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SYLWIA KULCZYK

called Green Lungs of Póland - the region characterised by the highly preserved natural values, with the uniąue waterlogged grounds and the abundance of the post-glacial reliefs and basins. Owing to the environmental conditions, the region can be perceived as predestined to the ecotouristical development. Also the complicated history and the following diversified cultural landscape make for the interesting “cultural biography” of the area (Cuijpers, Bekius, 2004). The analysis of the touristic offer of this part of Warmia and Masuria shows that the ecotourism in the region is just crawling and should be treated mostly as an indication of possible directions of developing the touristic function. A rich offer within the active tourism sector is characteristic for the Great Masurian Lakes region. Various forms of water-related activity, above all yachting and canoeing, and also bicycle trips are very popular. However, the profound “ecologisation” of the existing offer is hardly visible, as well as in regard of lacking elements serving the acąuirement of knowledge about the surrounding landscape, as in regard of little environmental concern.

A specific form of weaving cultural elements into the touristic offer is the innovative programme carried out in the guesthouse Galindia. Its owner and also the author of several scenarios for integration games revives the elements of the tradition of the original inhabitants of the region: the Baltic tribe of the Galindians.

However, the relatively fast degradation of the cultural sphere in the Great Masurian Lakes region, as well as the severe thinning of the roadside trees, and the historie outbuildings (windmills, forges, watermills) falling into ruin: these are serious problems in this part of Poland. Therefore the Great Masurian Lakes region urgently needs the implementation of specific actions that on the one hand will extend the touristic season and will inerease the generated profits and on the other hand will reduce the degradation of the environment which is the basis for this region’s attractiveness. It seems that the broadly understood ecotourism could be the method of taking advantage from the region’s potential; an economically attractive and sustainable method of development.

Key words: the ecotourism, the cultural values, the Great Masurian Lakes, “the cultural biography”