Poland:
Geography

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Other pages in this profile of Poland:
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.


Background	Definition Poland is an ancient nation that was conceived near the middle of the 10th century. Its golden age occurred in the 16th century. During the following century, the strengthening of the gentry and internal disorders weakened the nation. In a series of agreements between 1772 and 1795, Russia, Prussia, and Austria partitioned Poland amongst themselves. Poland regained its independence in 1918 only to be overrun by Germany and the Soviet Union in World War II. It became a Soviet satellite state following the war, but its government was comparatively tolerant and progressive. Labor turmoil in 1980 led to the formation of the independent trade union "Solidarity" that over time became a political force and by 1990 had swept parliamentary elections and the presidency. A "shock therapy" program during the early 1990s enabled the country to transform its economy into one of the most robust in Central Europe, but Poland still faces the lingering challenges of high unemployment, underdeveloped and dilapidated infrastructure, and a poor rural underclass. Solidarity suffered a major defeat in the 2001 parliamentary elections when it failed to elect a single deputy to the lower house of Parliament, and the new leaders of the Solidarity Trade Union subsequently pledged to reduce the Trade Union's political role. Poland joined NATO in 1999 and the European Union in 2004. With its transformation to a democratic, market-oriented country largely completed, Poland is an increasingly active member of Euro-Atlantic organizations.

Location	Definition Central Europe, east of Germany
Geographic coordinates	Definition 52 00 N, 20 00 E
Map references	Definition Europe
Area	Definition - World rank and map total: 312,679 sq km land: 304,459 sq km water: 8,220 sq km
Area - comparative	Definition slightly smaller than New Mexico
Land boundaries	Definition total: 3,071 km border countries: Belarus 418 km, Czech Republic 796 km, Germany 467 km, Lithuania 104 km, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 210 km, Slovakia 541 km, Ukraine 535 km
Coastline	Definition 440 km
Maritime claims	Definition territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: defined by international treaties
Climate	Definition temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers
Terrain	Definition mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border
Elevation extremes	Definition lowest point: near Raczki Elblaskie -2 m highest point: Rysy 2,499 m
Natural resources	Definition coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, amber, arable land
Land use	Definition - World rank and map arable land: 40.25% permanent crops: 1% other: 58.75% (2005)
Irrigated land	Definition 1,000 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources	Definition 63.1 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)	Definition total: 11.73 cu km/yr (13%/79%/8%) per capita: 304 cu m/yr (2002)
Natural hazards	Definition flooding
Environment - current issues	Definition situation has improved since 1989 due to decline in heavy industry and increased environmental concern by post-Communist governments; air pollution nonetheless remains serious because of sulfur dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants, and the resulting acid rain has caused forest damage; water pollution from industrial and municipal sources is also a problem, as is disposal of hazardous wastes; pollution levels should continue to decrease as industrial establishments bring their facilities up to EU code, but at substantial cost to business and the government
Environment - international agreements	Definition party to: Air Pollution, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94
Geography - note	Definition historically, an area of conflict because of flat terrain and the lack of natural barriers on the North European Plain

Poland: Geography

Poland:
Geography