Niżni Staw Staszica is one of the Tatra Mountains' most unpredictable gems — a glacial lake that appears and disappears with the seasons, offering a slightly different landscape every time you visit. At roughly 1785 m above sea level, it sits at the bottom of the Valley behind the Monk (Dolina za Mnichem), surrounded by dramatic rocky walls.

When water levels are high — which doesn't happen every year — the lake can stretch over 200 metres in length and even flood the trail leading to Wrota Chałubińskiego pass. As it dries out, it splits into two separate pools: the south-western one known as Wyżni Staw Staszica, and the north-eastern one — Niżni Staw Staszica. The valley atmosphere is raw and wonderfully quiet, with the high Tatra peaks reflected in the still water surface. Spring and early summer, when snowmelt feeds the lake, tend to offer the most impressive sight. By late summer the lake may nearly vanish entirely.

• Valley behind the Monk / Morskie Oko area — red trail, approx. 1 h to the valley threshold, moderate difficulty

• This is a seasonal lake — it may not reach full water level every year; check conditions before heading out
• When water is high, the trail towards Wrota Chałubińskiego may be partially flooded

The lake was named in honour of Stanisław Staszic, a pioneering Polish geologist and scholar who was among the first to scientifically explore and describe the Tatra Mountains over 200 years ago.