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Augustów Region The Puszcza Augustowska (Augustów Forest), one of the most extensive forests in Poland, stretches to the north-east of the Masurian lakes . It covers 114,000,000 ha, that is almost the whole Augustów Plain in the southern part of the SuwaÅ‚ki and Augustów Lake District, flat but dotted with dunes. The outwash sands are dominated by pine and spruce, with many trees over 120 years old. The forest is bisected by the winding Czarna HaÅ„cza, the region's main river, and shelters numerous lakes ranging from small ponds to Lake Wigry, biggest in the SuwaÅ‚ki region. With Lakes Necko, Rospuda, BiaÅ‚e, and Studzieniczne, all connected by the Augustów Canal, it is a major attraction for canoeists and boaters. The forest is excellent for hiking and biking. The area's main tourist centre is Augustów. The biggest tourist attraction in the forest, and a remarkable engineering achievement, is the Augustów Canal, built between 1824- and 1839. The 102 km waterway, connecting the basins of the Vistula and Niemen Rivers, runs from the DÄ™bowo lock on the River Biebrza to the Niemnowo lock in Belarus. However, the two greatest treasures in this area are beyond any doubt the Czarna HaÅ„cza River and Lake Wigry. The 147 km river, which is a tributary of the Niemen, starts on the moraine hills north of Lake Hancza and flows through Lake Wigry. It has two dramatically different phases: the stretch from the source to Lake Wigry is wild, resembling a swift-current, high-gradient mountain stream. After the lake, the Hancza is subdued into a lowland river, lazily meandering through the fields and woods of the Augustów Forest. Navigating its dark ribbon is a delight for canoeists.