Location
The refuge covers the area of 54 447.9 ha and stretches over 150 km. It is located in the river Odra valley, between Kostrzyn and Zalew Szczecinski (the Szczecin Lagoon).

Landscape
Jezioro Dabie (area of 5600 ha) - the fourth biggest lake in Poland lies within the refuge. This deltaic, postglacial lake has an average depth of 3-3.5 m but on a fairway reaches 8 m which makes the lake the only reservoir of this kind in Poland available for seagoing ships. Waters of Dabie come from three sources - rainfalls, the river and the sea (due to a phenomenon of "cofka" - pushing sea waters into the river's estuary during long-lasting northern winds).

The lake is separated from the river Odra by the following islands: Kacza, Mewia, Czapli Ostrow, Mienia, Sadlinskie Laki, Radolin, Czarnoleka, Wielka Kepa and Debina. At its estuary the Odra river divides into two most important parts: Odra Wschodnia (the Eastern Odra) and Regalica. Area between two main canals, so called Miedzyodrze, is a flat plane cut by numerous watercourses and oxbow lakes and varied with little reservoirs. The area is often flooded by waters of Jezioro Dabie.

Near Cedynia lies Rozlewisko Kostrzyneckie (the Kostrzyn Floodplain) the area of special importance for birds. Equally important, as hatching places of birds of prey, are forests adjoining the Odra valley in its southern and middle part.

"Dolina Dolnej Odry" refuge is surrounded by arable lands, there are also many industrial plants, as well as intensive shipping down the Odra.

Flora
There is a large mosaic of habitats. Meadows and pastures cover 1/4 of the area, deciduous, coniferous and mixed forests almost 1/3 of the area, and marshes 10%. The rest is occupied by arable lands as well as reservoirs and watercourses. On Jezioro Dabie grow a rich set of species. A shore is overgrown by a belt of reed rushes, followed by tall herb fringe communities. Next to them, on large area occur impervious brushwood which consist mostly of willow.

Fauna
During hatching season one can hear several bittern males "buzzing" in a stentorian voice. A bit less numerous are little bitterns. However, other representatives of  this family occur in great number - grey heron, which has a few hundreds hatching pairs in the area.

The world of birds of prey is very rich. It is a real kingdom of white-tailed eagle. Also three species of harrier hatch here, as well as lesser spotted eagle and kites. Graceful crane occur every year  in a few dozen pairs. Among wading birds Eurasian oystercatcher amazes with its colouring, common snipe with its impressive toots and black-tailed godwits and Eurasian curlews mark their presence with resonant voices.

There are many terns: black, common and little, and particularly astonishing population of black-headed gull, reaching several thousand species. Among songbirds worth mentioning are bearded parrotbills, blurthroats and a real treasure of these place - aquatic warbler.

In the time of passages hundreds and thousands of a few species of ducks, geese and cranes are regularly observed here. During winter season there are also many birds, from which the highest numbers reach: Taiga bean geese, tufted ducks, whooper swans and common mergansers. Also a few dozen white-tailed eagles winter here.

From birds specified in appendix to the Birds Directive the following species can be met here: red-backed shrike, red-breasted flycatcher, barred warbler, aquatic warbler, bluethroat, kingfisher, nightjar, short-eared owl, Eurasian eagle-owl, little tern, common tern,  black tern, ruff, corn crake, little crake, hen harrier, Montagu's harrier, marsh harrier, black kite, red kite, honeybuzzard, white-tailed eagle, osprey, lesser spotted eagle, whistling swan, white stork, bittern, little bittern, great white egret.

Protection of nature
There are the following forms of protection within the area of "Dolina Dolnej Odry" refuge:

• nature reserves: Kanal Kwiatowy, Kurowskie Blota, Wzgorze Widokowe nad Miedzyodrzem, Wrzosowiska Cedynskie;
• "A" Debno Gorzow the Area Of Protected Landscape
• Landscape Parks: Cedynski, Dolina Dolnej Odry and Ujscie Warty