Pomeranian Voivodeship is a voivodeship, or province, in northwestern Poland. The provincial capital is Gdańsk. The voivodeship was established on January 1, 1999, out of the former voivodeships of Gdańsk, Elbląg and Słupsk, pursuant to the Polish local government reforms adopted in 1997. It is bordered by West Pomeranian Voivodeship to the west, Greater Poland and Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeships to the south, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship to the east, and the Baltic Sea to the north. It also shares a short land border with Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast), on the Vistula Spit. The bulk of the voivodeship is located in the historic region of Pomerania, with the territories on the eastern bank of the Vistula being part of Powiśle. The Pomeranian part of the region comprises most of Pomerelia (the easternmost part of Pomerania) with its subregions of Kashubia and Kociewie, whereas the western part, around Słupsk, is part of Farther Pomerania. The province is one of rich cultural heritage. The Tricity urban area, consisting of Gdańsk, 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. 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 voivodeship also includes the narrow Hel Peninsula and the Polish half of the Vistula Spit. Other tourist destinations include Wejherowo, Sopot, Jurata, Łeba, Władysławowo, Puck, Krynica Morska, Ustka, Jastarnia, Kuźnica, Bytów and many fishing ports, lighthouses, and marinas.

Etymology

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). • Cities (governed by a city mayor or prezydent miasta): • # Gdańsk (468,158) • # Gdynia (246,244) • # Słupsk (90,769) • # Tczew (60,120) • # Wejherowo (49,652) • # Starogard Gdański (47,775) • # Sopot (35,827) • Towns: • # Rumia (49,160) • # Chojnice (39,890) • # Malbork (38,465) • # Kwidzyn (38,444) • # Lębork (35,333) • # Pruszcz Gdański (31,135) • # Reda (26,011) • # Kościerzyna (23,776) • # Bytów (16,918) • # Ustka (15,460) • # Kartuzy (14,536) • # Człuchów (13,649) • # Puck (11,213) • # Miastko (10,439) • # Sztum (9,940) • # Władysławowo (9,930) • # Czersk (9,910) • # Nowy Dwór Gdański (9,905) • # Prabuty (8,695) • # Pelplin (7,784) • # Skarszewy (6,994) • # Gniew (6,707) • # Żukowo (6,691) • # Czarne (5,932) • # Dzierzgoń (5,364) • # Brusy (5,188) • # Debrzno (5,096) • # Nowy Staw (4,248) • # Łeba (3,644) • # Skórcz (3,625) • # Kępice (3,580) • # Hel (3,267) • # Czarna Woda (2,786) • # Jastarnia (2,704) • # Krynica Morska (1,303)

Administrative division

Pomeranian Voivodeship is divided into 20 counties (powiats): 4 city counties, and 16 land counties. These are further divided into 123 gminas (communes). The counties are listed below in order of decreasing population.

Governors

Economy

The Gross domestic product (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

The A1, S6 and S7 highways pass through the province.

Railway

The three busiest railway stations of northern Poland, and three of ten busiest railway stations of Poland overall, are located in the voivodeship. Those are Gdynia Główna, Gdańsk Główny and Gdańsk Wrzeszcz.

Education

Higher education

Protected areas

Protected areas in Pomeranian Voivodeship include two National Parks and nine Landscape Parks. These are listed below.

Sports

Football, basketball, motorcycle speedway and volleyball enjoy the largest following in the voivodeship. The Arka Gdynia and Lechia Gdańsk football clubs contest the Tricity Derby, the fiercest football rivalry in northern Poland. Since the establishment of the province, several major international sports competitions were co-hosted by the province, including the EuroBasket 2009, UEFA Euro 2012, 2013 Men's European Volleyball Championship, 2014 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship, 2016 European Men's Handball Championship, 2017 Men's European Volleyball Championship, 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup, 2021 Men's European Volleyball Championship, 2023 World Men's Handball Championship.

Curiosities