__NOTOC__ Gmina Brańsk is a rural gmina (Polish:''gmina wiejska'') in Bielsk County,

Podlaskie Voivodeship Podlaskie Voivodeship ( ) is a Voivodeships of Poland, voivodeship in northeastern Poland. The name of the voivodeship refers to the historical region of Podlachia (in Polish, ''Podlasie''), and significant part of its territory corresponds to th ...

. It is located in north-eastern

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It extends from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudetes and Carpathian Mountains in the south, bordered by Lithuania and Russia to the northeast, Belarus and Ukrai ...

Etymology

The name Brańsk comes from the river Bronka, a nearby tributary of the Nurzec River.

Geography

Gmina Brańsk is located in the geographical region of

Europe Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...

known as the ''Wysoczyzny Podlasko – Białoruskie'' (Podlaskie and Belarus Plateau) and the mezoregion known as the ''Równina Bielska'' (Bielska Plain). The gmina covers an area of .

Location

It is located approximately: * north-east of

Warsaw Warsaw, officially the Capital City of Warsaw, is the capital and List of cities and towns in Poland, largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the Vistula, River Vistula in east-central Poland. Its population is officially estimated at ...

, the capital of

* south-west of

Białystok Białystok is the largest city in northeastern Poland and the capital of the Podlaskie Voivodeship. It is the List of cities and towns in Poland, tenth-largest city in Poland, second in terms of population density, and thirteenth in area. Biał ...

, the capital of the

* west of Bielsk Podlaski, the seat of Bielsk County

Climate

The region has a

continental climate Continental climates often have a significant annual variation in temperature (warm to hot summers and cold winters). They tend to occur in central and eastern parts of the three northern-tier continents (North America, Europe, and Asia), typi ...

which is characterized by high temperatures during summer and long and frosty winters . The average amount of rainfall during the year exceeds .

Rivers

Three rivers pass through the Gmina: * The Nurzec River, a tributary of the Bug River * The Siennica River, a tributary of the Nurzec River * The Czarna River, a tributary of the Nurzec River

Demographics

Detailed data as of 31 December 2007:

Municipal government

Its seat is the town of

Brańsk Brańsk (Podlachian language: ''Бранськ, Branśk'', , ) is a town in eastern Poland. It is situated within Podlaskie Voivodeship (province). Etymology The name of the town comes from the river Bronka, a nearby tributary of the Nurzec River ...

, although the town is not part of the territory of the gmina.

Executive branch

The chief executive of the government is the

mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a Municipal corporation, municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilitie ...

(Polish: ''wójt'').

Legislative branch

The legislative portion of the government is the

Council A council is a group of people who come together to consult, deliberate, or make decisions. A council may function as a legislature, especially at a town, city or county/shire level, but most legislative bodies at the state/provincial or natio ...

(Polish: ''Rada'') composed of the President (Polish: ''Przewodniczący''), the Vice President (Polish: ''Wiceprzewodniczący'') and thirteen councilors.

Villages

The following villages are contained within the gmina: Bronka, Brzeźnica, Burchaty, Chojewo, Chojewo-Kolonia, Chrościanka, Dębowo, Domanowo, Ferma, Glinnik, Holonki, Jarmarkowszczyzna, Kadłubówka, Kalnica, Kalnowiec, Kiersnowo, Kiersnówek, Kiewłaki, Klichy, Konotopa, Koszewo, Lubieszcze,

Majerowizna Majerowizna is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Brańsk, within Bielsk County, Podlaskie Voivodeship, in north-eastern Poland. It lies approximately south-east of Brańsk, west of Bielsk Podlaski, and south of the regional c ...

, Markowo, Mień, Nowosady, Oleksin, Olędy, Olędzkie, Olszewek, Olszewo,

Otapy Otapy is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Brańsk, within Bielsk County, Podlaskie Voivodeship, in north-eastern Poland. It lies approximately south-east of Brańsk, west of Bielsk Podlaski, and south-west of the regional c ...

, Pace, Pasieka, Patoki, Pietraszki, Płonowo, Poletyły, Popławy, Pruszanka Stara, Pruszanka-Baranki, Puchały Nowe, Puchały Stare, Spieszyn, Szmurły, Ściony, Świrydy, Widźgowo, Załuskie Koronne, Załuskie Kościelne, Zanie.

Neighbouring political subdivisions

Gmina Brańsk is bordered by the town of

and the Gminy of Bielsk Podlaski, Boćki, Dziadkowice, Grodzisk, Klukowo, Nowe Piekuty, Poświętne, Rudka, Szepietowo and Wyszki.

Transport

Roads and Highways

Gmina Brańsk is at the intersection of a National Road and a Voivodeship Road: * National Road 66 - Zambrów -

- Bielsk Podlaski - Kleszczele - Czeremcha - Połowce Border Crossing (Belarus) * Voivodeship Road 681 - Roszki-Wodźki - Łapy -

- Ciechanowiec

Public Transport

Bus Service

Regular bus service is provided in the town of

by Państwowa Komunikacja Samochodowa (''State Car Communication,'' PKS) via PKS Bielsk Podlaskie
PKS Białystok
and PKS Siemiatycze

Rail Service

The closest passenger train service is provided by Polskie Koleje Państwowe (''Polish State Railways'', PKP) SA from the following stations: * Szepietowo - express & local service to

and

- northwest * Bielsk Podlaski - express & local service to Siedlce and

- east

Nearby Attractions

* Sanktuarium Matki Bożej Pojedniania w Hodyszewie (Our Lady of Hodyszewo Sanctuary) in Hodyzewo - northwest * Ossoliński Palace in Rudka - west

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gmina Bransk Bransk Bielsk County