Olsztyn once again confirms its uniqueness on the map of Poland, this time ranking among the quietest cities in the country. This achievement gains additional significance when compared with previous rankings by Business Insider and CUK Insurance, in which the capital of Warmia and Mazury was recognized as the best place to live in Poland.
The GUS study “Exposure of the population to noise in cities with over 100,000 inhabitants” is to be repeated every five years. The first edition was conducted this year based on data contained in strategic noise maps for 2021. This allowed for an estimation of the number of people exposed to road, rail, industrial, and aviation noise exceeding permissible levels.
Olsztyn: an oasis of peace
According to the study’s authors, the highest percentage of people exposed to noise throughout the day in the total population of a given city was recorded in Gliwice (10.2%), Chorzów (8.2%), and Szczecin (7.9%). The lowest percentage, below 0.05%, was found in Toruń, Dąbrowa Górnicza, and Olsztyn. The capital of Warmia and Mazury remains an oasis of peace, undoubtedly due to thoughtful urban planning, investments in sustainable transport, and care for green areas, which serve as natural noise barriers.