Gmina Brańsk

Gmina Brańsk [braɲsk] is a rural gmina (Polish:gmina wiejska) in Bielsk County, Podlaskie Voivodeship. It is located in north-eastern Poland.

Etymology

The name Brańsk comes from the river Bronka, a nearby tributary of the Nurzec River.

Geography

Gmina Brańsk is located in the geographical region of Europe known as the Wysoczyzny Podlasko – Białoruskie (Podlaskie and Belarus Plateau) and the mezoregion known as the Równina Bielska (Bielska Plain).

The gmina covers an area of 227.3 square kilometres (87.8 sq mi).

Location

It is located approximately:

• 140 kilometres (87.0 mi) north-east of Warsaw, the capital of Poland
• 69 kilometres (42.9 mi) south-west of Białystok, the capital of the Podlaskie Voivodeship
• 25 kilometres (15.5 mi) west of Bielsk Podlaski, the seat of Bielsk County

Climate

The region has a continental climate which is characterized by high temperatures during summer and long and frosty winters . The average amount of rainfall during the year exceeds 550 millimetres (21.7 in).

Rivers

Three rivers pass through the Gmina:

• The
  Bug River
• The
  Siennica River, a tributary of the Nurzec
  River
• The Czarna River, a tributary of the Nurzec River

Demographics

Detailed data as of 31 December 2007:^[1]

Municipal government

Its seat is the town of Brańsk, although the town is not part of the territory of the gmina.

Executive branch

The chief executive of the government is the mayor (Polish: wójt).

Legislative branch

The legislative portion of the government is the Council (Polish: Rada) composed of the President (Polish: Przewodniczący), the Vice President (Polish: Wiceprzewodniczący) and thirteen councilors.

Villages

The following villages are contained within the gmina:

Gmina Brańsk is bordered by the town of Brańsk and the Gminy of Bielsk Podlaski, Boćki, Dziadkowice, Grodzisk, Klukowo, Nowe Piekuty, Poświętne, Rudka, Szepietowo and Wyszki.

Transport

Roads and Highways

Gmina Brańsk is at the intersection of a National Road and a Voivodeship Road:

• National Road 66 DK 66 - Zambrów - Brańsk - Bielsk Podlaski - Kleszczele - Czeremcha - Połowce Border Crossing (Belarus)
• Voivodeship Road 681 DW 681 - Roszki-Wodźki - Łapy - Brańsk - Ciechanowiec

Public Transport

Bus Service

Regular bus service is provided in the town of

• Szepietowo - express & local service to Warsaw and Białystok - 28 kilometres (17.4 mi) northwest
• Bielsk Podlaski - express & local service to Siedlce and Białystok - 25 kilometres (15.5 mi) east

Nearby Attractions

• Sanktuarium Matki Bożej Pojedniania w Hodyszewie (Our Lady of Hodyszewo Sanctuary) in Hodyzewo - 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) northwest
• Ossoliński Palace in Rudka - 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) west

References