Long-distance observations of Warsaw

Where can you see Warsaw from? In the centre of the Polish capital stands the tallest building in the European Union – Varso Tower, which, including its spire, reaches 310 metres. Apart from it, 15 skyscrapers exceed 150 m in height, while in the eastern part of the city there is a massive 300-metre high chimney of the Kawęczyn Heat Plant. Despite the fact that Warsaw lies on a lowland, such tall objects are visible from great distances.
Currently, the farthest documented view of Warsaw is the light on top of the Kawęczyn Heat Plant chimney, as seen from the stone run on Łysa Góra in the Świętokrzyskie Mountains, from a distance of 156.6 km.
The map and list below include locations from which objects in Warsaw have been photographed from at least 50 km away.

1. Łysa Góra

Łysa Góra – stairs to the viewing terrace on the stone run 50.860972°N, 21.047500°E
Distance: 156.6 km to the Kawęczyn Heat Plant chimney, 152.9 km to Warsaw Trade Tower, 152.1 km to Varso Tower
Sources: dalekiehoryzonty.pl, dalekiewidoki.pl

A record-breaking distant view of Warsaw – from the Holy Cross Mountains you can see the lights of the Kawęczyn Heat Plant chimney and numerous skyscrapers. This is possible on clear nights, when refraction of light in the near-ground air layer is greater than usual – there is an increase in atmospheric refraction as a result of radiative temperature inversion.

Warsaw skyscrapers (152–152.9 km) – photo by Łukasz Wawrzyszko 28.05.2023

Chimney of the Kawęczyn Heat Plant (156.6 km) – photo: Łukasz Wawrzyszko 28.05.2023

Skyscrapers in Warsaw – photo by Paweł Kłak 28.05.2023

Chimney of the Kawęczyn Heat Plant in Warsaw and the Południe Heat Plant in Radom – photo by Paweł Kłak 28.05.2023

Light on the spire of the Varso Tower from Łysa Góra (photo by Paweł Kłak 22.05.2023)

Besides the Varso light, the illumination of the RTCN Warsaw/Raszyn mast 135 km away is also visible (photo by Paweł Kłak 22.05.2023)

2. Kalenice

Kalenice – point near the forest – 51.963163°N, 19.856419°E
Distance: 93.3 km to the Kawęczyn Heat Plant chimney, 84 km to the Palace of Culture and Science
Sources: Facebook, version with captions – dalekiehoryzonty.pl

Night view from beneath the forest in Kalenice (photo by Jacek Pudło 30.05.2023)

On 26.06.2023 Paweł Kłak encountered a stronger temperature inversion, which made even more objects visible – more on dalekiewidoki.pl.

Warsaw from Kalenice (photo by Paweł Kłak 26.06.2023)

Kalenice – viaduct over the A2 motorway – 51.964941°N, 19.859048°E
Distance: 93 km – Kawęczyn Heat Plant chimney, 83.7 km – Palace of Culture and Science, 83.3 km – Varso Tower
Sources: Facebook, dalekieobserwacje.eu, version with captions – dalekiehoryzonty.pl

Panorama of Warsaw from Kalenice (photo by Adrian Karczewski, Dawid Kajzer 07.09.2021, object identification Łukasz Wawrzyszko)

The visibility of these objects was possible due to the radiative temperature inversion and associated increased atmospheric refraction. Read more in the post Warsaw seen from Kalenice.

3. Krężce

strong>Krężce – 51.9213°N, 20.0608°E
Distance: 72.7 km to Varso Tower
Source: dalekiehoryzonty.pl

The spire of Varso Tower seen from Krężce (photo by Łukasz Wawrzyszko 7.05.2023)

4. Iwowe

Iwowe – 51.967478°N, 21.856230°E
Distance: 66.7 km to Warsaw Trade Tower
Source: dalekiehoryzonty.pl

Warsaw skyscrapers from Iwowe (photo by Łukasz Wawrzyszko 12.05.2023)

5. Paplin

Paplin – 52.481707°N, 21.883785°E
Distance: 66.3 km to Varso Tower
Source: Facebook

Lights of Varso Tower (left) and Kawęczyn Heat Plant chimney (right) from Paplin – photo by Jacek Pudło 10.05.2023

Wider frame – photo by Jacek Pudło 10.05.2023

6. Wyszogród (Zamieście)

Wyszogród (Zamieście) – 52.402351°N, 20.197698°E
Distance: 65 km to Kawęczyn Heat Plant chimney
Source: Astropolis (localisation)

Warsaw chimneys from Wyszogród (photo by twmichal 2.04.2014)

The same photo enlarged and with increased contrast, so the chimneys can be seen better

7. Wyszogród (Warszawska Street)

Wyszogród (Warszawska Street) – 52.395662°N, 21.214978°E
Distance: 56,5 km to Varso Tower
Source: Astropolis

Warsaw from Warszawska Street in Wyszogród (photo by Paweł W.)

Three Warsaw skyscrapers are visible, the farthest of which is the Varso Tower (photo by Paweł W.)

8. Dąbrowa

Dąbrowa – 52.384417°N, 21.787882°E
Distance: 57.3 km to Warsaw Hub, 57.2 km to Warsaw Unit, Warsaw Spire, The Bridge and Warsaw Trade Tower, 56.3 km to Varso Tower
Source: astropolis.pl