County characteristics
Ostrów Mazowiecka County is located between the valleys of the Narew and Bug rivers in Międzyrzecze Łomżyńskie, in the north-eastern part of the Masovian Voivodeship. The county consists of 11 local government units, including the city of Ostrów Mazowiecka, the town and commune of Brok and the rural communes of Andrzejewo, Boguty-Pianki, Ostrów Mazowiecka, Szulborze Wielkie, Zaręby Kościelne, Stary Lubotyń, Wąsewo, Nur and Małkinia Górna. The county has about 75 thousand inhabitants, and its area is 1218 square kilometres.
The headquarters of the county authorities is in Ostrów Mazowiecka. The city is located on the national road No. 8 from Warsaw to Białystok, and further towards the border crossings with Lithuania and Belarus. The route to the Great Masurian Lakes also leads through Ostrów.
Ostrów Mazowiecka County is located in the so-called Green Lungs of Poland and the Bug Ecological Zone. It is characterized by a mild climate and exceptional natural and landscape values, which is thanks to the Bug River flowing in this area. Both the river and many water reservoirs in its valley have been preserved in a state close to the natural one. These are the areas of the Bug Landscape Park, which was established to protect the unique natural values of the Bug valley and to popularize them.