INDEX | |
POLAND | |
GLIWICE | |
WASHINGTON DC | |
GALLERY | |
CONTACT ME |
Introduction | Climate | Population | Language | Geography |
In Poland there is a heart-warming proverb all Poles take very seriously. It translates roughly into -a guest in the house is God in the house. That is why, regardless of where or how they live, Poles draw on their long tradition of -Slavic Hospitality- to welcome people from home and abroad with warmth and affection. Poland is a place where family values are cherished highly and friendships last a lifetime. In spite of a turbulent history and the dramatic changes shaping Polish society today, Poles have vigorously maintained a distinct sense of culture and community. Come and meet them on their home ground and visit the land that continues to motivate and inspire them.
Poland has a temperate climate. During the summer, the average temperature in July is 76 degrees Fahrenheit. There are, of course, hot days when the temperature exceeds 86 degrees. The coldest winter months are January and February. The average January temperature drops to a few degrees below zero. With huge snowfalls, the Polish mountains offer good conditions for winter sports enthusiasts.
With 38.6 million inhabitants, Poland is divided into 16 administrative provinces called wojewodztwa. The capital city of Warsaw (Warszawa) is located on the Vistula (Wisla) River and has a population of 1,625,000 people. Today, citizens of Poland are largely of Polish nationality and more than 90% declare themselves as Roman Catholics.
LANGUAGE: Spoken by 99 percent of the population, the official language is Polish. English, German and Russian are among the better known foreign languages in Poland, especially in the larger urban centers. There are increasing numbers of speakers of both, a lthough extensive foreign language studies became widespread only a few years ago. Thus, the foreign traveler may still experience some language difficulties in small towns or remote areas.
The Republic of Poland is located in Central Europe. It borders
Germany to the west,
the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south, and Russia, Lithuania,
Belorus and the Ukraine to the east. The Baltic Sea defines its
northern border. Warsaw is sited upon the Vistula - Poland's largest
river. It flows northwards, from the mountains towards the Baltic Sea,
thus cutting the country into two parts. The second largest river is
the Odra, which forms the border between Poland and Germany.
Poland is a country with varied topography. The Sudeten and Carpathian
Mountains stretch along Poland's southern borders. The Sudeten belong
to the oldest mountainous massifs in Europe. Their highest peak is
Mount Sniezka - 1,602 meters above sea level. he Carpathians are
younger. The Tatra Range makes up their central part - it is the only
portion of Polish mountains of the alpine character. It contains
Poland's highest peak - Mount Rysy at 2,499 meters above sea level.
Hundreds of lakes are hidden away in the northern part of the country,
in the Pomeranian and Mazurian Lakelands where countless lakes are
found amidst picturesque hills and beautiful forests. The largest one
is Lake Sniardwy, which occupies a surface area of 109,700 hectares.
Further north are the sandy beaches of the Baltic Sea. Poland's major
ports on the Baltic coast are Gdansk, Gdynia and Szczecin.
Forests with very rich undergrowth cover 27 percent of the whole
country area. The most common species is the pine tree. The largest
forest complexes include the Bory Dolnoslaskie, Bory Tucholskie,
Puszcza Augustowska, Puszcza Knyszynska, Puszcza Bialowieska, and
Puszcza Solska. Many rare plant and animal species are under
protection.
TOP |
HOME |