Location and area

In terms of its size, population and economic potential, Stargard Szczecinski is the third largest city in West Pomerania. The city spreads on 4,810 hectares (12,000 acres) of land and has a population of 74,000. It is located on the Ina River, 40 kilometres (25 miles) from the Polish-German border, 36 kilometres (22 miles) from Szczecin (the largest city and the capital of West Pomerania), 180 kilometres (112 miles) from Berlin and 120 kilometres (75 miles) from the Swinoujscie ferry terminal on the Baltic coast. The city lies between two large geographical regions, namely the Szczecin Plain and the Szczecin Lake District, which has a great impact on the various types of landscape in the surrounding area. The city's lowest and highest points are 20 metres (65 feet) and 40 metres (130 feet) above sea level respectively.

Stargard Szczecinski is also an important communications junction. There are 98 kilometres (61 miles) of roads going through the city, including 30 kilometres (19 miles) of local roads. Stargard is also a joint station for five different railway lines, the most important of which are connections with Szczecin, Poznan, and Gdansk. Besides, there is an airport in the town of Goleniow, 40 kilometres (25 miles) of Stargard. Convenient communications with Berlin ensure easy access to air transport services all over the world. Driving along Road No. 3, you can reach Stargard Szczecinski either from Gorzow Wielkopolski or from Swinoujscie through Goleniow. Long-distance buses (PKS) can take you from Stargard to any town or village in the region and to some cities located further away.

Stargard Szczecinski is situated exactly on the line of longitude 15 east, which is the main meridian for the Central European time zone.

Stargard Szczecinski has also got a lot of tourist attractions and leisure facilities. The combination of highly ranked historical sights and the natural scenery makes the city particularly interesting. Stargard is surrounded by the Pyrzyce-Stargard Plain with lots of lakes, including Lake Miedwie, the fifth largest lake in Poland (36,7 square kilometres, or 14,3 square miles, in area and 42 metres, or 138 feet, deep), situated 7 kilometres (4 miles) of the city. There is a huge forest area (630 square kilometres, or 246 square miles) called the Goleniow Forest 15 kilometres (9 miles) west of Stargard Szczecinski and a landscape park (the Insko Landscape Park) abounding in woods and lakes 40 kilometres (25 miles) east of the city.

The city enjoys the European moderate climate. The average temperature in the hottest month of the year (July) is +18°C (64°F) and the average temperature in the coldest month of the year (January) is -1°C (30°F). Most of the days when it is freezing are in December, January and February. Most of the sunny days are in May, June and September. The number of hot days, when the temperature is above 25°C (77°F), is about 25 a year. The average yearly rainfall is between 525 and 550 millimetres (17 ft 6 in - 17 ft 7 in).