Pomeranian Voivodeship, Pomorskie Region, or Pomerania Province (
Polish: ''Województwo pomorskie'' ; (
Kashubian: ''Pòmòrsczé wòjewództwò'' ), is a
voivodeship, or
province
A province is almost always an administrative division within a country or state. The term derives from the ancient Roman ''provincia'', which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire's territorial possessions out ...
, in northwestern
Poland
Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships, covering an area of . Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populou ...
. The provincial capital is
Gdańsk
Gdańsk ( , also ; ; csb, Gduńsk;Stefan Ramułt, ''Słownik języka pomorskiego, czyli kaszubskiego'', Kraków 1893, Gdańsk 2003, ISBN 83-87408-64-6. , Johann Georg Theodor Grässe, ''Orbis latinus oder Verzeichniss der lateinischen Benen ...
.
The voivodeship was established on January 1, 1999, out of the former voivodeships of
Gdańsk
Gdańsk ( , also ; ; csb, Gduńsk;Stefan Ramułt, ''Słownik języka pomorskiego, czyli kaszubskiego'', Kraków 1893, Gdańsk 2003, ISBN 83-87408-64-6. , Johann Georg Theodor Grässe, ''Orbis latinus oder Verzeichniss der lateinischen Benen ...
,
Elbląg
Elbląg (; german: Elbing, Old Prussian: ''Elbings'') is a city in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, Poland, located in the eastern edge of the Żuławy region with 117,390 inhabitants, as of December 2021. It is the capital of Elbląg Count ...
and
Słupsk, pursuant to the
Polish local government reforms adopted in 1997. It is bordered by
West Pomeranian Voivodeship
The West Pomeranian Voivodeship, also known as the West Pomerania Province, is a voivodeship (province) in northwestern Poland. Its capital and largest city is Szczecin. Its area equals 22 892.48 km² (8,838.84 sq mi), and in 2021, it was ...
to the west,
Greater Poland
Greater Poland, often known by its Polish name Wielkopolska (; german: Großpolen, sv, Storpolen, la, Polonia Maior), is a historical region of west-central Poland. Its chief and largest city is Poznań followed by Kalisz, the oldest cit ...
and
Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeships to the south,
Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship to the east, and the
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that is enclosed by Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Sweden and the North and Central European Plain.
The sea stretches from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from ...
to the north. It also shares a short land border with
Russia
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-ei ...
(
Kaliningrad Oblast
Kaliningrad Oblast (russian: Калинингра́дская о́бласть, translit=Kaliningradskaya oblast') is the westernmost federal subject of Russia. It is a semi-exclave situated on the Baltic Sea. The largest city and admin ...
), on the
Vistula Spit. The voivodeship comprises most of
Pomerelia (the easternmost part of historical
Pomerania
Pomerania ( pl, Pomorze; german: Pommern; Kashubian: ''Pòmòrskô''; sv, Pommern) is a historical region on the southern shore of the Baltic Sea in Central Europe, split between Poland and Germany. The western part of Pomerania belongs to ...
), as well as an area east of the
Vistula River
The Vistula (; pl, Wisła, ) is the longest river in Poland and the ninth-longest river in Europe, at in length. The drainage basin, reaching into three other nations, covers , of which is in Poland.
The Vistula rises at Barania Góra in ...
. The western part of the province, around
Słupsk, belonged historically to
Farther Pomerania. The central parts of the province belong to
Pomerelia, including
Kashubia, named after the
Kashubian minority. The eastern bank of the Vistula, nowadays called
Powiśle (Vistula Plains), belongs to the
historical region of Prussia.
The province is one of rich cultural heritage. The
Tricity urban area, consisting of
Gdańsk
Gdańsk ( , also ; ; csb, Gduńsk;Stefan Ramułt, ''Słownik języka pomorskiego, czyli kaszubskiego'', Kraków 1893, Gdańsk 2003, ISBN 83-87408-64-6. , Johann Georg Theodor Grässe, ''Orbis latinus oder Verzeichniss der lateinischen Benen ...
,
Gdynia and
Sopot, is one of the main cultural, commercial and educational centres of Poland. Gdańsk and Gdynia are two of the major Polish seaports, the first erected by
Mieszko I of Poland in the Middle Ages, the latter built in the
interwar period
In the history of the 20th century, the interwar period lasted from 11 November 1918 to 1 September 1939 (20 years, 9 months, 21 days), the end of the First World War to the beginning of the Second World War. The interwar period was relative ...
. Amongst the most recognisable landmarks of the region are the historic city centre of Gdańsk filled with Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque masterpieces, the Museum of the National Anthem in
Będomin, located at the birthplace of
Józef Wybicki, poet and politician, author of the
national anthem of Poland, the largest medieval churches of Poland (the
St. Mary's Church in Gdańsk and the
Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption in
Pelplin) and the
Malbork Castle
The Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork ( pl, Zamek w Malborku; german: Ordensburg Marienburg) is a 13th-century Teutonic castle and fortress located near the town of Malbork, Poland. It is the largest castle in the world measured by land ...
. The voivodeship also includes the narrow
Hel Peninsula
Hel Peninsula (; pl, Mierzeja Helska, Półwysep Helski; csb, Hélskô Sztremlëzna; german: Halbinsel Hela or ''Putziger Nehrung'') is a sand bar peninsula in northern Poland separating the Bay of Puck from the open Baltic Sea. It is l ...
and the Polish half of the Vistula Spit. Other tourist destinations include
Wejherowo,
Sopot,
Jurata,
Łeba,
Władysławowo
Władysławowo ( Kashubian/ Pomeranian: ''Wiôlgô Wies'', german: Großendorf) is a city on the south coast of the Baltic Sea in Kashubia in the Pomerelia region, northern Poland, with 15,015 (2009) inhabitants.
History
In 1634 engineer Fr ...
,
Puck,
Krynica Morska,
Ustka,
Jastarnia
Jastarnia ( csb, Jastarniô, german: Heisternest) is a resort town in Puck County, Pomeranian Voivodship, northern Poland. It is located on the Hel Peninsula on the Baltic Sea. It is a popular Polish seaside resort and small fishing port.
The ...
,
Kuźnica,
Bytów and many fishing ports, lighthouses, and boats.
The name ''Pomerania'' derives from the
Slavic ''po more'', meaning "by the sea" or "on the sea".
Cities and towns
The voivodeship contains 7 cities and 35 towns. These are listed below in descending order of population (official 2019 figures).
Administrative division
Pomeranian Voivodeship is divided into 20 counties (
powiat
A ''powiat'' (pronounced ; Polish plural: ''powiaty'') is the second-level unit of local government and administration in Poland, equivalent to a county, district or prefecture ( LAU-1, formerly NUTS-4) in other countries. The term "''powiat ...
s): 4 city counties, and 16 land counties. These are further divided into 123
gmina
The gmina (Polish: , plural ''gminy'' , from German ''Gemeinde'' meaning ''commune'') is the principal unit of the administrative division of Poland, similar to a municipality. , there were 2,477 gminas throughout the country, encompassing over 4 ...
s (communes).
The counties are listed below in order of decreasing population.
Governors
Economy
The
Gross domestic product
Gross domestic product (GDP) is a monetary measure of the market value of all the final goods and services produced and sold (not resold) in a specific time period by countries. Due to its complex and subjective nature this measure is of ...
(GDP) of the province was 29.2 billion euros in 2018, accounting for 5.9% of Polish economic output. GDP per capita adjusted for purchasing power was 20,800 euros or 69% of the EU27 average in the same year. The GDP per employee was 74% of the EU average.
Major corporations
Transport
*
SKM
*
Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport
*
Obwodnica Trójmiejska
The Tricity Ring Road (Polish:
''Obwodnica trójmiejska'', ''Obwodnica Trójmiasta'', ''Trasa Obwodowa Trójmiasta'') is a ring road in Poland bypassing the metropolitan area formed by the cities of Gdynia, Sopot and Gdańsk commonly known as ...
*
Autostrada A1
*
Pomorska Kolej Metropolitalna
Education
Higher education
Protected areas
Protected area
Protected areas or conservation areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognized natural, ecological or cultural values. There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection depending on the ena ...
s in Pomeranian Voivodeship include two
National Park
A national park is a natural park in use for conservation purposes, created and protected by national governments. Often it is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual ...
s and nine
Landscape Parks. These are listed below.
*
Słowiński National Park
Słowiński National Park ( pl, Słowiński Park Narodowy) is a national park in Pomeranian Voivodeship, northern Poland. It is situated on the Baltic coast, between Łeba and Rowy. The northern boundary of the park consists of of coastline.
...
(a
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international coope ...
-designated
biosphere reserve)
*
Tuchola Forest National Park (part of a
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international coope ...
-designated
biosphere reserve)
*
Coastal Landscape Park
*
Iława Lake District Landscape Park
Iława Lake District Landscape Park or Iława Lakeland Scenic Park ( pl, Park Krajobrazowy Pojezierza Iławskiego) is a protected area ( landscape park) in northern Poland. Established in 1993, the park is part of the geographic region called Poje ...
(partly in
Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship)
*
Kashubian Landscape Park
*
Słupia Valley Landscape Park
Słupia Valley Landscape Park (''Park Krajobrazowy Dolina Słupi'') is a protected area ( Landscape Park) in northern Poland.
Geography
The park was established in 1981, and is a Natura 2000 EU Special Protection Area.
In 2003, at least one wolf ...
*
Tricity Landscape Park
*
Tuchola Landscape Park (partly in
Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship)
*
Vistula Spit Landscape Park
*
Wdydze Landscape Park
*
Zaborski Landscape Park
Gallery
Image:Katedra 3.JPG, Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Pelplin
Image:Castillo de Malbork, Polonia, 2013-05-19, DD 04.jpg, Malbork Castle
The Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork ( pl, Zamek w Malborku; german: Ordensburg Marienburg) is a 13th-century Teutonic castle and fortress located near the town of Malbork, Poland. It is the largest castle in the world measured by land ...
, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for ...
Image:Slupsk Nowa Brama 3.jpg, The Gothic New Gate in Słupsk
Image:Monumento Neptuno, Gdansk, Polonia, 2013-05-20, DD 05.jpg, Neptune's Fountain and the Long Market in Gdańsk
Gdańsk ( , also ; ; csb, Gduńsk;Stefan Ramułt, ''Słownik języka pomorskiego, czyli kaszubskiego'', Kraków 1893, Gdańsk 2003, ISBN 83-87408-64-6. , Johann Georg Theodor Grässe, ''Orbis latinus oder Verzeichniss der lateinischen Benen ...
Image:Gdańsk (DerHexer) 2010-07-12 068.jpg, Royal Chapel in Gdańsk
Image:Bedomin Muzeum Hymnu Narodowego P02 Jozef Wybicki Manor.jpg, Museum of the National Anthem in Będomin
Image:Muelle_de_Sopot,_Polonia,_2013-05-22,_DD_21.jpg, Pier in Sopot, the longest wooden pier in Europe
Image:Tczew most wiezyczki 2.jpg, Road bridge in Tczew, built as the longest bridge in Europe in the mid-19th-century
Image:Dar Pomorza, Gdynia 2018.jpg, Dar Pomorza in Gdynia
Image:Foka szara mateusz wlodarczyk.jpg, Seal Sanctuary in Hel
References
External links
Information about Pomeranian Voivodeship - official website(pl, en, ru)
Economy brochure(en)
The Pomorskie Voivodeship. The Greatest Tourist Attractions - Brochure(en)
Pomerania Development Agency Co.(en)
{{Authority control
Pomerania
1999 establishments in Poland
States and territories established in 1999