Województwo Zachodniopomorskie

Zachodniopomorskie Province or the West Pomeranian Voivodeship, (in polish, województwo zachodniopomorskie) is located in north-western Poland. Its neighbors include the Pomeranian Voivodeship to the east, the Greater Poland Voivodeship to the south-east, the Lubusz Voivodeship to the south, the German state of Mecklenburg-West Pomerania to the west, and the Baltic Sea to the north. It has sea ports in Szczecin, Świnoujście, Kołobrzeg and Darłowo.

Administration - Zachodniopomorskie Province is divided into 18 rural and 3 town districts (powiats) and these are further divided into 114 gminas. It is the fifth largest region of Poland in terms of area with 22,900 sq km and a population of about 1.7 million people. The larger cities, of the province are; the capital Szczecin, as well as Koszalin, Stargard Szczeciński, and Świnoujście. The region has 62 cities and towns, and over 3,100 villages.

Transport - The E28 highway is main transportation route running parallel with the coast. There is only one domestic and international airport in the region at Szczecin-Goleniów “Solidarność” Airport.

Economy and Industry - The great number of young professionals and the support from the various institutions of higher education constitute an important asset of Zachodniopomorskie. Historically, the region has been associated solely with the shipbuilding industry and agriculture but today the West Pomeranian Voivodeship can meet the expectations of new investors from other industries, including those involving the new technologies.

Rich in agricultural traditions with half of its area consisting of agricultural land, continue to make Western Pomerania an attractive place for those wanting to invest in agriculture and the food industry. The share of woodland in the area attracts investors from the wood and furniture industry.

The province prides itself on an ever growing utilisation of renewable sources of energy. Wind Turbines have become a feature of the landscape, while the resources of thermal water are being utilised more now than ever before.

Tourism and Culture - The ethnic diversity of the population of the region and the cultivating of the various traditions enriches Western Pomerania as a cultural borderland. The tourist has almost 185 km of unique coastline, with beautiful beaches, dunes and forests as well as the clusters of lakes to be found in the Drawsko and Wałcz lake districts. There are cycling excursions available through the tracts in the primeval forests or try your hand at sailing in the Szczecin Lagoon.

West Pomerania is also rich in the historic buildings and the styles of architecture, many being built during the Middle Ages as well as the Gothic, Baroque, and Renaissance periods. If you come to this province visit the theatres, festivals, museums and art galleries, participate with the local people in the exciting cultural events throughout the year.

It is characterized by the diversity of the landscape with beaches, many lakes and forests that are full of wild life such as the Wkrzanska Forest. Forests account for about 40% of the region. There is an abundance of rivers and lakes in the region with a dozen or so rivers flowing into the Baltic Sea and over 1,600 lakes.

Protected Areas - The West Pomeranian Voivodeship has two National Parks and seven Landscape Parks.

 

Zachodniopomorskie Province of Zachodniopomorskie website.

 

 

Zachodniopomorskie - David's Travel Guides