Gdansk - City of the Heaven

GDAŃSK - City of the future

• Location and industry

• GDANSK, Poland. The capital of Poland's Pomorze province, the city of Gdansk is located at the mouth of the Vistula River on the Baltic Sea. Much of the city's industry centers around shipbuilding and shipping. The city has two main port areas. The older Nowy Port, or New Port, is a major industrial center for shipyards, metallurgical and chemical plants, timber mills, and food-processing facilities. The newer Port Polnocny, or North Port, is Poland's largest development project.

• Monuments

• Gdansk has schools of medicine, engineering, and fine arts. The University of Gdansk was opened in 1970. There are also many fine churches, museums, theaters, and gardens as well as a maritime center, a concert hall, and an opera house. Gdansk is part of the Trojmiasto, or Three-City, urban area, made up of the towns of Gdansk, Gdynia, and Sopot. The city center, known as Stare Miasto, or Old Town, lies on the Motlawa, a river that runs into the Vistula 2 miles (3 kilometers) inland. Noteworthy buildings in Old Town include St. Catherine's Church, sections of which date back to the 14th century. Its interior is in the Gothic style. The town hall was built between 1587 and 1595. The entrance hall has a bronze bas-relief of the 17th-century Gdansk astronomer Hevelius. Greatly damaged during World War II, the city's buildings were later

restored.

Gdańsk - Historic city

• Gdansk was first mentioned as a Polish city in 997 or 999. It has been called by the German name Danzig at various periods of its history. It was granted municipal autonomy in 1260 and developed as a trade center. In 1308 the Teutonic Knights seized the city. Under their rule the city became a wealthy member of the Hanseatic League (see Hanseatic League). In 1466 King Casimir IV of Poland regained the territory after a 13-year war. As thanks for its loyalty, Gdansk was granted local autonomy by the king and expanded greatly. It reached its peak during the Renaissance as the most prosperous port on the Baltic. Its shipyards launched their first warship in 1572. By 1754 its population was 77,000, the largest of any eastern European city. The Swedish wars of the 17th century halted the city's economic growth

and began its decline.

• In 1772 Gdansk was seized by Prussia, and in 1793 it became part of that country. Its port trade quickly decreased. Except for about seven years during the Napoleonic wars, when it was declared a free state, Gdansk remained in German hands until after World War I. From 1919 to 1939 it again had the status of a free city, under the Treaty of Versailles, with Poland having administrative governance over it. German control grew stronger, however, and in 1938 German dictator Adolf Hitler demanded that Gdansk be given to Germany. Poland, backed by Great Britain and France, refused. Hitler used this refusal as an excuse to invade Poland on Sept. 1, 1939, beginning World War II. The city was returned to Poland in March 1945. Labor unrest in the Gdansk shipyards in 1980 spurred the creation of the Solidarity trade union, which soon led the push toward democracy in Poland. Population (1992 estimate), 465,400.

• Climate and Temperature

• From May until October, Poland enjoys beautiful weather. Sandwiched between a continental influence from the east and a maritime influence from the west, Poland's weather can vary wildly, even within the same 24 hours. It experiences an average of 30-60 degrees F or 0-16 degrees C in the springtime, which begins in March with blustery winds, rains, and the like but ends with balmy warmth that signals the beginning of summer. Come May, temperatures rise to 70 degrees F or 18 degrees C and remain elevated throughout the summer. A Polish summer never gets too hot, even in July, and is often cooled with rains. Given the highly variable climate here, it is a good idea to bring along a pocket umbrella; a sunny morning can quickly turn into a rainy

afternoon.

• Summer segues into the "Golden Autumn” in September, when temperatures fall into the upper teens C, and the weather remains pleasant up until November. It is only then that cold, fog, and at times snow set in, complemented by the suddenly shorter days. From then on into March, Poland can get quite cold (below 0 temperatures, on either scale), and the snow which accumulates in the mountain

regions makes for excellent skiing.

Gdańsk vicinities

• Hel Peninsula

• Kashubia

• Malbork city

• Sopot

Sobieszewo Island

• The Sobieszewo Island a unique part of Gdańsk, is enclosed by the Gulf of Gdańsk from the north, the river of Wisła Śmiała from the west, the river of Martwa Wisła from the south and the channel named "Przekop Wisły" from the east. There are two bird reserves open for tourists: "Ptasi Raj" (Bird Paradise) and "Mewia Łacha" (Gull Sandbank). Flocks of gulls, terns, ducks, waders and swans inhabit these wildlife refuges either the whole year or temporarily, breeding, feeding, resting during their migrations and wintering.In recognition of its natural properties, unique flora and fauna, the Sobieszewo Island has the legal status of the landscape protected area.

Gdańsk beaches

• Gdańsk has two attended sea bathing grounds: in the districts of Stogi and Brzeźno. Other beaches stretch along Jelitkowo and Sobieszewo.

Cultural events

• Jarmark St Dominic• For two weeks in August the city remains

under the absolute rule of Neptune, Hermes, and Apollo's Muses. Traders' stands and street theatre troupes are all around. The sounds of old shanties, Gypsy romance music, ancient Gdańsk tunes, and charming music boxes waft in the air. The smell of exotic delicacies mixes with the aroma of sweet oilcakes and home-made bread. Everyone will find something to suit his/her taste at an artist's stand, or a precious antique piece at the flee market. The organisational swing of the Gdańsk fair is comparable to that of the acclaimed European events such as the Octoberfest in Munich

The Gdańsk Zoo

• The Gdańsk ZOO of today is the largest zoological garden in Poland and one of the most attractive recreational and educational facilities in the Wybrzeże coastal belt. Its gates open to throngs of visitors every year, Tri-City residents and tourists

alike. The Gdańsk ZOO was ceremoniously

opened on 1st May 1954. The first animals to arrive were donated by individual residents of the Tri-City. They were rabbits, hamsters, Guinea pigs, foxes, deer, pheasants, and budgerigars. Gradually, the collection grew to include other

exotic animals supplied mainly by seamen.

Our School :)

• Zespół Szkół Łączności im. Obrońców Poczty Polskiej

• Presented by:• Bartek Dobrzewiński• kl. Ia

THE END :)