SOPOT

German Zoppot, town and port, Gdansk wojewdztwo (province), northern Poland. It lies on the Gulf of Gdansk between Gdansk (Danzig) and Gdynia. One of Poland's largest and most popular seaside and health resorts, a role it has filled since the 16th century, Sopot is situated in an area of wooded hills. There is some shipping and good road and rail connections to Gdynia and Gdansk, with which Sopot is linked economically. First settled in the 13th century, it was annexed to the free city of Danzig under Napoleon in 1807; it received municipal rights in 1901. It was again incorporated into Danzig in 1919 and returned to Poland in 1945. Pop. (1989 est.) 47,800.