Pomerania Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
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Pomerania (Polish: Pomorze, German: Pommern and Pommerellen, Pomeranian (Kashubian): Pňmňrze and Pňmňrskô, Latin: Pomerania, Pomorania) is a geographical and historical region in northern Poland and Germany on the south coasts of the Baltic Sea between and on both sides of the Vistula and Oder (Odra) rivers, reaching the Reknitz river in the west.
Polish Pomerania is currently divided into 3 voivodships: the West Pomeranian Voivodship (Zachodniopomorskie, ZP), Pomeranian Voivodship (Pomorskie, PM) and the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodship (Kujawsko-Pomorskie, KP). German Pomerania (Vorpommern) is part of the German Bundesland (federal state) of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania).
The history of the region is rich and varied, perhaps due to it having been under the rule of many different powers through the centuries. It was ruled by the Dukes of Pomerania and later it belonged to Poland, Denmark, Saxony, Brandenburg, Prussia, Sweden and Germany. History of Pomerania is very often written from a Polish or German point of view and very rarely from a Pomeranian point of view.
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2 Demographics 3 Geography 4 Prehistoric times 5 History of Pomerania 6 Modern divisions of Pomerania 7 See also 8 Further reading 9 External links |
The name of Pomerania was probably first mentioned as Latin words 'longum mare' (=along the sea) in the Dagome Iudex document (ca. 992), issued by the Polish duke Mieszko I, describing the boundaries of his Gniezno state. Next in 1046 there is a mention of Zemuzil dux Bomeranorum (Siemomysl, Duke of Pomeranians). Pomerania is mentioned many times in the chronicles by Adam of Bremem (ca. 1070) and Gallus Anonymous (ca. 1113).Origin and meaning of the name
The name comes from Polish or other Slavic language and means 'country by/next to/along the sea'
| Voivodship | Capitals | Registration plates | Area w km² | Population Polish(Dec 31st of 1999) German 2001 | territorial code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodship | Bydgoszcz¹ Torun² | C | 17.969,72 | 2.100.771 | 04 |
| Pomeranian Voivodship | Gdansk | G | 18.292,88 | 2.192.268 | 22 |
| West Pomeranian Voivodship | Szczecin | Z | 22.901,48 | 1.732.838 | 32 |
| (¹) - the site of the Voivod office, (²) - the site of the Voivod council | |||||
| Polish Pomerania total | 59.164,08 | 6.025.877 | |||
| Nordvorpommern | Grimmen | NPV | 2.168 | 117.722 | |
| Ostvorpommern | Anklam | OVP | 1.910 | 113.623 | |
| Rügen | Bergen | 974 | 74.400 | ||
| Uecker-Randow | Pasewalk | UER | 1.624 | 83.459 | |
| Demmin (district) | Demmin | DM | 1.921 | 93.700 | |
| Greifswald | HGW | 52,2 | 52.984 | ||
| Stralsund | HST | est. 52,2 | 60.000 | ||
| German Pomerania total | 8.701 | 595.888 | |||
The biggest cities are (with population figures for 1999):
- in Polish Pomerania
- Tricity metropolitan area (population(2001): 1035,000 area 1,332,51 km˛ ) including
- Szczecin (416,988) (1905 - 224,078)
- Bydgoszcz (386,855)
- Torun (206,158)
- Wloclawek (123,373)
- Koszalin (112,375)
- Slupsk (102,370)
- and Kolobrzeg, Szczecinek, Swinoujscie, Stargard Szczecinski
- in German Pomerania
- Greifswald (52.984)
- Stralsund (63.000)
- Wolgast
- Barth
Geography
Initially Pomerania was the area between the Vistula, Notec, Warta and Odra rivers. The area has access to the Baltic sea and four bays: Bay of Pomerania, Szczecin Bay, Bay of Gdansk Bay with Bay of Puck and Vistula Bay, and contained Uznam, Wolin and Rugen islands. Peninsulas: Hel peninsula, Vistula peninsula. Some bays became closed and now form lakes Lebsko lake, Jamno lake, Gardno lake.
The eastern part of Pomerania, Pomorze, is a geographical and historical region in Poland that encompasses three Polish voivodships: the West Pomeranian Voivodship (Zachodniopomorskie), Pomeranian Voivodship (Pomorskie) and the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodship (Kujawsko-Pomorskie). The most western part of Pomerania (Vorpommern, in Polish Zapomorze) is part of the German state (Bundesland) of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern).
This is an Article on Pomerania. Page Contains Information, Facts Details or Explanation Guide About Pomerania Prehistoric times
The original Pomeranians arrived in the late period of Old Stone Age or Paleolith some 10.000 years BC, when the Scandinavian glacier receded to the north. Later various archeological cultures developed here in the Mesolith, Neolith, Bronze Age and Iron Age.History of Pomerania
Modern divisions of Pomerania
See also
Further reading
Publications in Polish
Publications in German
External links
Internet directories
Culture and history
Maps of Pomerania
