Poland

Poland is situated on the North European Plain. It borders GERMANY to the west, the CZECH REPUBLIC and SLOVAKIA to the south and BELARUS and UKRAINE to the east. Poland consists mainly of lowlands and the climate is continental, marked by long severe winters and short warm summers. Over one-quarter of the labour force is involved in predominantly small-scale agriculture. The main crops are potatoes, wheat, barley, sugar beet and fodder crops. The industrial sector of the economy is large scale. Poland has large deposits of coal and reserve of natural gas, copper and silver and is a main producer of sulphur. Vast forests stretching inland from the coast supply the paper and furniture industries. Other industries include food processing, engineering, shipbuilding, textiles and chemicals. The country has serious environmental problems due to factors such as untreated sewage, industrial discharges, air pollution and soil contamination althought some progress has been made to rectify matters. Tourism is increasing with the Baltic resorts, mountains and cultural and historic sites being of prime importance.

Poland Tour Quick facts:

Area : 312,679 sq km

Population : 38,482,919

Capital: Warsaw (Warszawa)

Other major cities: Krakov, Lublin, Poznan, Lodz, Wroclaw

Form of government: Republic

Religion :Roman Catholic 89.8% (about 75% practicing), Eastern Orthodox 1.3%, Protestant 0.3%, other 0.3%, unspecified 8.3%

Posted in: Poland