Editing Usedom (section)

== Geography ==
[[File:Karte Insel Usedom.png|200px|left|thumb|Map of Usedom]]
The island is separated from the neighbouring island of [[Wolin]] to the east by the Strait of [[Świna]], which is the main route connecting Szczecin Bay with [[Pomeranian Bay]], a part of the Baltic Sea. The strait between the island and the mainland is called the [[Peenestrom]]; it is a downstream extension of the [[Peene Valley|valley of the Peene]] river, which flows into the westernmost part of the [[Szczecin Lagoon]]. The island is mostly flat, and partly covered by marshes.

Geographical features include a number of lakes:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Lake || Elevation || Surface area
|-
| [[Cämmerer See]] || {{convert|0.3|m|ft|abbr=on}} || {{convert|0.18|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}
|-
| [[Gothensee]] || {{convert|0|m|ft|abbr=on}} || {{convert|5.56|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}
|-
| [[Kachliner See]] || {{convert|0|m|ft|abbr=on}} || {{convert|1.00|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}
|-
| [[Schmollensee]] || {{convert|0|m|ft|abbr=on}} || {{convert|5.03|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}
|-
| [[Wolgastsee]] || {{convert|-0.6|m|ft|abbr=on}} || {{convert|0.47|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}
|}

[[File:Grenze Deutschland - Polen bei Ahlbeck - panoramio.jpg|thumb|[[Germany–Poland border|Polish–German border]] between [[Świnoujście]] and [[Ahlbeck (Usedom)|Ahlbeck]]]]
The largest town on the island is [[Świnoujście]], which has a total population of 41,500. The western part of Świnoujście covers the entire Polish part of the island. Another town, [[Usedom (town)|Usedom]], gives its name to the island. The largest municipalities in the German part are  [[Heringsdorf]] (from 2005 to 2006 called ''Dreikaiserbäder'', literally "The Three Imperial Spas") and [[Zinnowitz]].

There are many [[seaside resort]]s on the [[Baltic Sea]] coast, including [[Zinnowitz]] and [[Koserow]] in the west &ndash; and the three [[Imperial Spa]]s [[Ahlbeck (Usedom)|Ahlbeck]], [[Heringsdorf]], and [[Bansin]] forming a town, as well as neighbouring [[Świnoujście]] in the east of Usedom.

The hinterland is called ''Achterland'', referring to the [[Achterwasser]] [[lagoon]] (''Rear Waters''). It is characterized by unspoilt forests, lagoon landscapes, and hills, as well as calm villages such as [[Loddin]] and [[Balmer See]] with its [[golf course]].

Main economic activities include [[tourism]], health and [[life sciences]], [[retail]], [[agriculture]], fishing, animal husbandry, food processing, and timber production.