Geography
The major feature of West Pomerania is its long coastline that, today, forms the major part of the coast of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Typical is a distinct "double coast", whereby offshore islands separate so-called bodden (~lagoons) from the open sea, forming a unique landscape. Germany's two largest islands, Rügen and Usedom, belong to West Pomerania.
The largest town in West Pomerania is Stralsund, once a mighty Hanseatic town during the Hanseatic period. Today it is still the most important town economically. The spiritual and legal centre, due to its many state judicial institutions and the long-established Ernst Moritz Arndt University is the Hanseatic town of Greifswald, about 35 km from Stralsund.
The towns of Stralsund and Greifswald together, after Rostock, are the second largest centres of population in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. In addition the region has the second highest population density of the four planning regions in the state.
West Pomerania has two national parks:
- West Pomeranian Lagoon Area National Park
- Jasmund National Park
Another region in West Pomerania under extensive conservation protection is the Peene Valley.
Read more about this topic: Western Pomerania
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