West Pomeranian Voivodeship

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Województwo zachodniopomorskie
Flag Coat of arms
Location
Capital city Szczecin
Area 22,896 km²
Population (2004)
 - Density		 1,694,865
74/km²
Powiats
 - Urban counties
 - Land counties
3
18
Communes 114
Administrative divisions:

Counties

West Pomeranian Voivodeship (Polish: województwo zachodniopomorskie) is an administrative region or voivodeship in northwestern Poland. It borders on the Lubusz, Greater Poland and Pomeranian voivodeships, with the Baltic Sea to the north.

It was established January 1, 1999, out of the former Szczecin, Koszalin, and parts of other, neighboring, voivodeships pursuant to the Local Government Reorganization Act of 1998. The voivodeship's name recalls the region's traditional name, Pomorze Zachodnie.

Contents

[edit] Geography

This is a picturesque region of the Baltic Sea coast, with lakes and woodlands. Major coastal towns include Koszalin, Świnoujście, Międzyzdroje, Dziwnów, Kołobrzeg, and Mielno.

Its proximity to various borders demonstrates that the district is situated on the crossroad of significant trade routes of international importance: from Scandinavia south to southern Europe; from Western Europe (Italy, Croatia, Czech Republic, Slovakia to the Baltic countries takes place, since the province constitutes an important connection point of the trade network that exists on the Baltic Sea.

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

West Pomerania is considered one of the greenest regions of Poland, and one of the most attractive ones when it comes to tourism. It is characterized by incredible diversity of the landscape: beaches, hundreds of lakes, and forests full of wild life, 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 worth 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.

[edit] Administrative divisions

[edit] Major cities and towns

[edit] Major corporations

  • Grupa Kronospan SA, Szczecinek
  • Zakłady Chemiczne Police SA, Police
  • Swedwood Poland SA, Szczecin
  • Zespół Elektrowni Dolna Odra SA, Nowe Czarnowo
  • Stocznia Szczecińska Nowa sp. z o.o., Szczecin
  • Polska Żegluga Morska SA, Szczecin
  • Netto Artykuły Żywnościowe sp. z o.o., Kobylanka
  • Komfort sp. z o.o., Szczecin
  • Agencja Reklamowa Anny Turkiewicz, Szczecin
  • Zakład Energetyczny Koszalin SA, Koszalin
  • Petrocargo/OW Bunker sp. z o.o., Szczecin
  • Vobis Microcomputer sp. z o.o., Szczecin
  • Yiotarini Holdings Co Ltd., Szczecinek
  • PZE Cefarm-Szczecin SA, Szczecin
  • POOL-SPA Sp. z o.o., Gryfice

[edit] Most popular surnames in the region

  1. Nowak : 7,444
  2. Kowalski : 6,345
  3. Wiśniewski : 6,284

[edit] Historic region

Western Pomerania (also West Pomerania, Zachodnie Pomorze, Szczecin Pomerania, Odra Pomerania) is a geographic and historic region in northern Poland's western Pomerania. In a wider sense, the term also includes Middle Pomerania and Germany's Vorpommern.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links and references


Counties of West Pomeranian Voivodeship
City counties: Koszalin • Szczecin • Świnoujście

Land counties: Białogard • Choszczno • Drawsko • Goleniów • Gryfice • Gryfino • Kamień • Kołobrzeg • Koszalin • Łobez • Myślibórz • Police • Pyrzyce • Sławno • Stargard • Szczecinek • Świdwin • Wałcz
v • d • e
Voivodeships of Poland

Greater Poland · Kuyavian-Pomeranian · Lesser Poland · Lower Silesian · Lublin · Lubusz · Łódź · Masovian · Opole · Podlachian · Pomeranian · Silesian · Subcarpathian · Świętokrzyskie · Warmian-Masurian · West Pomeranian

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