Wydma śródlądowa

This entry concerns a sandy dune ridge on Torfowa Street in Rąbień, in Aleksandrów Łódzki municipality. It is not a separate facility with its own infrastructure, but rather an element of the landscape within the nature reserve Torfowisko Rąbień, whose protected peatland lies in an extensive valley between the dunes.

How the dunes came to be

Inland dunes in the Łódź region were formed by wind at the end of the last glaciation, when the climate was cold and the sands lacked dense vegetation. Later they were stabilised by Scots pine forests and today they are sandy ridges covered with woodland. The peatland occupies a depression between them, at an elevation of 189 to 191 metres above sea level, and in unexploited areas the peat layer is between 1.5 and 3 metres thick.

What to see on site

An educational trail with four information boards about the history of peatland formation and benches runs around the peatland. The reserve was established in 1988, covers 42.43 hectares and lies in the village of Rąbień AB, within the jurisdiction of Grotniki Forest District. The contrast between the dry, sandy ground of the dune and the wet peatland just a few dozen steps away is particularly striking here.

Nearby

A visit can be combined with Polana Rąbień, located on the same side of the municipality.

Practical information

• Address portal entry: Torfowa Street 95, Aleksandrów Łódzki. Reserve entrance sometimes listed as number 61/67 on the same street.
• Access by bicycle or car from Aleksandrów Łódzki; there is a parking space at the reserve entrance.
• The reserve is under strict and active protection, so visitors explore designated trails and boardwalks.
• What to expect: forested, sandy ridges and wet peatland, with no facilities other than information boards and benches. Moisture-resistant footwear is advisable.