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| File:Polishflag.gif |
| Fig. 1 - Polish Flag |
Official name - Republic of Poland, in Polish Polska, or Rzeczpospolita Polska, a country lying at the physical centre of the European continent, approximately between latitudes 49° and 55° N and longitudes 14° and 24° E. Except for its southern mountainous regions, the country consists almost entirely of lowlands within the North European Plain. The total area of Poland is 120,728 square miles (312,685 square kilometres). Its capital is Warsaw (Warszawa). Other major cities include Lodz, Krakow, Wroclaw, Poznan, Gdansk, Katowice, Elblag, Gdynia, Szczecin, and Olsztyn.
Over the past millennium, the name Poland has been applied to a shifting territorial base. At one time, in the 16th century, Poland was the largest state in Europe after Russia. At other times there was no Polish state at all. Poland gained its independence in 1918 only to be overrun by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union in World War II. Its current frontiers, stretching for 2,198 miles (3,538 kilometres), were drawn in 1945; Poland became a Soviet satellite country following the war, but one that was comparatively tolerant and progressive.
Labor turmoil in 1980 led to the formation of an independent trade union "Solidarity" (Solidarnosc) that over time became a political force and in 1989-1990 swept elections to both parliament and the presidency, displacing the communist party from government. A "shock therapy" program during the early 1990s enabled the country to transform its economy into one of the most robust in Central Europe, boosting hopes for early admission to the EU. Poland joined NATO in 1999.
Poland is bordered to the north by the Baltic Sea, to the northeast by Russia (the Kaliningrad area) and Lithuania, and to the east by Belarus and Ukraine. To the south the border follows the watershed of the Beskid, Carpathian, and the Sudeten (Sudety) mountains, which separate Poland from Slovakia and the Czech Republic, while to the west the border with Germany is defined by the western Neisse (Nysa Luzycka) and Odra rivers.
| http://meta.wikipedia.com/upload/poland_COA.gif |
| Fig. 2 - Polish coat of arms |
Poland is divided into several geographical and historical regions: Greater Poland, Lesser Poland, Upper Silesia, Lower Silesia, Masovia, Warmia, Masuria, Kujavia, Pomerania, Pomerelia, Podhale and the Tatra Mountains.
Population: 38.6m: mainly Poles, with about 150,000 Germans, 120,000 Ukrainians, 30,000 Jews, Lithuanians, Russians, Lemkas and others.
Form of Government: unitary multiparty republic with two legislative houses (Sejm ; Senat ), see Polish constitution on Polish Misplaced Pages.
Monetary Unit: Zloty(PLN)=100 groszy; 1 USD=4.2 PLN (26/07/2001)
Country code: PL
TLD: .pl
International calling code: 48
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| Fig. 3 - Map of Poland Source: CIA World Factbook 2001 |
- Geography
- History
- People
- Religions
- Culture
- Political System
- Government
- Urzad Ochrony Panstwa -- (Office for State Protection) intelligence agency
- Political Parties
- Government
- Economy
- Communications
- Transportation
- Military
- Transnational issues
- Media
- Prominent Politicians
Language spoken: Polish (see Polish language).
For the national anthem see Mazurek Dabrowskiego.
Poland is divided into 16 regions or voivodships (Polish: województwo): Dolnoslaskie, Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Lubelskie, Lubuskie, Lódzkie, Malopolskie, Mazowieckie, Opolskie, Podkarpackie, Podlaskie, Pomorskie, Slaskie, Swietokrzyskie, Warminsko-Mazurskie, Wielkopolskie, Zachodniopomorskie
Poland is also the name of a place in the United States of America: Poland, Ohio.