Location:
Central Europe, east of Germany
Geographic coordinates:
52 00 N, 20 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
Area - comparative: Land boundaries:
Coastline: Maritime claims:
Climate: Terrain: Elevation extremes:
Natural resources: Land use:
Irrigated land: Total renewable water resources: Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Natural hazards: Environment - current issues: Environment - international agreements:
Geography - note:
total:
312,685 sq km
country comparison to the world: 70
land:
304,255 sq km
water:
8,430 sq km
slightly smaller than New Mexico
total:
3,071 km
border countries:
Belarus 418 km, Czech Republic 796 km, Germany 467 km, Lithuania 104 km, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 210 km, Slovakia 541 km, Ukraine 535 km
[see also: Land boundaries country ranks ]
440 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]
territorial sea:
12 nm
exclusive economic zone:
defined by international treaties
temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers
More Climate Details
mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border
lowest point:
near Raczki Elblaskie -2 m
highest point:
Rysy 2,499 m
coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, amber, arable land
arable land:
35.49%
permanent crops:
1.25%
other:
63.26% (2011)
1,157 sq km (2007)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]
61.6 cu km (2011)
[see also: Total renewable water resources country ranks ]
total:
11.96 cu km/yr (31%/60%/10%)
per capita:
312.3 cu m/yr (2009)
flooding
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
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, 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
historically, an area of conflict because of flat terrain and the lack of natural barriers on the North European Plain