WOLIN

island off the northwestern coast of Poland, in Szczecin wojewdztwo (province). It is surrounded by the Baltic Sea on the north, the Dziwna River on the east, the Szczecinski Lagoon on the south, and the Swina River on the west. Its area is 95 square miles (245 square km). The main towns are Wolin in the south and Miedzyzdroje in the north. The central area contains the Wolin National Park, which encompasses a coastal moraine. Wolin, a town and powiat (county) capital, is situated on the Dziwna River. An ancient Slavic stronghold, the town is over 1,000 years old. In the 10th and 11th centuries it served as an important trade centre for the Oder River basin and was administered by Pomerania. The modern town was laid out in 1279. In 1630 it was seized by Sweden and passed to Prussia in 1730, becoming part of Poland in 1945. Pop. (1970) island, 17,763; (1988 est.) town, 4,413.