West Pomerania, Poland

Zachodniopomorskie

Zachodniopomorskie Province or the West Pomeranian Voivodeship, (in polish, województwo zachodniopomorskie) is located in north-western Poland. Its neighbours 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.

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.

* Barlinek-Gorzów Landscape Park (partly in Lubusz Voivodeship)

* Cedynia Landscape Park

* Drawno National Park (partly in Lubusz and Greater Poland Voivodeships)

* Drawsko Landscape Park

* Ińsko Landscape Park

* Lower Odra Valley Landscape Park

* Szczecin Landscape Park

* Ujście Warty Landscape Park (partly in Lubusz Voivodeship)

* Wolin National Park

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.