Editing Bielsko-Biała (section)

==Geography==
=== Location and relief===
Bielsko-Biała is located in the southern part of the [[Silesian Voivodeship]], on the border of historical regions: [[Cieszyn Silesia]] (left-bank districts, 57.89% of the area) and [[Lesser Poland]] (right-bank districts, 42.11% of the area). The city represents 1.01% of the area of the voivodeship and 0.04% of the area of Poland. The latitudinal extent is approximately {{convert|13|km|mi|abbr=on}} km and the meridional extent approximately {{convert|17.5|km|mi|abbr=on}}. The straight line distance from the city center to the [[Czech Republic–Poland border|Czech border]] is {{convert|31|km|mi|abbr=on}}, and to the [[Slovakia–Poland border|Slovak border]] {{convert|35|km|mi|abbr=on}}.
[[File:Bielsko-Biała,_widok_z_Trzech_Lipek_01.jpg|thumb|left|View from the Trzy Lipki hill towards the Silesian Beskids]]
[[File:Bielsko-Biała,_widok_z_wieży_katedry_św._Mikołaja_-_Beskid_Śląski.jpg|thumb|left|View of the Silesian Beskids from the Cathedral of St. Nicholas]]
The greater part of Bielsko-Biała lies in the [[Silesian Foothills]] (''Pogórze Śląskie''), which are part of the Western Beskid Foothills (''Pogórze Zachodniobeskidzkie'') physiographic macroregion. Within the administrative borders of Bielsko-Biała—in the southern districts—there are also mountain massifs of the [[Little Beskids]] (''Beskid Mały'') and the [[Silesian Beskids]] (''Beskid Śląski''). Most of the mountainous areas of Bielsko-Biała lie within two [[Landscape park (protected area)|landscape parks]]: [[Little Beskids Landscape Park]] and [[Silesian Beskids Landscape Park]]. At the same time, they are protected under the [[Natura 2000]] nature protection programme.
[[File:020211017 204044 Biała River in Bielsko Biała.jpg|thumb|Biała River in the city centre]]
The [[Terrain|relief]] of Bielsko-Biała is quite diverse. Within the administrative borders of the city there are both upland and mountainous areas. The centrally located Bolesław Chrobry Square is {{convert|313|m|ft|abbr=on}} above sea level. The lowest point are Komorowice Ponds at {{convert|262|m|ft|abbr=on}} above sea level, while the highest peak is Klimczok in Silesian Beskids at {{convert|1117|m|ft|abbr=on}} above sea level. The upland part of Bielsko-Biała consists of dozens of hills, separated by valleys of rivers and streams, the central one being the valley of the [[Biała (Vistula)|Biała River]]. The Beskid massifs are separated by the Wilkowice Gate (''Brama Wilkowicka'') connecting the [[Silesian Foothills]] (''Pogórze Śląskie'') with the [[Żywiec Basin]] (''Kotlina Żywiecka''). There are 14 mountain peaks within the city limits: Cyberniok, Dębowiec, Klimczok, Kołowrót, Kopany, Kozia Góra, Łysa Góra, Palenica, Przykra, Równia, Stołów, Szyndzielnia, Trzy Kopce and Wysokie. In addition, the slopes of Czupel, Gaiki and Magurka Wilkowicka mountains partly reach the peripheral districts of Bielsko-Biała. On the south-western slopes of Stołów is the Stołów Cave (''Jaskinia w Stołowie''), whose passages are {{convert|21|m|ft|abbr=on}} long. In 2003, an entrance to the Deep Stołów Cave (''Jaskinia Głęboka w Stołowie'') was also discovered on the slopes of Stołów. With a length of {{convert|554|m|ft|abbr=on}} and a depth of {{convert|25|m|ft|abbr=on}}, it is one of the largest caves in the Polish part of [[Carpathians]]. Several smaller caves can also be found in the Klimczok area.

===Climate===
Bielsko-Biała has an [[oceanic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Cfb'') with cold, damp winters and warm, wet summers. However, using the 0&nbsp;°C isotherm, the climate is a Dfb-type called of [[humid continental climate]], which explains its considerable thermal amplitude for [[Central Europe]]. The extremes may still be moderated by the western patterns and winds of this direction, which still maintains hybrid characteristics in the city's climate. [[Foehn wind|Foëhn winds]] help maintain a milder winter in Bielsko-Biała and average about 4&nbsp;°C lower than the surrounding mountains each year. The sunniest days are between late summer and early fall, with a few months reaching 9 sunny days. In the 1960s 55&nbsp;cm of snow cover was recorded.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=621&cityname=Bielsko-Biala,+Silesian+Voivodeship,+Poland&units=|title=Bielsko-Biala, Poland Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)|website=Weatherbase|access-date=2019-08-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://mcit.bbosir.bielsko.pl/the-climate-of-bielsko-biala/|title=The climate of Bielsko-Biała and Podbeskidzie Region – Informacja Turystyczna – Bielsko-Biała|access-date=2019-08-05|archive-date=2018-04-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180430132000/http://mcit.bbosir.bielsko.pl/the-climate-of-bielsko-biala/}}</ref>

{{Weather box
| location = Bielsko-Biała (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1951–present)
| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
| Jan record high C = 18.0
| Feb record high C = 19.0
| Mar record high C = 22.8
| Apr record high C = 29.0
| May record high C = 30.7
| Jun record high C = 33.9
| Jul record high C = 35.4
| Aug record high C = 36.4
| Sep record high C = 34.1
| Oct record high C = 26.4
| Nov record high C = 23.1
| Dec record high C = 18.3
| year record high C = 36.4
| Jan high C = 2.2
| Feb high C = 3.5
| Mar high C = 7.6
| Apr high C = 14.1
| May high C = 18.6
| Jun high C = 21.9
| Jul high C = 24.0
| Aug high C = 23.9
| Sep high C = 18.6
| Oct high C = 13.5
| Nov high C = 8.2
| Dec high C = 3.3
| year high C = 13.3
| Jan mean C = -0.9
| Feb mean C = 0.2
| Mar mean C = 3.5
| Apr mean C = 9.0
| May mean C = 13.4
| Jun mean C = 16.8
| Jul mean C = 18.7
| Aug mean C = 18.5
| Sep mean C = 13.8
| Oct mean C = 9.3
| Nov mean C = 4.8
| Dec mean C = 0.3
| year mean C = 9.0
| Jan low C = -3.9
| Feb low C = -3.0
| Mar low C = -0.2
| Apr low C = 4.1
| May low C = 8.4
| Jun low C = 12.0
| Jul low C = 13.7
| Aug low C = 13.5
| Sep low C = 9.6
| Oct low C = 5.7
| Nov low C = 1.6
| Dec low C = -2.6
| year low C = 4.9
| Jan record low C = -27.4
| Feb record low C = -29.6
| Mar record low C = -20.7
| Apr record low C = -8.5
| May record low C = -3.1
| Jun record low C = -0.2
| Jul record low C = 4.3
| Aug record low C = 2.6
| Sep record low C = -2.4
| Oct record low C = -8.6
| Nov record low C = -19.8
| Dec record low C = -26.0
| year record low C = -29.6
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 45.2
| Feb precipitation mm = 46.6
| Mar precipitation mm = 58.6
| Apr precipitation mm = 67.8
| May precipitation mm = 128.7
| Jun precipitation mm = 131.6
| Jul precipitation mm = 143.2
| Aug precipitation mm = 92.0
| Sep precipitation mm = 110.2
| Oct precipitation mm = 72.7
| Nov precipitation mm = 56.8
| Dec precipitation mm = 45.2
| year precipitation mm = 998.3
| Jan snow depth cm = 21.2
| Feb snow depth cm = 27.4
| Mar snow depth cm = 19.7
| Apr snow depth cm = 9.9
| May snow depth cm = 0.5
| Jun snow depth cm = 0.0
| Jul snow depth cm = 0.0
| Aug snow depth cm = 0.0
| Sep snow depth cm = 0.0
| Oct snow depth cm = 4.1
| Nov snow depth cm = 9.5
| Dec snow depth cm = 14.2
| year snow depth cm = 
| unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 17.03
| Feb precipitation days = 16.34
| Mar precipitation days = 15.57
| Apr precipitation days = 13.93
| May precipitation days = 16.80
| Jun precipitation days = 15.73
| Jul precipitation days = 15.60
| Aug precipitation days = 12.77
| Sep precipitation days = 13.13
| Oct precipitation days = 14.20
| Nov precipitation days = 14.57
| Dec precipitation days = 15.77
| year precipitation days = 181.44
| unit snow days = 0 cm
| Jan snow days = 26.7
| Feb snow days = 25.3
| Mar snow days = 20.7
| Apr snow days = 6.5
| May snow days = 0.2
| Jun snow days = 0.0
| Jul snow days = 0.0
| Aug snow days = 0.0
| Sep snow days = 0.0
| Oct snow days = 2.8
| Nov snow days = 10.9
| Dec snow days = 23.5
| year snow days = 116.6
| Jan humidity = 81.4
| Feb humidity = 78.5
| Mar humidity = 73.6
| Apr humidity = 67.3
| May humidity = 71.4
| Jun humidity = 72.8
| Jul humidity = 71.9
| Aug humidity = 72.3
| Sep humidity = 77.5
| Oct humidity = 79.0
| Nov humidity = 80.8
| Dec humidity = 82.4
| year humidity = 75.7
| source 1 = Institute of Meteorology and Water Management<ref name=IMGWtavg>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211203115527/https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/TSR_AVE
| archive-date = 3 December 2021
| url = https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/TSR_AVE
| title = Średnia dobowa temperatura powietrza
| work = Normy klimatyczne 1991–2020
| publisher = Institute of Meteorology and Water Management 
| language = pl
| access-date = 31 January 2022}}</ref><ref name=IMGWtmin>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220115043924/https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/TMIN_AVE
| archive-date = 15 January 2022
| url = https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/TMIN_AVE
| title = Średnia minimalna temperatura powietrza
| work = Normy klimatyczne 1991–2020
| publisher = Institute of Meteorology and Water Management 
| language = pl
| access-date = 31 January 2022}}</ref><ref name=IMGWtmax>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220115044916/https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/TMAX_AVE
| archive-date = 15 January 2022
| url = https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/TMAX_AVE
| title = Średnia maksymalna temperatura powietrza
| work = Normy klimatyczne 1991–2020
| publisher = Institute of Meteorology and Water Management 
| language = pl
| access-date = 31 January 2022}}</ref><ref name=IMGWprecip>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220109045820/https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/OPAD_SUMA
| archive-date = 9 January 2022
| url = https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/OPAD_SUMA
| title = Miesięczna suma opadu
| work = Normy klimatyczne 1991–2020
| publisher = Institute of Meteorology and Water Management 
| language = pl
| access-date = 31 January 2022}}</ref><ref name=IMGWprecipdays>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220115051112/https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/OPAD_01
| archive-date = 15 January 2022
| url = https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/OPAD_01
| title = Liczba dni z opadem >= 0,1 mm
| work = Normy klimatyczne 1991–2020
| publisher = Institute of Meteorology and Water Management 
| language = pl
| access-date = 31 January 2022}}</ref><ref name=IMGWsnowdepth>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220115054936/https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/SNIEG_SR_GRUB
| archive-date = 15 January 2022
| url = https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/SNIEG_SR_GRUB
| title = Średnia grubość pokrywy śnieżnej
| work = Normy klimatyczne 1991–2020
| publisher = Institute of Meteorology and Water Management 
| language = pl
| access-date = 31 January 2022}}</ref><ref name=IMGWsnowdays>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220121044246/https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/SNIEG_0
| archive-date = 21 January 2022
| url = https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/SNIEG_0
| title = Liczba dni z pokrywą śnieżna > 0 cm
| work = Normy klimatyczne 1991–2020
| publisher = Institute of Meteorology and Water Management 
| language = pl
| access-date = 31 January 2022}}</ref><ref name=IMGWsun>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220115055331/https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/USL
| archive-date = 15 January 2022
| url = https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/USL
| title = Średnia suma usłonecznienia (h)
| work = Normy klimatyczne 1991–2020
| publisher = Institute of Meteorology and Water Management 
| language = pl
| access-date = 31 January 2022}}</ref>
| source 2 = Meteomodel.pl (records, relative humidity 1991–2020)<ref name=recordhigh>
{{cite web
| url = https://meteomodel.pl/dane/srednie-miesieczne/?imgwid=349190600&par=tmax&max_empty=3
| title = Bielsko-Biała Absolutna temperatura maksymalna
| date = 9 March 2023
| publisher = Meteomodel.pl
| language = pl
| access-date = 9 March 2023}}</ref><ref name=recordlow>
{{cite web
| url = https://meteomodel.pl/dane/srednie-miesieczne/?imgwid=349190600&par=tmin&max_empty=3
| title = Bielsko-Biała Absolutna temperatura minimalna
| date = 6 April 2018
| publisher = Meteomodel.pl
| language = pl
| access-date = 31 January 2022}}</ref><ref name=relativehumidity>
{{cite web
| url = https://meteomodel.pl/dane/srednie-miesieczne/?imgwid=349190600&par=rh&max_empty=3
| title = Bielsko-Biała Średnia wilgotność
| date = 6 April 2018
| publisher = Meteomodel.pl
| language = pl
| access-date = 31 January 2022}}</ref>
| source = 
}}

=== Air pollution ===
Bielsko-Biała is a city with relatively high [[air pollution]]. According to a 2016 report by the [[World Health Organization]], it was ranked as the twenty-seventh most polluted city in the European Union.<ref>{{cite web |title=Przerażający raport ws. jakości powietrza. Polskie miasta na czele listy |date=2016-05-14 |url=http://tvn24bis.pl/ze-swiata,75/raport-who-najbardziej-zanieczyszczone-miasta,643576.html |website=[[TVN24]] |language=pl |access-date=2023-07-22 |archive-date=2016-05-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160514113138/http://tvn24bis.pl/ze-swiata,75/raport-who-najbardziej-zanieczyszczone-miasta,643576.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Then in a 2020 report by the [[IQAir]] company, it was ranked thirty-eighth in Europe and fifth in Poland.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kozjar |first1=Katarzyna |title=Ranking IQ Air: najbardziej zanieczyszczone europejskie miasto leży na Śląsku |url=https://smoglab.pl/najbardziej-zanieczyszczone-miasta-2020-iqair/ |publisher=Smoglab |access-date=22 July 2023 |language=pl |date=2021-03-23}}</ref> The biggest contributor to air pollution is the fact that many households, including in the inner city area, still use traditional heating systems based on burning coal. The environmental situation in the city has been gradually improving in recent years. This is influenced by municipal measures such as the "Low Emission Economy Plan", which has been implemented since 2015.<ref>{{cite web |title=Resolution No. X/155/2015 on the adoption for implementation of the document "Low Emission Economy Plan and Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP) for the City of Bielsko-Biała" |url=https://bip.um.bielsko.pl/Article/get/id,60931.html |publisher=Bielsko-Biała City Council |access-date=22 July 2023 |language=pl}}</ref> In 2020, 454 coal-fired boilers in residentional buildings were replaced by gas or [[district heating]] using municipal subsidies.<ref>{{cite web |title=Environmental Protection Programme for the City of Bielsko-Biała for the period 2021-2024. |url=https://bip.um.bielsko.pl/a,80082,obwieszczenie-dot-programu-ochrony-srodowiska-dla-miasta-bielska-bialej-na-lata-2021-2024-z-perspekt.html |publisher=Bielsko-Biała City Council |access-date=22 July 2023}}</ref>

Bielsko-Biała belongs to the cities where the environmental condition has been gradually improving over the past few years. The number of days when the permissible daily concentration of suspended particulate matter PM10 was exceeded in the years 2018-2022 were as follows: 52, 30, 33, 41, 24, respectively.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}

The main contributors to air pollution are the use of outdated solid fuel sources in households, emissions of gases and particles from industrial plants, and traffic.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}

The operation of outdated heating systems and solid fuel combustion sources within the city promotes the formation of smog during the heating season. Smog has a negative impact on human health and can also have destructive effects on buildings, especially historical ones.

Pollution from traffic is concentrated within densely built-up areas known as "street canyons." The city's air quality is significantly influenced by transregional factors, such as the influx of pollutants from neighboring municipalities.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}

The quality of the water flowing through the city has been gradually improving. However, in 2022, the state of a significant portion of surface water, both in the Biała and Wapienica rivers, was classified as poor.<ref>{{cite web |title=Informatyczny System Osłony Kraju |url=https://eur05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fisok.gov.pl%2Fhydroportal.html&data=05%7C01%7Cbeata.rozpedek%40um.bielsko-biala.pl%7C6558c34ad6b748232fc308dbba664b23%7C49e6c2960fc046c291d5b2694ca14f04%7C0%7C0%7C638308720737196231%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=r%2FwdngoKwjQc8%2Bb9HHDfehBRKILxTYGl%2BihrMJsOHVg%3D&reserved=0 |access-date=21 September 2023}}</ref>

The city's ecological situation has been gradually improving in recent years, thanks in part to the actions of municipal authorities, such as the implementation of the "Low-Emission Economy Plan" since 2010. Between 2008 and 2022, with the city's support, over 7200 solid fuel boilers and furnaces were eliminated in residential buildings in Bielsko-Biała.

The first municipal Energy Management Bureau in Poland was established in Bielsko-Biała in 1997, and it currently operates as an energy team within the Department of Environmental Protection and Energy of the Municipal Office.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}

In 2022, there were three monitoring stations in the city as part of the National Air Quality Monitoring System, and the city installed 36 air quality sensors in urban areas to depict the distribution of pollutants within the city [Source: Data from the Department of Environmental Protection and Energy, Municipal Office in Bielsko-Biała].

=== Districts ===
[[File:Bielsko-Biała, podział administracyjny 2.png|thumb|upright=1.5|Division of Bielsko-Biała into ''osiedla'']]
Bielsko-Biała is officially divided into 30 ''osiedla'', which are auxiliary units of the municipality.
{| border="0" class="topalign"
|
* Aleksandrowice
* Biała Krakowska
* Biała Śródmieście
* Biała Północ
* Biała Wschód
* Bielsko Południe
* Dolne Przedmieście
* Górne Przedmieście
* Hałcnów
* Kamienica
* Komorowice Krakowskie
* Komorowice Śląskie
* Leszczyny
* Lipnik
* Mikuszowice Krakowskie
|
* Mikuszowice Śląskie
* Osiedle Beskidzkie
* Osiedle Grunwaldzkie
* Osiedle Karpackie
* Osiedle Kopernika
* Osiedle Mieszka I
* Osiedle Piastowskie
* Osiedle Polskich Skrzydeł
* Osiedle Słoneczne
* Osiedle Wojska Polskiego
* Stare Bielsko
* Straconka
* Śródmieście Bielsko
* Wapienica
* Złote Łany
|}
[[File:Bielsko-Biała, obręby ewidencyjne.png|thumb|upright=1.5|Division of Bielsko-Biała into ''obręby ewidencyjne'']]
In parallel, there is a division into ''obręby ewidencyjne'' ([[cadastre|cadastral]] areas), the boundaries of which reflect the former boundaries of the [[municipality|municipalities]] gradually incorporated into Bielsko-Biała in the 20th century, as well as the boundaries of the historical districts (suburbs) of Bielsko. These are:
* Bielsko Miasto (comprises the Old Town of Bielsko)
* Biała Miasto (comprises Biała within the original boundaries from the 18th century)
* Dolne Przedmieście (formally divided into thirteen small areas)
* Górne Przedmieście
* Żywieckie Przedmieście
* [[Aleksandrowice, Bielsko-Biała|Aleksandrowice]]
* [[Hałcnów]] and Hałcnów 2
* [[Lipnik, Bielsko-Biała|Lipnik]]
* [[Kamienica, Bielsko-Biała|Kamienica]]
* [[Komorowice, Bielsko-Biała|Komorowice Śląskie]]
* [[Komorowice, Bielsko-Biała|Komorowice Krakowskie]]
* [[Mikuszowice, Bielsko-Biała|Mikuszowice Śląskie]]
* [[Mikuszowice, Bielsko-Biała|Mikuszowice Krakowskie]]
* [[Olszówka, Bielsko-Biała|Olszówka Dolna]]
* [[Olszówka, Bielsko-Biała|Olszówka Górna]]
* [[Stare Bielsko]]
* [[Straconka, Bielsko-Biała|Straconka]]
* [[Wapienica, Bielsko-Biała|Wapienica]]

Some peripheral areas are also included within ''obręby ewidencyjne'' of [[Bystra, Bielsko County|Bystra Śląska]], [[Jaworze, Silesian Voivodeship|Jaworze]], [[Mazańcowice]], [[Międzyrzecze Górne]] and [[Pisarzowice, Bielsko County|Pisarzowice]], which is a result of the incorporation of parts of these villages into Bielsko-Biała. In some cases (e.g. Mikuszowice Krakowskie, Stare Bielsko, Straconka) the boundaries of ''osiedla'' and ''obręby ewidencyjne'' are similar, in many others (e.g. Aleksandrowice, Dolne Przedmieście, Lipnik, Mikuszowice Śląskie) ''osiedla'' and ''obręby ewidencyjne'' with the same names do not correspond territorially. The commons understanding of 'districts' in Bielsko-Biała and the belonging of particular areas to them draws loosely on both types of division.