Lubuskie is located in western Poland, between Zachodniopomorskie, Wielkopolskie and Dolnoslaskie voivodships. The main rivers of the region are the Odra, running along the Polish-German border, and its tributaries: the Bobr and the Warta. Lubuskie constitutes a part of a larger historical region called Wielkopolska (Great Poland); hence the traditional relationships linking Gorzow Wielkopolski (the seat of the voivod) and Zielona Gora (the seat of the voivodship Council) with Poznan. The voivodship borders on the German land of Brandenburg. The joint activities of two Euroregions operating in the voivodship, Sprewa-Nysa-Bobr and Pro Europa Viadrina, link the border areas of Poland and Germany. The border location has eased development of the voivodship and has provided open access to European Union assistance funds devoted to transregional co-operation which the voivodship has been able to utilise appropriately. The Lubuskie voivodship is an excellent example of how large-scale integration policy can be implemented at the regional level. There are several border crossings in the voivodship, of which in road traffic of major significance are Swiecko and Slubice, and in railway traffic - Kunowice. The area of the voivodship is cut by the international route (road and rail) linking Berlin, Poznan, Warsaw, Minsk and Moscow.
 
 
ECONOMY
 
      The agricultural landscape of the voivodship features a large share of meadows and pastures. A serious problem of the region is the restructuring of rural areas formerly owned by state farms. Industry is concentrated in the northern and southern parts of the voivodship The greatest number of people are employed in the textile industry (Zagan, Zielona Gora), in production of synthetic fibres (Gorzow Wielkopolski), threads (Nowa Sol), carpets and decorative fabrics (Zary). The metal-working, timber, furniture and food-processing industries are also well developed. The most important company is state-owned Polmos in Zielona Gora (annual revenue of PLN 700 million). The Kostrzynsko-Slubicka Special Economic Zone has been established in Lubuskie taking a full advantage of its proximity to the border. The voivodship's economy is based on almost 74,000 businesses, mostly small and medium-sized, which employ over 347,000 people. Most of them (over 30,000) are trade and service companies. Nevertheless, 7,000 manufacturing firms account for the largest share of employment in the region Private business comprises 97.2% of the total number of economic entities. The development of business support institutions makes the voivodship extremely attractive for foreign investment.
 
 
UNIVERSITIES
 
      There are seven academic facilities in the Lubuskie voivodship. The Zielona Gora Technical University educates nearly 7,500 students, while the Zielona Gora Pedagogical College is attended by over 14,000 students. The faculty of Physical Education in Gorzow Wielkopolski is also growing in importance. Students can also study political sciences and environmental protection in Slubice, where one can find the Collegium Polonicum and dormitories of the first branch of the Viadrina European University in Frankfurt on the Oder in Central and Eastern Europe.
 
 
TOURISM
 
      The most valuable assets of the region are large forest areas, lakes, and numerous historic landmarks. The voivodship is the most forested one in the country. The largest forests are the primaeval Gorzowski, Notecki and Lubuski forests, as well as the Zielonogorskie and Dolnoslaskie woods. The forests are accompanied by the beautiful Slawskie and Nieslysz lakes. In the vicinity of Miedzyrzecze, the largest German fortifications in Poland can be found the Miedzyrzecki Fortified Region. The Lubuskie area is ideal for anglers, mushroom pickers, hunters, and tourists who appreciate water sports. The lodging and catering facilities are developed very well.