The Site is located in north-western Poland, between the Wkrzańska Primeval Forest and the border with Germany. Swidwie Lake is bordered by a mosaic of different habitats, including reed beds, meadows, alder carrs, fresh conifer forests and mixed oak-linden forests, while the Lake itself is eutrophic, shallow and overgrown by reeds. The area is important for breeding, feeding, moulting, wintering and resting birds including several endangered species. The Reserve is a regular feeding area for birds of prey such as white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) and osprey (Pandion haliaetus), which also nests in the area. Numerous flocks of migrating birds, especially geese, gather on the lake during spring and autumn migrations. Flood control, erosion protection, water purification and maintenance of hydrological regimes are among the services which the Site provides. A centre for ecological education has been opened next to the Site in Zalesie, and some birdwatching towers and marked paths have been installed. Between successive updates of the Ramsar Information Sheet in 2007 and 2018, the Site faced increasing urbanization of nearby areas, and the loss of some habitats.