Greater Poland (also "Great Poland"; , German: Großpolen, Latin: Polonia Maior) is a historical region of west-central Poland.

Name of the region

Wielkopolska was the core of the early medieval Polish state, is often termed "the cradle of Poland," and at times has simply been called "Poland" (Latin: Polonia). The name of Greater Poland is first mentioned in the Latin form, "Polonia Maior," in 1257, and in Polish ("w Wielkej Polszcze") in 1449. The region's name may be construed as referring to old Poland, as opposed to the new Poland, Lesser Poland (Polish: Małopolska; Latin: Polonia Minor), a region in southeastern Poland with its capital at Kraków, rather than the whole of Poland as a state and country.

Geography

Greater Poland comprises much of the area drained by the Warta River and its tributaries, including the Noteć River. There are two major geographic regions. In the north, the lake district, full of post-glacial lakes and hills. In the south, the rather flat plain.

Administratively, the historical area is divided into the voivodeships of Greater Poland, and parts of Lubusz, Kuyavia-Pomerania and Łódź.

Major cities and towns

• Poznań (581,200)
• Kalisz (106,500)
• Konin (83,600)
• Piła (76,800)
• Ostrow Wielkopolski (74,500)
• Gniezno (71,600)
• Leszno (63,500)
• Srem (31,000)
• Turek (30,700)
• Krotoszyn (29,100)
• Września (28,900)
• Swarzedz (28,200)
• Jarocin (26,000)
• Koscian (24,500)
• Wągrowiec (24,500)
• Koło (24,300)
• Lubon (23,800)
• Sroda Wielkopolska (22,200)
• Rawicz (21,700)
• Gostyn (20,800)
• Chodzież (20,500)

References

Regions of Poland | Greater Poland

Großpolen | Grande-Pologne | Nagy-Lengyelország | Grande Polonia | Lielpolija | Storpolen | Wielkopolska | Великая Польша | Великопољска | Storpolen | Великопольща