Usedom

Usedom (German) / Uznam (Polish) is a Baltic Sea island on the border between Germany and Poland. It is situated north of the Szczecin Bay (Ger: Stettiner Haff, Pol: Zalew Szczeci?ski) estuary of the Odra (Ger. Oder) river in Pomerania. Most of the island is a part of German Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (district Ostvorpommern) but the city of ?winouj?cie (Ger. Swinemünde) at the eastern end of the island has belonged to Poland since 1945. Area 445 km²; German part 373 km², Polish part 72 km². Population 76,500; German part 31,500; Polish part 45,000.

Related Topics:
Baltic Sea - Germany - Poland - Szczecin Bay - Estuary - Odra - Pomerania - Mecklenburg-Vorpommern - Ostvorpommern - ?winouj?cie - 1945

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The island is separated in the east from the neighbouring island of Wolin by the ?wina strait (or river) which is the main route connecting the Szczecin Bay with the Pomeranian Bay, part of the Baltic Sea.

Related Topics:
Wolin - ?wina - Pomeranian Bay

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The strait between the island and the mainland is called Peenestrom; it is an extension of the Peene river, which flows into the westernmost part of the Szczecin Bay.

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The main town on the island is ?winouj?cie, which has more inhabitants than the rest of the island. Another town, giving its name to the German part of the island is called Usedom. The largest town in the German part is Ahlbeck. There are many popular tourist resorts at the northern coast, including Ahlbeck, ?winouj?cie and Zinnowitz. The best known place on the island is probably the small village of Peenemünde, where the Luftwaffe tested their missiles and rockets, including the V-1 and V-2 during World War II.

Related Topics:
Usedom - Ahlbeck - Zinnowitz - Peenemünde - Luftwaffe - Missile - Rocket - V-1 - V-2 - World War II

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