West Pomeranian Voivodeship

Infobox Settlement
name = West Pomeranian Voivodeship
native_name=Województwo zachodniopomorskie
settlement_type=

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image_shield = POL województwo zachodniopomorskie COA.svg

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map_caption = Location within Poland


map_caption1 = Division into counties
subdivision_type=Country
subdivision_name=POL
seat_type=Capital
seat = Szczecin
parts_type = Counties
parts=3 cities, 18 land counties *
p1=Koszalin|p2=Świnoujście|p3=Szczecin|p4=Białogard County|p5=Choszczno County|p6=Drawsko County|p7=Goleniów County|p8=Gryfice County|p9=Gryfino County|p10=Kamień County|p11=Kołobrzeg County|p12=Koszalin County|p13=Łobez County|p14=Myślibórz County|p15=Police County|p16=Pyrzyce County|p17=Sławno County|p18=Stargard County|p19=Świdwin County|p20=Szczecinek County|p21=Wałcz County
coor_type=Szczecin|latd=53|latm=25|latNS=N|longd=14|longm=35|longEW=E
area_total_km2 = 22896
total_type=Total
population_total = 1693533
population_as_of = 2006
population_density_km2 = auto
population_urban= 1170105
population_blank1_title=Rural
population_blank1= 523428
blank_name=Car plates
blank_info=Z
website=http://bip.szczecin.uw.gov.pl
footnotes = * further divided into 114 gminas

West Pomeranian Voivodeship (also known by its Polish name of "województwo zachodniopomorskie" IPA-pl| [|w|o|j|e|'|w|u|c|t|f|o|-|z|a|'|ch|o|d|ńIPA-pl|o|-|p|o|'|m|o|r|s|k|j|e| or simply "Zachodniopomorskie") is a voivodeship, or province, in north-western Poland. It borders on Pomeranian Voivodeship to the east, Greater Poland Voivodeship to the south-east, Lubusz Voivodeship to the south, the German state of Mecklenburg-West Pomerania to the west, and the Baltic Sea to the north.

It was established on January 1, 1999, out of the former Szczecin and Koszalin Voivodeships and parts of other neighbouring voivodeships, pursuant to the Local Government Reorganization Act of 1998. It is named for the historical region of Pomerania (Polish: "Pomorze"). In spite of the name "West Pomeranian" the voivoideship does not include the most westerly parts of historical Pomerania, which lie in Germany (see Vorpommern).

Geography and tourism

West Pomeranian Voivodeship is the fifth largest voivodeship of Poland in terms of area. Among the largest cities of the region are the capital Szczecin, as well as Koszalin, Stargard Szczeciński, and Świnoujście.

This is a picturesque region of the Baltic Sea coast, with many beaches, lakes and woodlands. Szczecin and Świnoujście are important ports. Other major seaside towns include Międzyzdroje, Dziwnów, Kołobrzeg, and Mielno.

West Pomerania is considered one of the greenest regions of Poland, and one of the most attractive for tourists. It is characterized by incredible diversity of the landscape: beaches, hundreds of lakes, and forests full of wild life (e.g. Wkrzanska Forest), spreading mainly up the hills of the glacial lakes areas. West Pomerania is also rich in various forms and styles of architecture that were built during the Middle Ages as well as the Gothic, Baroque, and Renaissance periods. There is a diverse repertoire of theaters, festivals, museums and galleries. During a few-day long annual Sea Festival in Szczecin, a number of free open air concerts take place. In Świnoujście during the summer, the FAMA Academic Youth Arts Festival takes place – an event with several years of tradition, which attracts not only young people but also older alumni. In Międzyzdroje, there is a Festival Of The Stars which draws many popular actors. In Wolin, a Viking Festival takes place, which draws "Vikings" from all across Europe.

Another draw to the area is a wide array of health resorts. Brine and peloid dicsovered in the 19th century, together with geothermal water resources, are popular attractions in Świnoujście, Kamień Pomorski and Połczyn Zdrój.

Cities and towns

The voivodeship contains 62 cities and towns. These are listed below in descending order of population (according to official figures for 2006 [http://www.stat.gov.pl/gus/45_655_PLK_HTML.htm] ):1. Szczecin (410,809)
2. Koszalin (107,783)
3. Stargard Szczeciński (70,534)
4. Kołobrzeg (44,794)
5. Świnoujście (40,899)
6. Szczecinek (38,756)
7. Police (34,284)
8. Wałcz (26,140)
9. Białogard (24,339)
10. Goleniów (22,448)
11. Gryfino (21,478)
12. Nowogard (16,745)
13. Gryfice (16,702)
14. Choszczno (15,753)
15. Świdwin (15,637)
16. Darłowo (14,380)
17. Barlinek (14,156)
18. Dębno (13,903)
19. Złocieniec (13,377)
20. Sławno (13,314)
21. Pyrzyce (12,642)
22. Myślibórz (11,867)
23. Drawsko Pomorskie (11,465)
24. Łobez (10,617)
25. Trzebiatów (10,113)
26. Kamień Pomorski (9,134)
27. Połczyn-Zdrój (8,572)
28. Chojna (7,187)
29. Czaplinek (6,933)
30. Sianów (6,543)
31. Karlino (5,794)
32. Międzyzdroje (5,436)
33. Wolin (4,878)
34. Bobolice (4,446)
35. Resko (4,377)
36. Borne Sulinowo (4,224)
37. Płoty (4,142)
38. Lipiany (4,124)
39. Kalisz Pomorski (3,989)
40. Barwice (3,838)
41. Mieszkowice (3,553)
42. Chociwel (3,285)
43. Maszewo (3,073)
44. Węgorzyno (3,011)
45. Recz (2,995)
46. Polanów (2,967)
47. Dziwnów (2,949)
48. Golczewo (2,724)
49. Pełczyce (2,698)
50. Mirosławiec (2,633)
51. Trzcińsko-Zdrój (2,496)
52. Dobrzany (2,420)
53. Drawno (2,399)
54. Człopa (2,390)
55. Biały Bór (2,127)
56. Dobra (2,028)
57. Ińsko (2,001)
58. Tuczno (1,965)
59. Cedynia (1,653)
60. Moryń (1,570)
61. Suchań (1,446)
62. Nowe Warpno (1,170)

Administrative division

West Pomeranian Voivodeship is divided into 21 counties (powiats): 3 city counties and 18 land counties. These are further divided into 114 gminas.

The counties are listed in the following table (ordering within categories is by decreasing population).

Protected areas

Protected areas in West Pomeranian Voivodeship include two National Parks and seven Landscape Parks. These are listed below.
*Drawno National Park (partly in Lubusz and Greater Poland Voivodeships)
*Wolin National Park
*Barlinek-Gorzów Landscape Park (partly in Lubusz Voivodeship)
*Cedynia Landscape Park
*Drawsko Landscape Park
*Ińsko Landscape Park
*Lower Odra Valley Landscape Park
*Szczecin Landscape Park
*Ujście Warty Landscape Park (partly in Lubusz Voivodeship)

Most popular surnames in the region

# Nowak: 7,444
# Kowalski: 6,345
# Wiśniewski: 6,284

Education and science

* University of Szczecin (Polish "Uniwersytet Szczeciński") with 35.000 students, rector Zdzisław Chmielewski
* Technical University of Koszalin with 14,000 students( _pl. "Politechnika Koszalińska")
* Szczecin University of Technology with 12,500 students ( _pl. "Politechnika Szczecińska")
* Pomeranian Medical University with 4,000 students ( _pl. "Pomorska Akademia Medyczna")
* University of Agriculture in Szczecin with 10,000 students ( _pl. "Akademia Rolnicza w Szczecinie")
* Branch of Academy of Music in Poznań ( _pl. "Akademia Muzyczna w Poznaniu")
* Maritime University of Szczecin ( _pl. "Akademia Morska w Szczecinie")
* The West Pomeranian Business School with 3,000 students ( _pl. "Zachodniopomorska Szkoła Biznesu")

Airport

The only domestic and international airport in West Pomeranian Voivodeship is Szczecin-Goleniów "Solidarność" Airport.

ee also

* Pomeranians
* Dukes of Pomerania
* History of Pomerania
* Prussia's Province of Pomerania

External links and references

* [http://mapa.zachodniopomorskie.pl/portal.php?lang=en Westpomeranian System of Tourist Information]
* [http://www.sejmik-zachodniopomorskie.pl/ The Parliament of the Westpomeranian Voivodeship]
* [http://www.um-zachodniopomorskie.pl/szczecin-en/ Marshal's Office of the Westpomeranian Voivodeship]
* [http://bip.szczecin.uw.gov.pl Voivode's Office of the Westpomeranian Voivodeship]
* [http://www.zrot.pl Zrot : Official Tourism Site] (Polish, English, German)
* [http://www.zart.com.pl Zart : Good Tourism Site] (Polish, English, German)