepherds, coming from Romania along the ridges of the Carpathians, appeared in this region in the 15th century. They occupied forest clearings as they used them for grazing sheep.
Unfortunately, various epidemics broke out in those areas, which, given the development of medicine at that time, had terrible consequences. A few dozens of people died every day during the cholera epidemic in 1736, whereas during the years 1846 – 1949 the typhus epidemic killed hundreds of people in Porąbka.
In villages there were also pheasants that did not have any farm but they supported themselves thanks to occasional work for serfs as well as various crafts, e.g. weaving and basketry. They were the so called bordars or cottagers. Despite the abolition of serfdom, living conditions were very hard, especially in times of crop failure.
As a result of the Soła River damming, after a dam was built in Porąbka, the Międzybrodzkie lake has been created. The lake covers an area of 380 ha and it is 20 metres deep. However, the lake’s average depth is 5-6 m, and during backwater the lake’s depth ranges from 1 to 3 m.
It is the second largest lake among the dammed reservoirs on the Soła River (the first one is Żywieckie lake and the third one is Czarnieckie lake).
The lake is situated in the area of the Low Beskid mountains.
A few metres away from the dam the lake’s shore is mainly rocks and sharp stones that waves crash on. These are not easy conditions, but instead of a small coarse fish, one can catch real specimens of perch, pike or redfin perch. Asp even impose themselves and the beautiful carp swim closer to the center.
Around the area of the lake’s backwater the vegetation is more luxuriant, that is why there are also lots of fish there. This place is also very popular among fishermen – they can pitch a tent nearby.
One can also catch lots of fish near a peninsula called letter “T”. Clam colonies are quite common here as well.
Other species of fish living in the lake are: roach, common nase, trout, bream, ide, chub, catfish.