Capital
Warsaw (Warszawa) - population: circa 1.86 million

Location
Central Europe. Poland borders Germany to the west, Russia, Lituania, Ukraine and Belarus to the east, and the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south.

Area
Total: 312,683 sq km. Poland is roughly the size of Colorado.

Land boundaries
Total: 2,888 km
Border countries: Belarus 605 km, Czech Republic 658 km, Germany 456 km, Lithuania 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 206 km, Slovakia 444 km, Ukraine 428 km

Climate
Temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers.

Terrain
Mostly flat plain in the northern parts. Tatra mountains along the southern border

Elevation extremes
Lowest point: Raczki Elblaskie -2 m
Highest point: Rysy 2,499 m (the Tatra mountains)

Natural resources
Coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt

Natural hazards
none really

Population
38,633,912 (July 2001 est.)

Nationality
Polish(97.6%). Small German minority(1.3%) in the region of Upper Silesia(Slask).

Languages
Polish (Polski). English and German is understood by many young people.

Holidays in Poland
January 1st (New Year)
Easter Sunday and Easter Monday
May 1st (Labor Day)
May 3rd (Constitution Day)
Corpus Christi (9th Thursday after Easter)
August 15th (Assumption of the Virgin Mary)
November 1st (All Saints Day)
November 11th(Independence Day)
25th/26th of December (Christmas)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 73.06 years
Male: 68.93 years
Female: 77.41 years (1999 est.)

Religions
Roman Catholic 95% (about 75% practicing), Eastern Orthodox, Protestant, and other 5%