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GeographyLocation
Central Europe, east of Germany Geographic coordinates
52 00 N, 20 00 E
Map references
Europe
Area World Ranking: 70
Total 312,685 sq km
Land 304,255 sq km Water 8,430 sq km Area - comparative
Slightly smaller than New Mexico Land boundaries
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
440 km
Maritime claims
Territorial sea 12 nm
Exclusive economic zone Defined by international treaties Climate
Temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers Terrain
Mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border Elevation extremes
Lowest point Near Raczki Elblaskie -2 m
Highest point Rysy 2,499 m Natural resources
Coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, amber, arable land Land use
Arable land 40.25%
Permanent crops 1% Other 58.75% (2005) Irrigated land
1,160 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources
63.1 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)
Total 11.73 cu km/yr (13%/79%/8%)
Per capita 304 cu m/yr (2002) Natural hazards
Flooding
Environment - current issues
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
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
Historically, an area of conflict because of flat terrain and the lack of natural barriers on the North European Plain
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GPS points from Poland (Warsaw)
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