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. Swinem?nde) at the eastern end of the island has belonged to Poland since 1945. Area 445 km?; German part 373 km?, Polish part 72 km?. Population 76,500; German part 31,500; Polish part 45,000.

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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.

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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 Peenem?nde, where the Luftwaffe tested their missiles and rockets, including the V-1 and V-2 during World War II.

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Baltic Sea: The Baltic Sea is located in Northern Europe, bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainlands of Northern Europe, Eastern Europe, Central Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the ?resund, the Great Belt and the Little Belt. Kattegat then continues in the Skagerr...

Szczecin Bay: REDIRECT Szczecin Lagoon...

Estuary: An estuary is a semi-enclosed coastal body of water which has a free connection with the open sea and within which sea water mixes with fresh water. The key feature of an estuary is that it is a mixing place for sea water and a significantly-sized river to supply fresh water. A tide is a necessary ...