- Lower Silesian Voivodeship
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For the historical region, see Lower Silesia.
Lower Silesian Voivodeship
Województwo dolnośląskie— Voivodeship — 
Flag
Coat of armsLocation within Poland
Division into counties
Coordinates (Wrocław): 51°07′N 17°02′E / 51.117°N 17.033°E Country 
PolandCapital Wrocław Counties* List- Jelenia Góra
- Legnica
- Wrocław
- Bolesławiec County
- Dzierżoniów County
- Głogów County
- Góra County
- Jawor County
- Jelenia Góra County
- Kamienna Góra County
- Kłodzko County
- Legnica County
- Lubań County
- Lubin County
- Lwówek Śląski County
- Milicz County
- Oława County
- Oleśnica County
- Polkowice County
- Środa Śląska County
- Strzelin County
- Świdnica County
- Trzebnica County
- Wałbrzych County
- Wołów County
- Wrocław County
- Ząbkowice Śląskie County
- Zgorzelec County
- Złotoryja County
Area - Total 19,946 km2 (7,701.2 sq mi) Population (2006) - Total 2,884,248 - Density 144.6/km2 (374.5/sq mi) - Urban 2,047,151 - Rural 837,097 Car plates D Website http://www.umwd.pl/ * further divided into 169 gminas Lower Silesian Voivodeship, or Lower Silesia Province[1] (in Polish, województwo dolnośląskie [vɔjɛˈvut͡stfɔ dɔlnɔˈɕlɔ̃skʲɛ]), is one of the 16 voivodeships (provinces) into which Poland is currently divided. It lies in southwestern Poland. Its capital and largest city is Wrocław, on the middle Odra (Oder) river.
Contents
History and Geography
The voivodeship was created on 1 January 1999 out of the former Wrocław, Legnica, Wałbrzych and Jelenia Góra Voivodeships, pursuant to the Polish local government reforms adopted in 1998. It covers an area of 19,946 square kilometres (7,701 sq mi), and as at 2006 has a total population of 2,884,248, comprising an urban population of 2,047,151 and rural population of 837,097.
Although much of the region is relatively low-lying it also includes part of the Sudetes mountain range running along the Polish/Czech border. Popular ski resorts in Lower Silesian Voivodeship include Karpacz and Szklarska Poręba in the Karkonosze mountains. The town of Kudowa Zdrój, also in the Sudetes (west of Kłodzko near the Czech border), is a traditional spa town often visited by heart patients. Other important tourist destinations in the voivodeship include the chief city, Wrocław, as well as the towns of Jelenia Góra and Legnica. The town of Boleslawiec is famed for its pottery.
Lower Silesian Voivodeship is bordered by Lubusz Voivodeship to the north-west, Greater Poland Voivodeship to the north-east, Opole Voivodeship to the south-east, the Czech Republic to the south, and Germany, (Federal-State of Saxony) to the west.
Economy
Wrocław Main Station is a major hub for regional logistics
Lower Silesia is one of the richest regions in Poland. GDP per capita in 2007 accounted for 108.7% of the average for the country. GDP per capita in the region is similar to the GDP in the poorest regions of Spain, Greece and Portugal, and slightly lower than the poorest regions of Italy. Since 2005, the voivodeship recorded the highest in the country economic growth rate (around 10% per annum).
GDP per capita in Lower Silesia Voivodeship: GDP in Poland:
GDP per capita in Lower Silesian Voivodeship and Poland Lower Silesian Voivodeship GDP per capita Poland GDP per capita 2000 10 440$ (+2.8%) 2000 10 140$ (+4.0%) 2005 13 060$ (+4.9%) 2005 12 600$ (+3.5%) 2006 13 700$ (+7.3%) 2006 13 020$ (+6.2%) 2007 14 980$ (+9.5%) 2007 13 760$ (+6.5%) 2008 16 030$ (+7.2%) 2008 14 450$ (+5.0%) 2009 16 350$ (+2.0%) 2009 14 720$ (+1.9%) Cities and towns
Wrocław, capital of Lower Silesian Voivodeship
The voivodeship contains 91 cities and towns. These are listed below in descending order of population (according to official figures for 2006[2] ):
- Wrocław (635,280)
- Wałbrzych (125,773)
- Legnica (105,485)
- Jelenia Góra (86,663)
- Lubin (76,595)
- Głogów (68,954)
- Świdnica (60,354)
- Bolesławiec (40,837)
- Oleśnica (36,951)
- Dzierżoniów (34,678)
- Zgorzelec (32,925)
- Bielawa (31,219)
- Oława (30,908)
- Kłodzko (28,249)
- Jawor (24,347)
- Nowa Ruda (24,261)
- Świebodzice (23,126)
- Polkowice (22,279)
- Lubań (22,137)
- Kamienna Góra (21,440)
- Bogatynia (19,068)
- Strzegom (16,782)
- Boguszów-Gorce (16,687)
- Złotoryja (16,503)
- Ząbkowice Śląskie (16,242)
- Jelcz-Laskowice (15,196)
- Chojnów (14,389)
- Brzeg Dolny (12,786)
- Góra (12,574)
- Wołów (12,286)
- Strzelin (12,192)
- Trzebnica (12,180)
- Milicz (12,004)
- Kowary (11,824)
- Syców (10,712)
- Bystrzyca Kłodzka (10,638)
- Kudowa-Zdrój (10,204)
- Lwówek Śląski (9,687)
- Pieszyce (9,490)
- Ziębice (9,234)
- Środa Śląska (8,800)
- Oborniki Śląskie (8,426)
- Chocianów (8,215)
- Gryfów Śląski (7,128)
- Szklarska Poręba (7,094)
- Głuszyca (6,999)
- Żarów (6,902)
- Polanica-Zdrój (6,900)
- Twardogóra (6,866)
- Sobótka (6,780)
- Piława Górna (6,779)
- Żmigród (6,573)
- Przemków (6,551)
- Lubawka (6,529)
- Piechowice (6,494)
- Stronie Śląskie (6,246)
- Lądek-Zdrój (6,181)
- Ścinawa (5,934)
- Pieńsk (5,799)
- Szczawno-Zdrój (5,506)
- Kąty Wrocławskie (5,418)
- Bolków (5,380)
- Jaworzyna Śląska (5,240)
- Szczytna (5,234)
- Jedlina-Zdrój (5,116)
- Duszniki-Zdrój (5,113)
- Bierutów (5,066)
- Karpacz (5,063)
- Olszyna (4,786)
- Leśna (4,752)
- Świeradów-Zdrój (4,554)
- Mieroszów (4,515)
- Zawidów (4,412)
- Mirsk (4,136)
- Nowogrodziec (4,055)
- Wojcieszów (3,940)
- Siechnice (3,851)
- Prochowice (3,702)
- Niemcza (3,121)
- Węgliniec (3,072)
- Złoty Stok (2,930)
- Bardo (2,860)
- Wąsosz (2,828)
- Międzylesie (2,776)
- Radków (2,460)
- Świerzawa (2,439)
- Międzybórz (2,356)
- Wiązów (2,230)
- Prusice (2,203)
- Wleń (1,884)
- Lubomierz (1,818)
Administrative division
Lower Silesian Voivodeship is divided into 29 counties (powiats), three of which are urban, and the rest rural. These are further divided into 169 gminas.
The counties are listed in the following table (ordering within categories is by decreasing population).
Protected areas
Protected areas in Lower Silesian Voivodeship include two National Parks and 12 Landscape Parks. These are listed below.
- Karkonosze National Park (part of a UNESCO trans-border biosphere reserve)
- Table Mountains National Park
- Barycz Valley Landscape Park (partly in Greater Poland Voivodeship)
- Bóbr Valley Landscape Park
- Bystrzyca Valley Landscape Park
- Chełmy Landscape Park
- Jezierzyca Valley Landscape Park
- Książ Landscape Park
- Owl Mountains Landscape Park
- Przemków Landscape Park
- Rudawy Landscape Park
- Ślęża Landscape Park
- Śnieżnik Landscape Park
- Sudety Wałbrzyskie Landscape Park
References
- ^ Arkadiusz Belczyk,Tłumaczenie polskich nazw geograficznych na język angielski [Translation of Polish Geographical Names into English], 2002-2006.
- ^ http://www.stat.gov.pl/gus/45_655_PLK_HTML.htm
External links
- Województwo Dolnośląskie Official website
- Website of the government of Lower Silesia
Counties of Lower Silesian Voivodeship City counties 
Land counties Bolesławiec • Dzierżoniów • Głogów • Góra • Jawor • Jelenia Góra • Kamienna Góra • Kłodzko • Legnica • Lubań • Lubin • Lwówek Śląski • Milicz • Oława • Oleśnica • Polkowice • Środa Śląska • Strzelin • Świdnica • Trzebnica • Wałbrzych • Wołów • Wrocław • Ząbkowice Śląskie • Zgorzelec • ZłotoryjaVoivodeships of Poland Greater Poland · Kuyavian-Pomeranian · Lesser Poland · Łódź · Lower Silesian · Lublin · Lubusz · Masovian · Opole · Podkarpackie · Podlaskie · Pomeranian · Silesian · Świętokrzyskie · Warmian-Masurian · West Pomeranian
Silesia topics History Symbols Coats of arms · Flags · Unofficial Anthems: Schlesien Unvergessene Heimat · Schlesierlied · Slezská hymnaEconomy Tourism · Upper Silesian Coal Basin (with: Upper Silesian Industrial Region · Rybnik Coal Area · Ostrava-Karviná Coal Area) · Lower Silesian Coal Basin · Legnicko-Głogowski Okręg Miedziowy · Bielski Okręg Przemysłowy · Silesian metropolitan area · Katowice urban areaCuisine Silesian dumplings · Black noodles · Makówki · Siemieniotka · Żur śląski · Wodzionka · Szałot · Kreple · Kołocz · Galert · Krupniok · Karminadle · Bryja · Moczka · Modra kapusta · Ciapkapusta · HauskyjzaLanguages Silesian (Cieszyn Silesian dialect · Lach Silesian dialect · Niemodlin Silesian dialect · Bytom Silesian dialect · Jabłonków Silesian dialect · Namysłów Silesian dialect · Prudnik Silesian dialect · Opole Silesian dialect · Syców Silesian dialect · Lower Silesian dialect · Sulkovian Silesian dialect · Texas Silesian) · German · Polish · Czech · Lower SilesianAdministrative
divisionsFormerDuchies (Piasts · Dukes) · Silesian Voivodeship (1920–1939) (Parliament · Treasury · Politicians) · State country · Province of Silesia / Upper Silesia / Lower Silesia · Sudetenland · New Silesia · Austrian Silesia · Eastern SilesiaPresentSilesian · Opole · Lower Silesian · Lubusz Voivodeships · Silesian-Moravian Region · Jeseník District · part of Saxony and Brandenburg (mainly in Niederschlesischer Oberlausitzkreis/Görlitz (district))Geography MountainsRiversLakesHighlands
Lowlands
OtherSilesian Highlands · Silesian Lowlands · Silesian-Lusatian Lowlands · Silesian Foothills · Silesian-Moravian Foothills · Oświęcim Valley · Ostrava Valley · Jelenia Góra valley · Kłodzko Valley · Zielona Góra Acclivity · Wał Trzebnicki · Przedgórze Sudeckie · Obniżenie Milicko-Głogowskie · Silesia Walls · Lower Silesian Wilderness · Silesian PrzesiekaOther Silesians · Silesian regional costumes (Śląskie stroje ludowe) · Silesian Autonomy Movement · Landsmannschaft Schlesien · Silesian architecture · Silesia national football team · Silesian Stadium · Silesian Football Association · Silesian-Moravian Football League · Silesian (European Parliament constituency) · Lower Silesian and Opole (European Parliament constituency) · Evangelical Church of Berlin-Brandenburg-Silesian Upper Lusatia · Silesian Evangelical Church of Augsburg Confession · FamilokWikiProject Silesia · PortalCategories:- Voivodeships of Poland
- Lower Silesian Voivodeship
- States and territories established in 1999
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