Szczecin(/ˈʃtʃɛtʃɪn/;Polish pronunciation:[ˈʂt͡ʂɛt͡ɕin](
listen);GermanandSwedish:Stettin, known also by otheralternative names) is thecapital cityof theWest Pomeranian VoivodeshipinPoland. Located near theBaltic Sea, it is a majorseaportand Poland's seventh-largest city. As of June 2011, the population was 407,811.
Szczecin is located on theOder, south of theSzczecin Lagoonand theBay of Pomerania. The city is situated along the southwestern shore ofDąbie Lake, on both sides of the Oder and on several large islands between the western and eastern branches of the river. Szczecin is adjacent to thetown of Policeand is the urban centre of theSzczecin agglomeration, an extended metropolitan area that includes communities in theGerman statesofBrandenburgandMecklenburg-Vorpommern.