Mazovia - Geography

Geography

Mazovia is a low-lying region. To the north is the Mazovian Lowland; to the east, the South Podlasian Lowland; and to the south, the Iłża Foreland. The Mazovia region is spread over the Masovian Plain on both sides of the Vistula river and its confluence with the Narew. In the north Mazovia borders on the Masurian region of former Old Prussia, in the east on Podlachia, on Lesser Poland in the south and Greater Poland in the west. In the northwest, the Duchy of Kuyavia split off Mazovia in 1233. Administrative borders of the contemporary Masovian Voivodeship do not follow historical and cultural lands of Mazovia. For example, the city of Łomża belongs instead to the Podlaskie Voivodeship; Skierniewice belongs to Łódź Voivodeship; while Radom, historically part of Lesser Poland, is now, however, a part of the Masovian Voivodeship.

The main rivers are the Vistula (Wisła), Bug, Narew, Pilica, and Wkra. Forests (mainly coniferous) cover one-fifth of the province. The climate is characterized by warm summers and cool winters. Average annual precipitation is 20–24 inches (500–600 mm). Two-thirds of the province’s residents live in cities, with Warsaw being the centre of the largest conurbation in Poland. Other large cities include Radom, Płock, Siedlce, Ostrołęka, and Pruszków.