The nature conservation complex was established in 1994 on an area of 3.8 hectares to protect the diverse local landscape: the scenic Witna river valley, the mixed forests and a number of lakes which are popular tourist destinations. One of them, Lake Wielkie, has unusual physical and chemical properties, and is home to schelly, an intriguing fish from the Salmonidae family, which is a relic of the glacial age. In the vicinity, there is a number of other interesting lakes, namely Dzikie, Łabędzie and Gęsi.