Page "Świnoujście" Paragraph 5

The town had broad unpaved streets and one-story houses built in the Dutch style, which gave it an almost rustic appearance, although its industries, beyond some fishing, were entirely connected with its shipping.

The river mouth, which was the entrance to the harbor, and which was regarded as the best on the Prussian Baltic coast, was then protected by two curving long breakwaters, and was strongly fortified.

On the island of Wollin, on the other side of the narrow Swine, a great lighthouse was erected.

In 1897 the canal of the Kaiserfahrt was opened to navigation, and this waterway between the Stettin harbour and the Baltic Sea was deepened between 1900 – 01.

From then on Stettin could be reached directly by ships, and Swinemünde's importance diminished somewhat.