| Geography | Poland |
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Location:
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Central Europe, east of Germany |
Geographic coordinates:
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52 00 N, 20 00 E |
Map references:
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Europe |
Area:
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total: 312,685 sq km
land: 304,255 sq km
water: 8,430 sq km |
Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than New Mexico |
Land boundaries:
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total: 3,047 km
border countries: Belarus 605 km, Czech Republic 615 km, Germany 456 km, Lithuania 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 432 km, Slovakia 420 km, Ukraine 428 km |
Coastline:
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440 km |
Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: defined by international treaties |
Climate:
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temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers |
Terrain:
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mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border |
Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: near Raczki Elblaskie -2 m
highest point: Rysy 2,499 m |
Natural resources:
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coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, amber, arable land |
Land use:
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arable land: 40.25%
permanent crops: 1%
other: 58.75% (2005) |
Irrigated land:
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1,160 sq km (2008) |
Total renewable water resources:
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63.1 cu km (2005) |
Total renewable water resources - per capita:
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1,642 cubic meters per capita |
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
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total: 11.73 cu km/yr (13%/79%/8%)
per capita: 304 cu m/yr (2002) |
Natural hazards:
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flooding |
Environment - current issues:
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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:
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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:
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historically, an area of conflict because of flat terrain and the lack of natural barriers on the North European Plain |
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