Poland: About Poland - Part 1
From ExecutivePlanet.com
General information, climate
The Republic of Poland [Rzeczpospolita Polska] is a proud nation in Europe. The reason? It has a very rich culture and history, going back to the 9th century. Poland is the homeland of John Paul II, the 'Solidarity' movement leader Lech Walesa and many other world authorities from the field of culture, science and public life.
Poland, with its 39 m inhabitants [ranked 31st], lies in the very heart of Europe, bordering on Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, Russia in the Kaliningrad Oblast Exclave, and on the Baltic Sea on the North.
Its location has meant that the country has seen many wars fought over it. Its golden age occurred in the 16th century. During the following century, the strengthening of the gentry and internal disorders weakened the nation. In a series of agreements between 1772 and 1795, Russia, Prussia, and Austria partitioned Poland amongst themselves. Poland regained its independence in 1918 only to be overrun by Germany and the Soviet Union in World War II. Between 1945 and 1989 Poland was a satellite state of the Soviet Union. The first free elections after World War II were held in 1990 after a peaceful revolution. Owing to the 'shock therapy' program applied in the early of 90's by the former finance minister Leszek Balcerowicz, Poland started a dynamic pursuit of the EU high standard of living. Today Poland is a member of NATO and the European Union. Poland is a democratic, fast developing country.
Population:
38,626,349 [July 2004 est.]
Median age:
Total: 36.2 years
Male: 34.3 years
Female: 38.2 years [2004 est.]
Area:
Total: 312,685 sq km
Land: 304,465 sq km
Water: 8,220 sq km
Climate:
Comparable to Switzerland: temperate with cold, moderately severe winters with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers
Terrain:
Mostly flat plains; mountains along southern border
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