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Poland

Poland is a large central European nation that borders on the Baltic Sea. Warsaw is Poland's capital and largest city.

Poland is named after the Polane, a Slavic tribe that lived more than a thousand years ago in what is now Poland. The name Polane comes from a Slavic word that means plain or field.

Flat plains and gently rolling hills cover most of the country. Rugged mountains form part of the southern boundary of Poland, and thousands of small, scenic lakes dot the northern regions of the country...More Information on Poland.

Also Read: A special inside feature on Poland

Full country name: Republic of Poland
Area: 312,685 sq km
Population: 38.62 million
Capital City: Warsaw (pop 1.75 million)
People: 98% Polish, plus Ukrainian and Belarussian minorities
Language: Polish, German, English
Religion: 95% Roman Catholic
Government: federal republic
Head of State: President Aleksander Kwaśniewski
Head of Government: Prime Minister Marek Belka

History of Poland

Poland's written history begins with the reign of Mieszko I, who accepted Christianity for himself and his kingdom in AD 966. The Polish state reached its zenith under the Jagiellonian dynasty in the years following the union with Lithuania in 1386 and the subsequent defeat of the Teutonic Knights at Grunwald in 1410. The monarchy survived many upheavals but eventually went into a decline, which ended with the final partition of Poland by Prussia, Russia, and Austria in 1795...More on Poland History.

Overview of Poland Economy

GDP: US$373.2 billion
GDP per capita: US$12,000
Annual Growth: 5.6%
Inflation: 1.7%
Major Industries: machinery, iron & steel, chemicals & agriculture
Major Trading Partners: EU (esp. France, German, Italy, UK), Russia
Member of EU: Yes

Also Read: Special Feature on Economy of Poland

Political System of Poland

- Government And Political Conditions
- Foreign Relations
- Government
- Defense and Military of Poland

Climate, Vegetation and Fauna

Poland's forests are controlled by conifers, which are particularly vulnerable to acid rain and other forms of air pollution, many of them are now considerablely damaged. The spruce forests of the Sudety have been particularly affected by ecological damage. A large portion of Poland's forest growth has also been destroyed to create farmland, and reforestation levels are currently very low. This combination of factors has made Poland's forests among the most vulnerable in Europe.Poland's wildlife is of limited mixture. Although most species are found in other parts of Europe, Poland is home to a number of species that are absent or rare elsewhere. Those animals include chamois, lynx, wildcat, elk, boar, and deer. Bison, as well as a rare breed of pony, are preserved in the world-famous Bialowieza National Park, which straddles Poland's border with Belarus. Wolves and brown bears survive in the higher mountains, and elk, deer, and mouflon -wild sheep are fairly numerous in the lake districts. Grouse, heathcock and black stork inhabit Poland's grain-producing areas, lakes, marshes, and forests.


Culture: The 7th largest nation in Europe, Poland is located in the middle of the North European Plain that extends...more on Culture of Poland.

Education: Throughout the modern history of Poland, education has played a central role in Polish society...more on education in Poland.

Languages: Polish is the official language of Poland and is used by nearly all of the population...more on languages spoken in Poland...more on languages spoken in Poland.

Life and Lifestyle of Poland: The rights of women were central to the controversy over state abortion law that escalated sharply in 1991 and 1992...more

Population: In the immediate postwar time, Poland's birth rate surged upward and many Poles were repatriated from military duty or imprisonment abroad...more on people and population of Poland.

Envoirnment: Poland is roughly square, reaching a maximum of about 680km (422mi) from west to east and 650km (404mi) from north to south...more on Envoirnment of Poland.


Facts for the Traveler

Visas: Citizens of most EU countries and the USA can enter Poland without a visa and stay for 90 days. As of 1 May, 2004 holders of Australian, New Zealand and Brunei Darussalam passports travelling to Poland for a period of up to 90 days do not require a Polish visa. Border laws are being liberalised so check with a Polish embassy before you leave.
Time Zone: GMT/UTC +1 (Central European Time)
Dialling Code: 48
Electricity: 230V ,50Hz
Weights & measures: Metric

Also Read:Money and Cost Required | Transportation System in Poland

When to Go to Poland

The tourist season runs roughly from May to September, peaking in July and August. At this time the Baltic beaches are taken over by swarms of humanity, resorts and spas are invaded by tourists, Masurian lakes are crowded with thousands of sailboats, and mountains can hardly be seen for walkers. Perhaps the best time to come is either late spring (mid-May to June) or the turn of summer and autumn (September to mid-October). These are pleasantly warm periods and there are plenty of cultural activities going on. During winter it's cold and dark (as you'd expect) and many camp sites and hostels are closed, but its still a good time for visiting Poland's cities.

Also Read: Getting Around Poland | Poland: Getting There and Away

What to See in Poland

Major Tourist Attractions in Poland
- Warsaw: Emerging like a phoenix from the ashes of WWII, Warsaw is essentially a postwar city. Its handful of historic precincts...
- Great Masurian Lakes: The central part of Masuria has the biggest concentration of lakes in Poland...
- Krakow: Kraków came through WWII unscathed; the 20th century's impact having been confined to acid rain...
- Oswiecim: Hardly an attraction in the normal sparkly sense, Oświęcim is a medium-sized industrial town 60km (37mi) west of Kraków...
- The Tatras: The Tatras are the highest of all the Carpathians and the country's only alpine range. It's a region of towering peaks and steep rocky...

Other Tourist Attractions in Poland
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more...

Events in Poland

With a strongly Roman Catholic population, Christian celebrations in Poland are of huge importance. This is particularly evident at Christmas and Easter, but any Sunday is good for getting a taste of Polish devotion and religious fervour. All the churches (and they are truly in good supply) fill up beyond their capacity during the Sunday masses.

The musical highlights are myriad: Kraków hosts the Music in Old Kraków International Festival every August, and Wrocław follows in September with the Wratislavia Cantans, replete with oratorios and cantatas. Warsaw is a thriving cultural centre, with contemporary music showcases in autumn, including jazz in late October. The Warsaw Theatre Meetings in January review the achievements of the best Polish theatres over the past year. The Polish Film Festival in Gdynia in November is the foremost presentation of Poland on celluloid.

Small local feasts, fairs and contests, often dependent upon local folklore, occur throughout Poland, with a pleasing glut in early summer and early autumn.

What to do in Poland?

Hiking is the most popular of outdoor activities, and not without reason. The most popular hiking routes are those in the Tatra Mountains but the Pieniny, the Bieszczady or the Karkonosze are all options. Canoeing is possible on most waterways, though the main rivers are pretty polluted. The Krutynia and Czarna Hańcza Rivers, both in Masuria, are almost untouched and have some of the best kayaking in the country. The Masurian lakes are ideal for sailing and, not surprisingly, they are crowded with hundreds of boats in summer. It's possible to hire a sailing boat in Giżycko, Mikołajki or several other Masurian resorts. Poland has about a thousand caves, mostly in the uplands near Kraków and in the Tatra Mountains. For those unwilling to plunge into uncharted blackness, a handful of caves are adapted for the spatially-sane. The most spectacular of these are the Bear's Cave near Kłodzko and the Paradise Cave near Kielce. Skiing is mostly concentrated in the Carpathians. Zakopane, at the foot of the Tatra Mountains is without a doubt ski-bunny warren numero uno, with Szczyrk in the Beskid Śłaski also popular.


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